Lively® - Lively SIM/eSIM – 3 Months of Service – Unlimited Data, Unlimited Talk and Text - Gold

Lively is a MVNO service which works off the Verizon network I used a Pixel 6a during my testing. The cell phone service with Lively was great in terms of signal strength and data speeds, I had connection everywhere I went. There was never an issue with dropped calls or data services not working, now of course this is dependent on how well Verizon service is near you. I was not throttled when streaming music or videos and was able to play videos at HD quality, I was even surprised that I was able to get 5G with the Ultra-wide band connection, this is usually an add on from other MNVO providers. On regular 5G service I was able to get great download speeds of about 30 Mbps down however the uploads were 1-3 Mbps and at times even under 1 Mbps. On 5G ultraband the upload and downloads were 50 down and 10 up which is more than enough for anything. The lively exclusive services are catered to elderly, with easy setup for emergency contacts and medical information. It provides simple method of contacting emergency services and having a central place for all your personal data. After installing the SIM card the Lively app runs in the background, on the pixel 6a it was easy to access from the pull down which is great so you don’t need to go hunting for it. The app allows you to call with any questions about the service, call a nurse with health problems or invite family members to stay informed about your health situation. All of these are excellent for someone that isn’t tech savvy. The Lively app even has a health tips portion to give you tips that will help better your health. Lively offers a reliable service without being locked into a contract while allowing you to bring your own device. This is great for just about everyone and I like the fact that they don’t hide 5G service behind a paywall. The added features are catered more to elderly or non-tech people and are laid out so they are simple to use. The emergency call feature is easy to identify and even gives you 10 seconds to cancel a call request in case the request was an accidental touch. Being able to keep loved ones notified about your health is huge plus. I liked everything about the service except for the slow upload speeds.

Lively is a MVNO cell phone carrier on the Verizon network that is geared towards seniors. What Lively does different from other carriers is that there is the availability of services such as on-call nurses, asking for a ride or informing Lively and family of an emergency. This is all done on a very simple app. The app is almost too simple but very easy for seniors to get the hang of. In the app set-up a test call is made and I found my call picked up fast and the operator very nice and clear. I found phone calls and text messages to function well. I didn’t have any dropped calls or difficulty finding services. It seems like internet speeds were deprioritized and like most MVNO, it is not at the same speed tier as regular Verizon customers. Even in areas with a lot of cell towers, I mostly only got LTE and rarely 5G. Sometimes speeds were spotty and slow. When this happened , videos were slow or unable to load. The speed is fine for light browsing or checking email. This is very location dependent and worked well in some areas more than others. For the most part, it worked well and really depends on Verizon's MVNO coverage where it is used. The SIM card when inserted into a phone is identified as a Verizon SIM and the mobile network is Verizon. This difference in names for the Lively service and the Verizon Sim might confuse less tech savvy seniors if not explained to them. I was disappointed to find out that Lively does not have hotspot capabilities. This does simplify things for seniors but I know a lot of seniors that prefer tablets when at home or traveling and would have great use from being able to hotspot. I was hoping this would be a good option to recommend especially to seniors who travel a lot or don’t have wifi at home. Overall, I think this is good for seniors that want to be independent but also want the ability to call for help when needed. I can’t speak to the quality or efficiency of the service as I thankfully didn’t have a need to use it. It is also potentially good for those who don’t have family to call for advice or advocate for them. Probably not as useful for those that are a bit more tech savvy or can dial for a family member or have a telemedicine service to help them.

I absolutely can not complain about the ease of set-up of this SIM card and it's service. It's pretty self-explanatory. Whhen it comes to the set-up process. All you need is a compatible device. Something compatible to an unlocked Verizon phone. I used my unlocked Fold and it set-up took mear minutes. Once set-up, I was making calls. As well as sending texts in no time flat. There's also an emergency 24/ 7 Urgent Response feature that works like a dream, for those nightmarish situations. There's really nothing to it. It comes in a small packaging ( A SIM card card) You'll haave to punch it out from it snaps from the carrier card, then, simply place it iside your compatible device. The calls are smooth and clear. I don't have any problem hearing my friends and family when we talk. And can't tell the difference in the call quality from their end as well. I really don't know what else to say other than, " If you've made it this far into this review, you should be putting this Lively SIM card in your cart. I definitly recommend this to everyone.

This is a really nice setup for someone who might need medical support as Lively provides it as part of its package. I chose to use my own phone a google Pixel 8 that is unlocked. Make sure you download the lively app as that is the whole point of using this service. The phone service runs off of Verizon's cellular network, and with lively you get the same service without the verzion prices. I did not have any issues with the service and my phone seemed to stay online even when traveling around the midwest. The phone did jump from LTE to 5G but while using it to stream music it never had any issues. However, I could not get higher than 30mpbs download speeds, tested many times. We have an iphone with verzion as well and I was able to get speeds way above 30mpbs, so it seems that Lively is caping the speed. This should not be an issue with most users but should be noted if the users is needs faster speeds. When I setup the app it was recommend doing a test call to their emergency services. I was connected with a very nice person who had a very calm and peaceful demeanor. I explained that I just set everything up and it was recommended to call. She was happy nothing urgent was happening and explained some of the other services they offer and things the app. I was extremely happy with this whole interaction and that if it was really an emergency that the person on the other end would be calm and professional. The app has some nice features and is constantly running in the background. In the app there is a large red star in the top right corner. This star is for a user to select to get in touch with emergency services. No matter where you navigate through the app, that red star stays on the top corner. I was also impressed that there is a widget you can add to your phone to easily connect for an urgent response. In the app you can also add emergency contacts, medication/medical information, vehicle information, and even just-in-case notes. I'm assuming this information is then viewable by Lively support so they can help aid medical help if you are unresponsive or having trouble communicating. There is even an option to connect with a nurse/doctor for questions or concerns. If I had a parent/grand parent who lived alone I think the Lively phone service and app would be perfect for them. They would still be able to keep their phone that they already know, have a reliable phone service, an easy-to-use app that easily connects them to an urgent response team, or just call to chat with a nurse/doctor about concerns. Overall, I really like the whole setup and the thought and concern that they put into Lively.

The Lively cellular service with additional urgent response 24/7, 365 is a great concept. The service runs on Verizon's network and offers subscribers to have a cellular service with emergency response taken an extra step further. In the case of an emergency, the Lively service can also notify predetermined friends and family added in the app. Pros: - The service runs on Verizon's network and was consistent available even in the basement of my home. The service (at least in my area) switched frequently between 4G LTE and 5G/5G-UW when not on wifi. Coverage is excellent. - The app is simple, easy to download and set up, and -- perhaps most importantly -- easy to use. - While I didn't experience a need for the emergency response, this service would be an excellent addition to an older family member or friend or even someone who lives alone and needs the extra protection of their on-demand emergency services. - The Lively team is U.S. based Cons/Conclusion - The only con I see with this particular setup is it currently don't allow eSIM activations. My parents, in their 70s, would benefit greatly from the Lively services but have iPhones that do not have physical SIM card slots. However, I read there is a newer kit which includes eSIM capabilities on Best Buy's website. This is a great, bundled service with unlimited talk, text, and whatever amount of data you need (and you can always add more). A great idea for older people, people with disabilities, or even someone who lives alone and needs the extra assurance knowing the Lively response team is there to help in any way possible. An absolute 10/10.