If you are under sixty years old, you probably have a pretty good grasp of technology and how most mobile phones work. You probably also have parents over sixty who are completely lost when it comes to using a cell phone. Although it can be funny trying to explain certain features of their phones to them, it can also get exasperating. Here is how you can define and explain the difference between "voice service", "voice plan" and "voicemail" to your technologically challenged parents.

Voice Plan

This is the number of minutes you want on your phone to talk to all of your friends and family every month. It is called a "plan" because you "plan" to use that many minutes to talk and make phone calls to others. It is also called a "plan" because you "plan" to pay the phone company every month for the minutes you want and pay extra for any minutes you use above and beyond your plan.

Voice Service

Voice service is an overarching term that can and often does include "voicemail", but usually refers to phone service and the calls you send and receive over your phone. If your Mom or Dad has poor voice quality on their phones, then they need to contact their voice service provider to find out why they cannot hear callers or why voices cut in and out. This is the easiest way to explain to the "'rents" what "voice service" is and what it includes. 

Voicemail

If your parents had an answering machine when you were growing up, you can explain "voicemail" to them using this point of reference. Essentially, voicemail is the answering machine on your cell phone. It answers for you and collects messages from callers when you are unavailable or do not want to answer the phone. Once your aging parents understand what voicemail is, you can help them set their "answering machine" up on their phone and show them how to access the messages. (You might want to write the directions down if Mom and Dad have a more complicated phone that requires them to dial a separate number to access their voicemail boxes.)

Helping Your Technologicially Challenged Parents Understand More

If your parents need more assistance with their phones, and you cannot be present to help them, be sure to point them in the direction of a phone service provider (such as Phone Masters Ltd) and the provider's retail location. The store representatives can also help define and explain confusing and similar terms to your parents, as well as show them how to use features on their phones. There are also online, detailed descriptions and tutorials you can help your parents access, which will teach them more about the rapidly changing world of technology.