Consumer Cellular debuts new phone

Consumer Cellular, the Portland-based service provider for the age 50-plus user, introduced its own phone Thursday.

The Envoy, built by Huawei, a Chinese manufacturer, for Consumer Cellular, is a flip phone with email, text messaging, Internet access and an MP3 music player, the company announced. The phone retails for $35.

Consumer Cellular operates three call centers, including one in Redmond. Founded in 1995, it provides no-contract, low-cost cellular phone service nationwide through the AT&T network. A partnership with AARP, begun in 2008, boosted company growth, which in February its founders said stood at 30-35 percent annually.

Consumer Cellular began a trial with Target in Arizona to sell its phones. It also sells its products nationwide through Sears and RadioShack, as well as its own call centers.

— Bulletin staff report