The best captioning phone apps for iPhone and Android
Read this article to learn how to do captioned mobile phone calls
- The Konnekt mobile phone captioning solution
- Other mobile captioning apps; what they can and can’t do
- How to set it up yourself
- Benefits of the Konnekt captioning bundle
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Konnekt mobile phone captioning solution
- Call phone numbers and address-book contacts, with live captions
- Direct incoming captioned phone calls to your existing number
- Also does captioned video calls (read lips, faces, gestures)
- Supports most Android devices and iPhones since 2017
- Fast, private, automatic speech-to-text; 40+ languages
- Captions your own voice separately (optional)
Other captioning apps: What they can and can’t do
- Live Transcribe, NALscribe etc speech-to-text apps: Great for visits to shops or friends. Don’t work during phone calls unless you have two devices, and then it is prone to noise, poor acoustics and poor captioning quality, and jumbles in your own words.
- Overseas funded or paid caption apps: Don’t support incoming calls to your existing number.
- The National Relay Service app and TTYs: Don’t support direct incoming calls. A caption stenographer must be dialled, and listens in. For signing: Video Relay only works Mon-Fri during business hours.
Mobile phone accessibility caption settings
- Don’t work during phone calls (sorry Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, Huawei, HTC, LG, ZTE, Sony, Oppo, Alcatel, Aspera…) and/or
- Have language limitations (sorry Australia, New Zealand, Europe, UK…)
How to set up captioning on practically any Smartphone
- Get the Skype app from the Apple or Google Play store
- Add a Skype subscription – e.g., unlimited calls to Australia mobiles and landlines
- Add Skype credit for calls to special numbers (13, etc)
- Add a Skype Number for incoming calls
- In Skype, Settings, Calling: Set Caller ID to your existing mobile number; enable captions for all calls
- On your mobile phone: Forward incoming calls to go to your Skype Number – it’s free for mobile service plans that include calls to national landline numbers.
Alternatively, give people your Skype Number.
Or: Get a Konnekt Captioning Bundle
Use your existing iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablet (just about any device since 2017).
We’ll take care of the Skype account and subscriptions.
As a bonus, you’ll get a Konnekt phone for the home (for captioned phone calls and captioned video calls), so you’re covered during emergencies and when your mobile phone is out of action.
You get a Konnekt Captioning Videophone for home
- It’s the perfect backup for emergencies
- Use it when your mobile is flat, broken or missing
- Use it when you can’t find your hearing aids, glasses or contact lenses
- Optional video calls for reading lips, faces and gestures, on a big 15-inch screen
- Easy to use – one-touch calling
- Large captions, large text up to 7cm tall
- Fully personalized and supported
Deaf and hard-of-hearing Telstra customers and Australian care-home residents are eligible for the Konnekt-Telstra Program. Pay just $5/month (all calls and all Skype fees are included), compared to $30-40/month for doing it yourself.
Konnekt sets up and manages the Skype account, Skype number and subscriptions.
On-going Konnekt support, including additions and changes — all done remotely, without anyone needing to visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
To enter and dial a number
- Open the Skype App on your mobile phone.
- Open the dial pad.
- Enter and call a phone number.
To call right from your device’s contact list
- During Skype set up, sync your phone contact list to Skype
- Find your contact and tap the Skype button
For calls to phone numbers, you’ll need Skype credit or a Skype subscription.
Konnekt customers: We can help you re-use the existing Skype subscriptions, so there’s no more to pay.
If your contact has Skype, then video and audio calls in both directions are free.
Skype calls use just a little data. You can connect your mobile to your Wi-Fi while you’re at home.
- If you’ve set up call forwarding from your mobile phone number to your Skype Number, then calls to either number will ring the Skype app.
- Answer the call hands-free, or wearing headphones, or using Bluetooth to your hearing aids / implant. Wait for captions to start automatically.
Call forwarding is zero cost if your mobile plan includes calls to your Skype Number.
- Open your Phone dialling app.
- Select Settings. You might need to click the 3 dots first.
- Look for Call Forwarding or Supplementary Services.
- Enable regular Call Forwarding (always forward calls). Enter your full Skype Number.
- Open the Settings App.
- Click Phone.
- Find Call Forwarding, then switch it on. Enter your full Skype Number.
The list of available countries includes Australia, UK, USA, New Zealand and many other countries.
If your country is not in this list, we suggest you:
- Get a US Skype Number.
- Incoming calls to your mobile phone number should be forwarded to your US Skype Number, and will cost you as if you were calling a US landline number from your mobile. Ask your mobile service provider for a plan that includes calls to the United States.
Alternatively, give people your Skype Number to call.
Yes. Skype emergency calling from your mobile phone is enabled in most countries.
Skype emergency calls with captions work in Australia, United States, United Kingdom (UK) and some European countries.
Watch the Konnekt Captioning Videophone in action, read what our captioning customers say, or contact us to learn more.