It seems that this last attribute — the ability to make and receive calls on a cellphone — is overlooked and underestimated by many manufacturers. But believe it or not, there are plenty of people out there who simply want to use their cellphones for calls, period.

These individuals range from college students who frequently damage or lose their phones to wary, first-time buyers to senior citizens whose kids or grandchildren insist they use a cellphone. About a year ago, GreatCall Inc. introduced its Jitterbug cellphones, which were aimed squarely at the senior set with large keys, a free operator service and the phone’s own number prominently displayed on a sticker.

It seems that GreatCall was on to something. Verizon Wireless recently followed the company’s lead by introducing its straightforward, no frills Coupe, a cellphone that offers many of the helpful traits found on Jitterbug phones, like large screen fonts, but without a lot of extras. Verizon simultaneously unveiled two calling plans designed specifically for seniors, and was followed a month later by AT&T and its own monthly plan for those 65 and over. AT&T also has an uncomplicated phone of its own in the works for 2008.

This week I tested Verizon’s $40 (with a two-year contract) Coupe (www.verizonwireless.com) against GreatCall’s $147 Jitterbug Dial (www.jitterbug.com) to see how the two stacked up. I found the Jitterbug more comfortable to use for longer phone calls because of its cushiony earpiece, which blocks out external sound and helps the phone rest easier between your shoulder and ear during conversations. And Jitterbug’s mantra of simplicity will appeal to cellphone newcomers.

But for those who have been using cellphones and are familiar with the way they work, Jitterbug’s nonconformist features — like Yes and No buttons in place of Send and End and the use of a dial tone whenever the clamshell-shaped phone is opened — can come across as too basic, to the point that they’re confusing. One example: many standard cellphones redial the last number called when the Send button is pressed twice, but redialing on the Jitterbug requires navigating through five screens to redial the last number.

The Coupe is the smaller of the two and blends in with other cellphones. It includes a few of the extra functions found in normal mobile phones, like an alarm clock, calculator and the capability to send and receive text messages; perhaps most people who buy the Coupe won’t use it for texting, but it’s nice to have the built-in option. (The Jitterbug doesn’t have any of these features.) Right now, this cellphone only comes in shiny black with a blue border around its outside display screen. An included charging cradle adds a touch of convenience.

The Coupe also has some fun features that give it a more personal touch, including a choice of 24 ringtones and 10 wallpaper designs for the main screen’s background. After seeing low-grade camera lenses on nearly every digital device that I’ve picked up recently, the Coupe looked a little naked without one.

Three red buttons labeled I, C and E (for In Case of Emergency) are positioned just below the phone’s screen and can be assigned names and numbers to work as shortcuts to those most often called. A specially marked “911″ button on the phone’s keypad is designated specifically for emergencies, though this must be held down to use and, even then, asks if the caller definitely intended to call 911.

A speaker button is also clearly labeled on the Coupe’s keypad, and pronounced volume adjustment keys line the phone’s side. On-screen fonts appear larger than those found on regular cellphones.

Verizon’s well-known network is sure to be a draw for potential buyers, especially because any plan used with the Coupe includes free calls to other Verizon Wireless users. Though any of this carrier’s plans work with this basic phone, the Nationwide 65 Plus plan made its debut with the Coupe in hopes of appealing to those ages 65 and up. A single-line plan allows 200 anytime minutes and 500 night and weekend minutes for $30 monthly; the two-line plan offers roughly double the minutes (to be shared) for double the price. These plans aren’t exclusively usable with the Coupe.

GreatCall’s Jitterbug comes in two $147 models: the Dial, with a numeric keypad and the OneTouch, with just three large buttons labeled Operator, Tow and 911. I’ve tested both in the past, but this time around I looked at the Dial because it’s most comparable to Verizon’s Coupe.

The Jitterbug Dial phone comes in black or white, and its buttons and all of its on-screen lettering appear considerably larger than the Verizon Coupe’s. Its number keys glow bright white and are encircled by yellow borders, while the Coupe’s digital keypad is black with glowing blue numbers — colors that aren’t as distinctive. Unlike the Coupe, Jitterbug doesn’t come with a charging cradle, though GreatCall has plans for adding cradles in 2008.

A free operator service can be reached from Jitterbug phones by pressing “0.” This operator greets users by name, places calls on the user’s phone (saving you the trouble of dialing) and can add numbers to a phone’s contact list if a user doesn’t want to or can’t do this.

The Jitterbug can be pre-programmed with names and numbers; I ordered mine with five pre-programmed numbers, a luxury that nervous new cellphone owners might find worthwhile. Things get difficult when you try to enter your contacts. Even though each number key has three or four letters assigned to its key as on all phones, adding a contact involves using Jitterbug’s clumsy system of choosing one letter at a time from the screen. You’re better off using the free operator service for this.

Jitterbug phones let users store only 50 contact names and numbers, while Verizon’s Coupe will store 500. Many first-time cellphone owners will be content with 50, but, again, options are good.

The Jitterbug and Coupe each have small screens on their outer shells that display the time, date and phone numbers of incoming calls. But the Coupe displays its remaining battery power both on this outer screen and inside on its main screen, while the Jitterbug only flashes battery status on the screen if the battery reaches a certain low level, or if you navigate to a special “Phone Info” screen.

Behind the scenes, GreatCall’s Jitterbug phones run using networks set up by other carriers; I never had any trouble dialing out or receiving calls. A variety of calling plans can be used with Jitterbug phones ranging from $10 monthly for pay-as-you-go at 35 cents a minute to $80 monthly for 800 minutes. Add-on packages of minutes and sharing plans are also available.

If you’re familiar with cellphones, the Jitterbug will be a confusing step back for you, even though its free operator service and comfortable earpiece are pluses. Some people will prefer the Jitterbug’s larger fonts and number keys to the Verizon Coupe’s smaller, more stylish build. Still, the Coupe is a good option for people who have at least some familiarity with technology and cellphones. Each in its own way does a good job of sticking to the basic task of handling phone calls.

Edited by Walter S. Mossberg

Email mossbergsolution@wsj.com.

Here are a few questions about computers I’ve received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability. This week my mailbox contained questions about finding a simple cellphone, Apple TV’s video formats and networking two Windows PCs.

I am approaching 70, and I wonder if there is a “simple” cellphone available, or something close? I want one that merely makes and receives calls, records messages, and retrieves messages with the push of a button.

Most cellphone carriers and electronics retailers sell very basic phones that mainly do just that. If they have additional functions they are optional. Another choice is a phone called the Jitterbug, which not only focuses on these basic functions, but also has large buttons and other features designed for older users. More information is at jitterbug.com. Our review of the Jitterbug can be found at: ptech.wsj.com/archive/solution-20061101.html

Will the Apple TV play back non-copy-protected video in the AVI format?

No. Apple TV doesn’t support AVI. The principal non-copy-protected video format it supports is MP4. It also supports copy-protected video, but only in the format used by Apple’s iTunes Store. Apple’s free QuickTime program, which comes with the iTunes software for both Windows and Mac computers, has a function that can convert some types of video files into formats that Apple TV can use.

I have a laptop that operates on Windows XP. If I get a new desktop with Windows Vista will I have any problems networking the two of them?

Networking in Windows can be flaky, and it’s impossible to say with certainty that you won’t have any problems. But I can say that, in my own limited tests, mixed networks of Windows XP and Windows Vista computers worked properly.

* * *

Because of the volume of e-mail I receive, I can’t routinely answer individual questions by e-mail, or consult on individual problems or purchasing decisions. I read all questions I receive and select three each week to answer in the column.

Write to Walter S. Mossberg at mossberg@wsj.com

If you’re nodding as you read this, either personally relating to the challenges of using a cellphone or on behalf of someone you know, you’re not alone. Many people — especially baby boomers and their parents — feel anxious about using these increasingly complicated gadgets. These people are usually smart and capable, but just don’t know their way around a cellphone.

The OneTouch Jitterbug cellphone has three large buttons.

This week, we tested two new cellphones and a new cellphone service designed to address this problem, by placing simplicity and ease-of-use first. These $150 phones are called Jitterbugs, and they come from a Del Mar, Calif., company called GreatCall Inc. Its phones are physically and functionally different, emphasizing easy navigation with large buttons and simple menus. And its service includes an operator who acts as a concierge, optionally placing calls for you and even remotely adding numbers to your phone’s contact list.

We found using the Jitterbugs to be a little challenging at first because we’re more accustomed to the myriad of menus, buttons and shortcuts in our more complex cellphones. But we soon became comfortable with the Jitterbugs’ straightforward style and helpful operator/concierge.

We did miss some of the features that come standard in regular cellphones, like a battery indicator on the main screen that tells how much juice remains. (This information is only visible on a separate page in the menu.) And, while GreatCall has introduced simple calling plans to go with the Jitterbug phones, these plans are a bit pricey when compared with some plans offered by the big carriers. GreatCall is a small phone carrier that relies on roaming agreements with major cellphone carriers to handle most of its calls.

The company says the service is best for people who are light or moderate users. Monthly or yearly plans are available; buying a yearly plan includes a phone. The monthly plans cost as little as $10 for an “SOS” plan with no included minutes (these cost 35 cents each) and top out at $40 for 300 minutes. The same plans cost $244 and $569 when purchased in annual packages. Extra chunks of time can be purchased at $25 for 100 minutes, or a whopping 25 cents a minute. Each call to the operator includes a free minute of talk time but instantly deducts five minutes from your plan, in addition to the time you spend on the call over one minute.

Jitterbug phones come in two models: OneTouch and Dial. Both are white, clamshell phones made by Samsung that are a little larger than typical cellphones so as to feel more comfortable when you’re holding them. They each come with an ear cushion; GreatCall says this reduces outside noise.

OneTouch has just three large buttons where a numeric keypad would be; these are labeled Operator, My Choice, and 911 by default (but can be changed). The Dial model has a numeric keypad with large buttons that are easy to press. Yes and No buttons take the place of Send and End, and questions appear on-screen to walk you through how to use a Jitterbug phone.

When you order a phone from the Jitterbug Web site www.jitterbug.com, you tell GreatCall the names and phone numbers that you’d like programmed into your phone’s address book. These numbers come preloaded on your phone and are also kept in your profile with GreatCall so that at any time, you can ask the operator to make a call for you using one of those numbers instead of finding it in the phone yourself.

We tested both phones, finding the OneTouch to be a simpler solution for those who want as little confusion as possible, but it bugged us not having a keypad to dial a number. The first time we opened each of the phones, we were startled to hear a sound completely foreign to cellphones: a dial tone. An on-screen message asked if we wanted to use the phone’s voice-recognition feature; this works without any training.

We found the reception on our Jitterbugs to be somewhat fuzzy compared with our regular Verizon service.

We tested the operator feature by pressing Operator on the OneTouch phone or “0″ on the Dial phone, and a live person picked up right away. In one instance, we asked the operator to dial our office number for us, and he put us right through. Another time, we called the operator to add a number to our GreatCall database.

On Monday, GreatCall will be able to remotely add numbers to its phones using a Short Message Service (SMS) technology. For now, OneTouch phone owners can’t do this on their own, but Dial owners can add names and numbers to their phones using a smart step-by-step process that was easier than that of a regular cellphone.

Setting up and checking voicemail works by following simple audible directions. Instead of pressing numbers to delete or save messages, you can just say “Yes” or “No” to vocal prompts, or press those buttons on the phone. And no four-digit password is required.

Your cellphone number is printed on a sticker just below the phone’s screen. This screen never goes dark when left opened, allowing you time to read menu prompts. But this always-on screen also affects the Jitterbug battery life, which the company estimates will last for an unremarkable three hours of talk time.

In early 2007, Jitterbug will start offering a Web site that you or others can access to input names and numbers that will show up on the cellphone. Other features, such as the ability to get digital photos on a Jitterbug cellphone, will also be offered. But GreatCall wants to focus on simplifying cellphone features for now.

Whether you like it or not, cellphones are already a big part of many people’s lives, and are quickly becoming a part of yours. Instead of feeling helpless, we suggest trying a Jitterbug. These phones aren’t perfect, but they’re much easier to understand, and the operator service is a built-in helper.

• Email: MossbergSolution@wsj.com.