Konnekt Captioning Videophone

Yes and Yes. There are two ways you can call a regular telephone number:

Keypad dialler

Just enter the phone number you wish to dial on the numeric keypad.

It has BIG buttons. Seriously big. Each digit is a few inches wide! You can most likely see and hit the digits even if you forget your glasses.

If the other person answers, then after about 5 or 10 seconds, captions will start, automatically. No buttons to press.

Call buttons

You can have your friends, family, colleagues and important Contacts on one-touch Call Buttons.

Each call button is up to 6 inches wide. The letters are LARGE… up to about 3 inches tall.

Your Videophone comes with buttons already set up (personalized for you).

If you want more buttons, or need to change or remove a button, just ask us. We do it for you, without anyone needing to visit.

Each button can dial, in sequence, up to 5 phone numbers or 5 Skype Names, or a mixture of phone numbers and Skype Names.

• So for example, you can have a BOB button that first calls Bob on Skype so that you can talk face-to-face, then calls Bob’s work number, and then calls Bob at home.
• You can have a FRIENDS button that tries all your important people in your life, one by one until one of them answers, or you can have an ASSIST button that calls up to 5 people who care about you.
• Or you can have an ANNE button that simply calls Anne on her home phone.

If the other person answers, then after about 5 or 10 seconds, captions will start, automatically. No buttons to press.

Call emergency easily

Simply dial 000.

That’s it.

Your conversation with emergency services will be captioned. Automatically.

If required, you can even have a one-touch emergency or 000 button, that dials 000 for you.

Unlimited calls. No surprises.

Videophone comes with a subscription unlimited calls to Australian landlines.

For a little extra (see below), you can also have unlimited calls to Australian mobiles.

We will also have great-value options for calling other countries.

Captions are free. You will not have to pay anything for captions.

And in case you missed it: Captions will start automatically. No buttons to press.

Yes. People can call you in two ways: Video and calls via Skype, and regular telephone calls to your new phone number. Both will be captioned automatically.

Receiving Skype calls

To call you with a video call, your contacts simply need the free Skype app for their mobile, iPad/tablet or computer. The Skype app is free for them to download and install, and free to call you Skype-to-Skype. It uses just a little of their Internet data. It’s very similar to FaceTime, WhatsApp, Viber or Facebook Messenger. They just tap on the Skype icon to start Skype, tap on your name, and tap on the video-camera icon to start a video call (if they want to talk to you face-to-face) or tap on the phone icon to start an audio call.

Just to repeat: If they call you using Skype, their call to you will be free. It will use just a little of their Internet data.

When you answer, after about 5 or 10 seconds, captions will start, automatically. No buttons to press.

Receiving regular phone calls

Each Videophone comes with its own Australian phone number. You can have your choice of a number that starts with 02, 03, 07 or 08.

If you want to have an overseas phone number — for example, if most of your friends and family live in the USA, and you want to have a US phone number so that they can call you more cheaply — we can do that too, for some countries. Or for a little extra, you can have an Australian phone number and an overseas phone number.

For your callers, calling your Videophone phone number will be just like calling any other Australian phone number: They’ll dial your number, you’ll answer, and you’ll talk. And after 5 or 10 seconds, captions will start, automatically. No buttons to press.

Diverting your old phone numbers to Videophone

You can’t “port” (move) your existing phone number to become your Videophone number. Instead, give your contacts your new Videophone number.

You can call-forward (divert) your landline and/or mobile phone services. When contacts call you, Videophone will ring. When you answer, you’ll have captions. Even after 1 Feb 2020.

Call forwarding may bear a cost, depending on your existing phone plan. Check with your existing phone service provider.

Contact your phone service provider or do this to set up call forwarding:

• For Telstra fixed phone services (landlines): Pick up the phone, listen for a dial tone, dial *2 1, enter your Videophone Number, press # and hang up.
• For Optus fixed phone services: Pick up the phone, listen for a dial tone, dial *7 8, enter your Videophone Number, wait for two short beeps, hang up.
• For all mobile phone services: Go to Phone Settings or Call Settings on your mobile phone, or…
• For Telstra mobile phone services: Dial * * 2 1 *, your Videophone Number, * 1 0 #, then press Send or Call.
• For Optus and Vodafone mobile phone services: Dial * * 21 *, your Videophone Number, #, then press Send or Call.

All calls diverted to your Videophone will be captioned. Automatically.

The Konnekt Captioning Videophone offers much more:

• Huge 15-inch screen. About twice the area of an iPad / tablet. Many times bigger than a mobile phone screen. So it’s much easier to see faces, read lips, read captions, interpret facial expressions.
• Big captions. Captions are LARGE. The font size can be changed. Even the default is MUCH bigger than alternatives.
• Clear captions. During a video call, captions are off to one side or above the video frame. So they’ll be easier to read, clearer, and not superimposed over your contact’s face… which means your lip-reading won’t be interrupted.
• Easy to use. Videophone simplifies video and audio calling, and adds automatic captioning.
• 6-inch buttons. The call buttons are up to 6 inches wide, so you can locate and press them even if you’ve forgotten your glasses, or if you need help fast.
• It’s LOUD. Do you have some hearing ability? Videophone’s twin internal speakers are real speakers. Not those little buzzy speakers you get in mobiles, tablets and laptops.
• It can go SUPER loud. We can include a powered external speaker that you can control that can go so loud, it would wake up a person sleeping one or two rooms away!
• Visual ringing. It can flash, buzz a pocket vibrator*, or turn on lights in other rooms* when it’s ringing. No more missed calls or playing telephone-tag. *Extra hardware required (but don’t worry, we can set it up for you).
• Privacy option. You have the option of allowing incoming calls only from known contacts. Remember: This is only an option. It is useful for those who may be vulnerable to scams, or wish to hide from telemarketers or unwanted “friends”.
• Internet. Konnekt can set up and manage Internet for you. Why do that? Well, if we provide the modem/router equipment, then we can take care of it. We’re responsible for it, and we fix any problems. Videophone can restart it every night, to help keep it reliable. And that modem/router is hand-picked, so we know it extremely well… it’s an ultra-reliable device that simply keeps working… it’s not a cheap pocket modem. But if cost is an issue, we can point you to a low-cost Internet service that you can self-manage, either with our modem/router or your own.
• Zero set-up. Videophone just needs to be taken out of the box and stuck on a table. We personalize it with key contacts before we deliver, and configure it to find your Wi-Fi signal and connect, automatically. Or it can connect via a regular LAN cable. Best of all, if you need to make any changes or additions, simply contact us, and those changes will happen without anyone needing to visit, and without you having to do anything to the Videophone whatsoever.
• Disability options. We have a long list of options and accessories to help those with low vision, mobility limitations, poor dexterity, memory loss, acquired brain injury, and, of course, deafness or a hearing impairment. If you’re bed-ridden or chair-bound, no problem: We have customers with bed-mount brackets, customers who use wireless mouse-compatible pointing devices, and customers who use an access button (a huge round “jelly bean” colourful button that has no wires and can answer or make calls for those who can’t use the touchscreen). Oh, and the touchscreen itself is resistive so unlike almost every other touchscreen on the planet, you can operate Videophone with a bandaged hand, glove, prosthetic, telescopic wand or anything.
• Auto-answer, with 2-way video and 2-way audio. But only from trusted Contacts that you nominate. Great for emergencies, when you can’t make it in time to answer.
• IT Support. If there are any problems, we’re in Australia. You can chat with us online (on the web), call us, call us from your Videophone with captioning, or send us email. It’s almost always an Internet problem but don’t worry, we’ll help you get going, even if we’re not managing Internet for you.
• Managed service. We take care of everything. And I mean everything. Need to mount it on a wall? We can ship a bracket. We can even arrange a handyman, through our national installation company, to attach it to your wall for you. Need a little table for it to go on? We can provide that, too.
• Reliability. Many of our users are overseas or interstate from family and are not at all IT-savvy. Videophone has to just keep working! We use a bag of tricks to make it super reliable. Some of these tricks are under the hood… we can remotely diagnose problems, and we are alerted when something is going wrong so that we can preemptively fix the problem before you even notice. Software updates happen silently, overnight, unattended. Some of our tricks are not obvious… for example, we can disable the power switch (an option many of our customers love) to prevent someone from accidentally or deliberately turning it off. And some of our tricks are just super cool, like the optional power-outlet covers that help prevent the cleaner from unplugging the one device you rely on the most in your life, for connecting with the outside world.

There’s a CICADA video that says it all, that reached my heart:

Blindness disconnects you from things.

Deafness disconnects you from people.

So your Konnekt Captioning Videophone will help connect you to people. Face-to-face, as well as for regular calls.

And all captioned.

How captioning works until 1 Feb 2020

As you know, your old captioning phone will no longer be supported from 1 Feb 2020. Your old captioning phone used the Australian government’s National Relay Service (NRS) to provide captioning. The NRS employed humans, known as relay officers or relay agents, who used a computer to automatically convert from voice to text. If there are any errors, and if there are not too many errors and they are able to spot the errors fast enough, they correct the errors. Of course, having to correct the errors adds a time delay. The positive is that the accuracy is quite high. Proper nouns (place names like Gunnamatta and names like Rheagan) may be corrected, but only if the relay officer knows those places and can spell those names. The relay officers are trained and many are used to listening to common accents.

How captioning works with your Konnekt

Your Konnekt Captioning Videophone uses automatic captioning using the Skype service. Skype is owned by Microsoft, which is one of the largest companies in the world. Microsoft purchased Skype for US $8.5 billion in 2011. Microsoft completely redeveloped the Skype apps and updated the server infrastructure in 2016-2017. Microsoft continues to invest heavily in Skype and releases an update every week or two, so it’s getting better.

On 3 December 2018, Skype joined the world in celebrating the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities with the launch of live call captions and subtitles. In their press release, Skype announced that captioning works on one-on-one video calls, calls to/from any phone number, as well as in group calls. Live captions offer you a more inclusive experience, especially for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The Skype-based captioning does not rely on the Australian government’s captioning service. It does not use any humans. The live captions are optimized to be fast, continuous, and contextually updated as people speak.

What does “contextually updated” mean? It means that as your friend speaks and continues finishing the sentence or phrase, the Skype captioning service will look at the meaning of the entire phrase spoken so far, and will go back and correct errors! This is best illustrated with an example:

1. Your friend says, “Flour would be” but the captions say “Flower would be“.
2. Your friend says, “…needed in this cake recipe.” Aha, the context is baking. A correction is made automatically, so now the captions say “Flour would be needed in this cake recipe.“

Here’s another example:

1. Your friend says, “Red” but the captions say “Led“.
2. Your friend says, “…is my favourite colour.” Aha, the context is  colour. A correction is made automatically, so now the captions say “Red is my favourite colour.“

(These are artificial examples. I’ll replace them with actual examples soon, but this is exactly the way it looks).

Of course, it won’t always work this well, but when it does, it’s fast. Very fast. And it might bring a smile to your face. It certainly did for me!

In our experience at Konnekt, the Skype-based captioning is surprisingly accurate, fast, and very convenient. Of course, there are some errors, and it can take a few seconds to get going. The accuracy can vary depending on the speaker’s speed and accent — but the same is true of the existing service. It will not be error-free, and you might need to remind some people to speak clearly.

We have compared Skype-based captioning with Google’s voice-to-text (which is renowned for its accuracy, thanks also to context-sensitive captioning). They are comparable. The accuracy depended much more on the accoustics and the person speaking, than on the choice of captioning platform.

We didn’t trust our own judgement, so we asked someone who represents CICADA in Queensland. (CICADA represents Australians with hearing loss who have cochlear implants). She told us that she herself sometimes used an app to do automatic captioning. She said that the best apps are good at it. She also told us that people with deafness or hearing loss are used to coping with errors, and that they become good at correcting errors “in their head” after they read the captioning. And she tried Skype-based captioning, and gave it the big thumbs-up. So on that basis, we believe that Skype-based captioning is the best replacement available, is fast, and will be a huge benefit.

And it’s private. No humans listening.

Languages

The Konnekt Captioning Videophone supports captioning in English by default.

If your first language is not English, or if you want to have a phone call or video call with someone who speaks another language, don’t worry:

The Konnekt Captioning Videophone can do captions in many other languages, such as German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Portugese, Russian and Chinese.

So, the person who is speaking to you can speak in his/her first language.

This is something new, that we believe is not supported by the current captioning service.

You’ll finally be able to talk to those overseas relatives, or local friends, in your favourite language!

We will make a complete list of languages available. If you can’t wait, just ask us.

Partial and full deafness

• Extra loud: Two large internal speakers. Much bigger than iPad/tablet laptop speakers.
• Super loud: Optional powered external speaker.
• Hearing-aids, cochlear implants: Compatible. No squeals. Audio output for a hearing-aid loop / amplifier.
• Buzz: Videophone can buzz a pocket vibrator, when someone calls in.
• Lights: Videophone can turn on lamps in other rooms, when someone calls. Small extra cost.
• Sign language: Supports 1-way or 2-way sign language, and the free Auslan video-relay service.
• Lip reading: High-quality video supports reading of lips, facial expressions, body language.
• Screen-sharing: Your Skype contacts can share their screen to your Videophone. Photos, text, browser, social media. Anything.
• Automatic captions: No human involved. Privacy. Low delay. Keeps working after 1 Feb 2020.

Low vision

For those with blindness or poor eyesight:

• High-contrast colours: Ask for our colour scheme #4
• Huge screen: 15 inches (2 to 4 times the area of a tablet; even bigger than the $1,700 iPad)
• Big buttons: Up to 6 inches wide, large text over 200-point
• Wireless access button option: Make and answer calls without using the touchscreen
• Wide frame: Room for textured or Braille stickers
• Auto-answer: Zero-touch, for incoming calls from only the trusted callers that you nominate

Mobility / dexterity limitations

For those with shaky hands and those who are chair-bound, bed-ridden, or simply slow to move:

• Wireless access button option: Make and answer calls without using the touchscreen
• Ability mouse: Works with mouse-compatible pointing devices (joysticks, joy-pads, head-mouse, foot-mouse)
• Resistive touchscreen: Works with gloved hand, prosthetic, telescopic wand, anything
• VESA-100: Use any monitor arm or TV bracket for mounting to wall, ceiling, desk, chair or bed*
• Auto-answer: But only for incoming calls from trusted callers that you nominate

Dementia / learning difficulties

For those with memory loss, dementia, acquired brain injury or a mental impairment:

• Easy: Konnekt won Best Consumer Friendly Product at ITAC-2017.
• Incredibly easy: We have users in their late 90s. There’s nothing to remember.
• Personalised: Konnekt sets it all up for you and customises the screen.
• Zero set-up: Un-box and plug into a power outlet. It connects to Internet automatically.
• Automatic captions: Captions start automatically on all calls. No buttons to press.
• Languages: Some dementia patients revert to their first language. Videophone can caption in other languages.
• Changes service: We do changes for you, such as adding a call button for a new friend, without anyone needing to visit.

Yes.

Government funding and assistive technologies

The Konnekt Captioning Videophone is a type of Assistive Technology knowns as a Communication Aid. If you have a hearing impairment or other disability, you very likely qualify for government funding, but there are waiting lists. You need to act now!

How funding works

Many Konnekt Videophone users have already purchased or rented their Videophone using NDIS or MyAgedCare funding. A few have even paid for a 30-day trial using their funding.

• Videophone is a Communication Aid, which is a type of Assistive Technology designed to support those with hearing loss, a speech impairment, low vision, limited mobility / dexterity, dementia, a learning difficulty, or other disability.
• Both NDIS and MyAgedCare (HCP and CHSP) funding can be used towards Assistive Technology. If you’re on DVA, please ask.
• Seniors already in residential aged care (sometimes called a nursing home or care home) generally cannot get MyAgedCare funding. So if there is a chance that you or a loved one may need to move into residential aged care soon or within the next 2 years, don’t wait. Apply now. The waiting time can be over 6 months. And sometimes, health can decline quickly.
• There’s a waiting list for MyAgedCare funding, and an assessment process… so if you’re over 65, apply now. The assessment process is called ACAS or ACAT. Contact MyAgedCare or talk to Konnekt.
• Konnekt has a government-funding information sheet available. Simply contact us and we can help you get started. Did you know that Konnekt has online chat, right here on the Konnekt website? It’s that blue talking bubble on the bottom right of every page.

A captioning video phone can help increase connection with the community, reduce social isolation and depression risk, improve safety in the home, take care of daily activities, increase employment opportunities, get assistance when you need it, and enable you to communicate effectively with family and friends, colleagues, care providers and medical professionals.

NDIS

NDIS funding is generally for those under 65 with a disability such as hearing impairment.

If you already have NDIS funding, your Audiologist, Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist or other health professional who understands your needs can recommend a Konnekt within the Daily Living outcome framework. Contact us for the correct NDIS support-item number to use.

If you do not yet have NDIS funding, contact NDIS or a local NDIS Plan Manager as soon as possible to apply. In the meantime, we suggest you trial or rent a captioning video phone.

MyAgedCare

The MyAgedCare Home Care Package (HCP) is generally for those over 65 who require supports to help them remain at home or live independently. Supports may include assistive technology, such as a Konnekt.

If you already have a Home Care Package, then under the new Consumer Directed Care (CDC) framework, you decide (within guidelines) how to best use your funds. Simply contact your Care Manager or service provider who manages your package, and put them in touch with Konnekt.

If you do not yet have MyAgedCare funding, we strongly suggest you immediately seek a Care Manager and apply because the waiting time can be 6 months or longer. Contact Konnekt for Care Manager suggestions. In the meantime, we suggest you trial or rent a captioning video phone.

For Carers

Do you help care for someone who is often alone and at risk of falling, or falling ill? The Konnekt enables trusted, nominated carers to “check in” with 2-way video and audio, using auto-answer, in case of a problem or emergency.

Act Now!

It’s your right, as an Australian, to have access to support services and assistive technologies to help you live a full life and to carry out daily activities with ease. Connection to the community is vital, and we all need easy access to support lines and emergency services.

Don’t leave it too late!

Video calls are better than audio-only calls. Especially for those with a hearing impairment.

• Non-verbal communications: Read lips. Interpret facial expressions. Body language. Use sign language. Use AUSLAN video relay. Show flash cards.
• Greater safety: Trusted family or care-givers can check-in, visually, with selective-caller auto-answer — but only for the callers that you nominate.
  This has helped to save a person’s life.
• Reduced social isolation: Social isolation and loneliness are linked to poor sleep, high blood pressure, depression, dementia and morbidity. As a health risk, social isolation is worse than smoking or obesity. Learn more about social isolation or read our ATSA-2018 conference presentation that we delivered in Queensland.
• Reduced depression risk: For those with a severe hearing impairment, depression is (statistically) a greater risk. A study published in 2019 in a medical journal showed that video chat reduced social isolation and halved depression risk. Those who used only non-video communications showed no reduction in depressive symptoms. The study, called Using Skype to Beat the Blues, was led by Dr Alan Teo, a Professor at the Oregon Health and Science University.
• Improved cognitive function: A study published in a 2015 medical journal showed that increased social engagement via video calling actually improved cognitive function. The study ran for just 6 weeks, and involved 30 minutes of daily face-to-face conversation using video calling. The results were so positive that two 5-year follow-on studies have been funded by the National Health Institute, to quantify the long-term benefits, for those with Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia, as well as those without dementia (but who may be at risk). The study authors suggested in their research paper that video calling could be used in the prevention and intervention/treatment of dementia. Read the detailed medical research paper by Dr Dodge and team, or learn how to help prevent dementia.

To use the Konnekt Captioning Videophone:

• No phone service required: You do not need an active phone service. The Videophone makes and receives both video calls and regular phone calls using the Internet.
  Many of our Konnekt Videophone users cancel their landline telephone service, their mobile phone service, or both.
• Requires Internet: The Videophone needs to be connected to the Internet. It uses the Internet for video calls, regular phone calls, and captioning.
• Any type of Internet is OK: You can use any type of Internet connection, such as ADSL, Cable, NBN, Optical, or mobile Internet. In Australia, Internet is sometimes called broadband… it’s the same thing.
• It works with NBN: Yes, it works with any type of NBN Internet connection. Make sure your NBN service is not just an NBN voice service. Make sure it includes NBN data. There is a lot of confusion about this in Australia. Many people are frightened of NBN and tell us that they “don’t want NBN because they don’t want Internet.” And many people don’t understand that you can have an NBN voice-only service that does not include Internet data. If you’re not sure, contact Konnekt and we can help.
• Uses only a little Internet data: The Videophone uses hardly any Internet data, even for video calling. About 85% of our users use less than 5GB per month of data. Those who only use their Videophone for regular phone calls use even less data — typically less than 1 or 2 GB per month.
• Wi-Fi or wired: Videophone connects to your modem/router either via Wi-Fi or using any regular network cable (sometimes called an Ethernet LAN cable or CAT-6 cable). Don’t worry: We can supply a cable, we can help you with a reliable modem/router if required, and we can set up the Wi-Fi before we deliver Videophone.
• Low-cost recommendation: If you do not use Internet for anything else, you can get a pre-paid Internet plan for just $14.95 per month (4GB) or $19.95 per month (5GB). Ask us where. No contracts! Month-by-month. So if you’re on an existing plan with Internet plus telephone, you might end up paying far less than you are today.
• Konnekt managed Internet: For those who don’t want to fiddle with modems and SIM cards or worry about top-ups and plan changes, Konnekt can set up and manage your Internet for you. This includes a HIGHLY RELIABLE modem/router that simply keeps working, that will live in the same room as your Videophone, preferably near a window.
• BYO Internet: If you already have an Internet plan that you’re happy with, Konnekt can set up your Videophone to connect automatically via Wi-Fi. If you have a bundle/plan that gives you a phone and Internet service, then once you use your Videophone for your phone calls, you can likely save money by switching to a lower-cost bundle/plan that doesn’t include unlimited phone calls (for example). In addition, you’ll save on your call costs, because your Videophone plan includes unlimited calls to landlines, unlimited calls to mobiles that use Skype, and optionally, calls to all Australian mobiles for a little extra.

So in summary: You won’t need a phone service. You will need an Internet service. And Konnekt can help you get the best-value Internet service for your needs.

The Konnekt Captioning Videophone is not yet on the market. Here is our indicative pricing.

These prices include GST. If you are on NDIS funding, you do not pay GST.

Buy it

Recommended for those who already have government funding.

• $990 up-front. Includes personalization of all contacts and preferences. Includes delivery. Optional powered external speaker. Optional side table (black, white or timber-colour).
• Monthly service fee: Between $34.90 and $39.90 per month. What does this cover? Unlimited video calls. Unlimited calls to landline phones. Unlimited calls to your Contacts’ mobile phones that are running the Skype app. A phone number (02, 03, 07 or 08) that people can call you on, from any phone, anywhere in the world. IT Support. Software updates, done silently, overnight, unattended. Additions/changes to all contacts and preferences, done by us, without anyone needing to visit.

Rent-buy it

Recommended for those who do not have government funding, are about to apply, or are on the waiting list.

• Between $79.90 and $99.90 per month (TBD). 3-month minimum.
• $200 refundable security deposit.
• Delivery included. Optional powered external speaker. Optional side table (black, white or timber-colour).
• After 3 months, you can return it at any time, in good working order, without penalty. No exit fees! We hate exit fees.
• If you decide you want to buy it early, we’ll calculate a pay-out figure, so that you save.
• A portion of your monthly rent goes towards paying off your Videophone. After Videophone is fully paid off, you own it. The monthly fee will then drop to between $34.90 and $39.90 per month.

30-day trial

• $89.90. Includes optional powered external speaker, optional side table, and — if you don’t have Internet — our highly reliable 4G mobile Internet modem/router with SIM card and at least 5GB pre-paid Internet data.
• $39 delivery (or pick up from our offices in Chelsea, south-east Melbourne).
• $200 refundable security deposit.

Call plans

Your Konnekt Captioning Videophone comes with:

• An Australian phone number (your choice of 02, 03, 07 or 08).
• Unlimited calls to Australian landline phones (excludes 13, 1300 and premium numbers). No surprises.
• Unlimited video calls, to anybody using Skype, worldwide.
• Unlimited calls to your Contacts’ mobile phones if they are running the free Skype app.

For a little extra, you can add:

• $23 per month: Unlimited calls to Australian mobile phones that are not running Skype. So you can call any 04 number.
• $5 – $10 per month: Unlimited calls to landline phones in one overseas country. (A few countries are unavailable — please ask).
• $15 per month: Unlimited calls to landlines in over 60 countries and mobile phones in 8 overseas countries.

Optional Extras

• Access button (wired or wireless): For those with a mobility limitation (bed-ridden or chair-bound). $POA
• Calls to mobile phones that are not running the Skype app. $POA
• International calls: Calls to landlines in one other country, or over 60 countries. Keep in mind that you can already call anyone in practically any country if they have the free Skype app. $POA
• Internet: Konnekt can set up and manage your Internet service. Please contact us for details. No contract. Alternatively, if you are happy to manage your own Internet and you will only use Internet for your Videophone, we can show you how to get Internet for less than $20 per month.
• UPS: Uninterruptable power supply. Keeps your Videophone and 4G mobile Internet modem going for hours, running on battery power, even during a power outage! Vital for those who need access to emergency services even during a power outage. (Note that most common flavours of NBN may fail during a power outage; this is why we recommend mobile Internet if you are getting an uninterrupted power supply).

Captioning phone price comparison

The existing captioning phone and captioning service were very heavily subsidized by the Australian government. This will end on 1 February 2020.

The Konnekt Captioning Videophone can be subsidized too, but under a totally different government scheme: Either MyAgedCare or NDIS.

If you have severe hearing loss or deafness, the Konnekt Captioning Videophone can be fully paid for using MyAgedCare or NDIS funding. Conditions apply. See our earlier answer on how to apply. Act now!

About Konnekt

• Established 2013: Konnekt is a fully Australian company, with offices in Chelsea in the south-east of Melbourne.
• Global sales: Konnekt develops and sells the Konnekt Videophone worldwide including Australia, UK and Europe, USA, Canada, Africa and Asia.
• Konnekt won the award Best Consumer Friendly Product in Queensland at the ITAC-2017 conference.
• Invited to speak: Konnekt was invited to speak and presented at the ATSA 2018 seminar in Melbourne to an audience largely of Occupational Therapists. We delivered the results of medical research into social isolation, depression and the huge benefits of face-to-face conversation via video calling.
• AACTC: John Nakulski, Co-Founder of Konnekt, was nominated Assistant Investigator of the AACTC (Australian Aged Care Technologies Collaborative) in October 2019. AACTC was established in Queensland at the Menzies Health Institute. AACTC is charged with surveying the needs of older Australians who have disabilities, identifying gaps in Assistive Technologies, and making recommendations for medical research studies.

Want to know more? Read the Konnekt founders story.

How to contact a real person at Konnekt

Phone, Skype or email: Just visit our Contact page for details. To email us, fill in our contact form.

Chat: When we’re available online, you’ll see a blue talking-bubble at the bottom-right of any page of our website.

How can I help Konnekt develop a fantastic product that I will love?

We have been asked, by people in the Australian hearing-loss community, to please add captioning and a dialler keypad to our Konnekt Videophone. These two features are needed to create the very first Konnekt Captioning Videophone.

• We already have automatic captioning working in our lab, on a Konnekt Captioning Videophone prototype.
• If we get a few dozen people to put a deposit down, using this web page, it will give us the confidence to complete our development and release a robust product more quickly.

In return, you’ll jump ahead of the queue. You’ll be one of the first to receive a Konnekt Captioning Videophone.

You’ll also receive a discount on your first few monthly payments:

• If you have not yet applied for NDIS or MyAgedCare funding, or if you are on a wait list, then you’ll really appreciate the discount!
• If you already have government funding, then when your Konnekt Captioning Videophone is ready, we can return your deposit to you, and you can use your government funding as you wish to purchase or rent-buy your Videophone.

You will also have the opportunity to provide direct feedback to our development team, to help ensure that your Konnekt Captioning Videophone is easy to use, and does what you want it to do. So in a very real way, you’ll have the opportunity to become part of our extended team. Maybe it doesn’t mean much, but you can feel proud that you helped solve a problem being felt by over 4,000 Australians.

You’ll help us make it happen quickly, well before the 1 Feb 2020 deadline.

For those with deafness or a severe hearing impairment, having a captioning phone is considered vital. It is your lifeline, your link to the community, your connection to family and friends.

Please help us to help you and many others. If any of the details of our offer are not clear, don’t hesitate to contact Konnekt.