Doro has launched an iOS version of its My Doro Manager companion app claiming millions of iPhone users will now be able to help their senior relatives remotely.
The app, now available in both Android and iOS versions, provides a digital bridge between a senior's Doro smartphone and their family as Chris Millington, Managing Director at Doro UK & Ireland explained: "Often in today's busy world time constraints and the geographical spread of modern families impact on the level of physical support a family can provide to a senior relative. With My Doro Manager this can now be delivered directly between paired handsets via the cloud."
Doro's smartphones now all come with My Doro Manager pre-installed - which makes it easy for a senior to pair their device with up to five trusted family members' smartphones who can then share responsibility for providing assistance and support.
Doro says the most important benefit is that the app can be used to spot usage trends and habits, and with the user's permission, can be used to change certain settings remotely.
For example, if a senior were to type text messages and continually 'save' them in drafts by mistake, when in fact they thought the messages had actually been 'sent'. Situations like this can be spotted, and rectified, without any fuss or embarrassment to the user.
Both versions of the app allow the sharing of content such as contacts and pictures. This functionality is specifically included in the service to help drive engagement and build the user's enjoyment of their device. Because the user can see exactly who is sharing information with them it is fully trusted.
Furthermore, the user retains full privacy and security control over all content and settings on their device and the helper cannot see or read any content.
The user app also offers tutorials - again being tailored to the usage patterns of that user - to encourage them to use their phone more and build confidence in their own time.
According to the UK Office for National Statistics there are now more people living in the UK aged over 60 years than there are under the age of 18. This growing senior demographic is predicted to pass the 20million mark by the year 2030.
Millington concluded: "Our most recently launched smartphones are extremely popular and are out performing market predictions. By widening the audience of the My Doro Manager companion app to include iPhone users we help to further bridge the generational digital divide. We have adopted cloud technology to deliver an application which makes a massive difference to how seniors actually use their phones."