What Our Customers Say
Real testimonials, real stories.
Real testimonials, real stories.
“I just wanted to let you know what a huge difference it has made to all our lives. What a massive difference! The connection is instant, the picture clarity is really good – and because Rodney is profoundly deaf, the subtitles are an incredible help. Rodney is so clear… the difference it has made is incredible!”
— Dorothy (wife), England
“Seriously, I didn’t know something like the Konnekt videophone existed. When I came across it through browsing the internet, I ordered it straight away. My wife being a deaf person needed a TTY so she could talk to and read what her family and siblings overseas…when I got [Konnekt Captioning Videophone] for her she is beaming with joy since it is not only taken care of her conversations with her family but is also set up for emergencies.”
— Mario for Janet Desouza, Konnekt-Telstra Program Participant, Melbourne, Australia
“What a wonderful day we have had… it’s almost like visiting my husband’s room in the nursing home… He has been visited by some of his friends and I’ve been able to thank staff who have come into his room. I love to dial in and see that he is sitting peacefully which makes my day more peaceful too… It has exceeded my expectations.”
— Martha Freeman, NY, United States
“My 96-year-old mother who is profoundly deaf was so frustrated at not being able to understand a normal conversation over the phone… Once she obtained the Konnekt videophone and overcame her initial hesitancy of using this “new phone” to make and receive phone calls, her outlook on life changed. [The Captioning Videophone] keeps her in touch and has certainly lifted her spirit and lessened any frustration she had with making and receiving phone calls.”
— Bruce Black, Konnekt-Telstra Program Participant, Australia
“Mum is finding the captioned calls to be a vast improvement over the legacy phone. She finds the touchscreen to be simple to use. The large font and bright text make it easy to read even with her failing eyesight. Konnekt’s captioning phone is the only real alternative for hearing-impaired seniors.”
— Peter Cole (son), Australia
“Life changing device, team at Konnekt couldn’t have been friendlier, efficient and super helpful. Thank you so much for making my elderly mother very happy and now in daily contact with family.”
— Valerie Curic (daughter), Sydney, Australia (Captioning is in the Croatian language for her mother).
“We recommend the Konnekt phone to our patients as it is extremely helpful to have the vision aid of the captioning and to be able to see the caller’s face when they have a hearing loss. As many of our patients are elderly, they find that it is much easier to use the larger buttons of the Konnekt phone than a traditional handset.”
— Nick Modrovich, Audiologist / Director, Ability Hearing and Balance, TAS
“As a Hearing Specialist, I often see how challenging modern technology can be for the elderly, especially as devices get smaller with more complex interfaces. That’s why I recommend the Konnekt video phone. Its large screen and straightforward user interface stand out in the market, making it incredibly easy for seniors to stay connected with family and friends. The simplicity of the Konnekt ensures that maintaining these important relationships is seamless and stress-free. It’s not just a phone; it’s a gateway to greater everyday comfort and connection for your loved ones.”
— Musthafa Mohammed, Audiologist and Director, Audience Hearing, NSW
Life Changing. Helped with Depression, Decreased Fall Risk:
“Dulcie has really taken to the video phone after a couple of months of trepidation (the automated answer feature helped her adjust to using the technology). She now initiates calls and calls someone every day. The phone has been life changing for her.”
— Kylie Jones, Occupational Therapist, NSW, Australia
Cheryl Kolff, a retired nurse, used the Konnekt video phone to check on her 84-year-old mother, who has Alzheimer’s. While overseas, Cheryl noticed her mother’s deteriorating health via Skype and was able to call paramedics in time to save her from a life-threatening bowel obstruction. Cheryl believes the video phone was vital in preventing a potentially fatal situation.
“If it was not for the Konnekt video phone assisting me to visualize my Mum, I am pretty certain my Mum would have died…”
— Cheryl Kolff (daughter), Retired Nurse
“My 84 year old mother has Alzheimer’s disease. Mum lives independently in an over 55’s retirement village interstate. She wears an Emergency Assist button “just in case”.
In September I visited Mum and found her ill with an acute bowel problem. Mum hadn’t told anyone she was unwell, or that she hadn’t eaten or drunk fluids for several days. This illness really hit home how fragile Mum was becoming.
I was due to travel overseas a few weeks later so I implemented some measures to assist Mum. One measure was a video phone from Konnekt which would allow me to use Skype with her and was also simple for Mum to use. I wanted to be able to see Mum when I was away as she had become very labile in her ability to inform family, friends and her GP when she had pain, or was feeling unwell.
When I left Australia, Mum was feeling okay. Three weeks later we spoke on the video phone and she said her abdominal pains had returned. Thankfully she had taken herself to see her GP that afternoon. Unfortunately, the x-ray procedure he ordered was not available for a week or so later and Mum was not able to inform him as he had gone home for the weekend. Subsequent Skype sessions over the weekend enabled me to visually check on Mum’s condition: she appeared stable.
I decided to call her via Skype early Monday morning Australian time to find out her exact x-ray appointment date so that I could ask her GP to push for it to be performed earlier. I have Mum’s video phone configured so if she doesn’t answer it opens up anyway, allowing me to see what is happening. On this occasion Mum didn’t answer and the video phone went to automatic opening just as she was coming into view. I could see she looked very unwell and was in obvious need of an ambulance. To cut a long story short, the video phone allowed me use my nursing skills to assess my Mum and determine that her bowel was possibly obstructed and that she was dehydrated. Due to her age and heart problems Mum was heading towards a potentially catastrophic event i.e. a cardiac arrest.
The video phone allowed me to observe my Mum and comfort her whilst waiting for the paramedics to arrive. It also allowed me to tell the paramedics what had happened as they assessed her before taking her to the Emergency Department. Mum was diagnosed with a bowel obstruction and was operated on that day.
If it was not for the Konnekt video phone assisting me to visualize my Mum, I am pretty certain my Mum would have died a very horrible death in her unit within 24-48 hours as her recent behaviour suggests she would not have told anyone how she felt.”
— Cheryl
Sandy Flohrs shares how the Konnekt video phone allows her to check on her mother, who has dementia, even when she can’t visit daily. The auto-answer feature ensures her mother stays hydrated, and video calls bring joy and much-needed social interaction. Sandy appreciates the peace of mind it brings and highlights how the auto-answer function solves communication challenges.
“Adequate water consumption has been a huge challenge… Her face just lights up when she gets a call… I have her read this material to me…”
— Sandy Flohrs, Minnesota, USA
“I just wanted you to know how much I am enjoying using the Konnekt system to communicate with my mother. It has performed flawlessly. Although I am able to physically visit her four days a week, I no longer need to worry about seemingly simple things (is she drinking enough water or flossing her teeth) on the days that I cannot see her. Adequate water consumption has been a huge challenge for her and, understandably, the staff at her memory care facility is not able to monitor this as closely as I would like. Now, I can check on her progress and even prompt her to get another bottle out of the closet.
Her face just lights up when she gets a call. Seeing that brings a smile to my face as well. She enjoys reading to me and the Konnekt video calls provide her with social interaction that she would otherwise be lacking. It has brought me such peace of mind and has been an absolute blessing to us both. Thank you for developing this product AND for your amazing customer support while we setup the system!
Like many dementia patients, my mom’s mind is stuck in the past. She grew up in a very small rural town in Minnesota. I was fortunate to find some historical documentation and photos about the community as well as her family. They were immigrants from Sweden who settled there and established businesses in the 19th and 20th centuries. We also have family-written documentation to provide her with interesting and amusing anecdotal records. It is difficult to have casual conversations so I have her read this material to me then I can comment or ask questions which engages her.
One thing that I would like to make more clear for others that are considering your product is this: Mom’s dementia limits her comprehension to the point that she is not able to pick up a receiver or even push a button without someone telling her to do so. Konnekt has solved that problem with it’s auto-answer capability for selected contacts.”
— Sandy
“The Konnekt video phone system has really helped Dad connect better with friends and family. As he is becoming deaf, seeing the caller helps him to lip read, the sound volume is stronger and the tone is clearer than a standard mobile phone. Also, he doesn’t have to remember phone numbers! The simplicity of the system enables him to be more connected to family and friends, reducing his sense of isolation and aloneness.”
— Wendy Wintersgill (daughter), Registered Nurse
“Konnekt has been a great way for our brother to stay in touch with the family. He has really enjoyed it and quickly mastered the simple to use setup despite his disabilities and lack of computer experience. The support to get started was a great help.”
— Elizabeth Richards, Australia
“For me it is magic! It has given me peace of mind and my 97-year-old mom loves it! She feels less isolated, and has more social interaction and mental stimulation. Now we can have wonderful “face-to-face” conversations for as long as we want whether it’s a quick chat, a longer discussion, or a call just to say good morning or goodnight!”
— Jayne C, Albert, Canada (Mum at Hibiscus Coast, New Zealand)
“Konnekt Videophone maintains the connection between my children, myself and my parents – the distance now between Europe and Australia has been minimised. So easy that with the press of a button my parents are in our living room!!!! Fabulous!”
— Ruth Vlahos, Greece
“For older adults the probability of developing symptoms of depression steadily increases as the frequency of face-to-face social contact decreases. Our research showed that such an effect did not exist for phone, written, or email contact. What does this mean? Social isolation is bad for your mental health, and regular face-to-face social interactions are likely a great way to help prevent depression.”
— Prof Alan Teo, M.D., M.S., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University
“Mum got a lot of enjoyment from the videophone. And it became quite the talking point in her community. We are just sorry we hadn’t become aware of it much sooner. Operation of the landline was a problem we had been trying to solve for quite a few years.”
— Noel B (son), Glenelg VIC
“Just wanted to tell u mum was so excited at her first few calls she started to cry. Tears of happiness, she said. A very good reaction from our mum! Since then she has rung us all several times, including me again at 7 this morning. Hopefully the novelty will calm soon.”
— Anne-Marie “Ree” (daughter of 89-year-old Hazel), Tweed Heads NSW
Already Seeing Cognitive Improvements:
“I am delighted with your innovative product and very grateful for the improvements that I am already seeing in Norma (she has significant cognitive decline).”
— Amanda Hill (daughter), Margaret River WA
“June now calls me most days and her overall wellbeing has improved out of sight… this has given her back her independence.”
— Derek Clapton, Aged Care Volunteer
Hear how Chris’s mother, with severe hearing loss, used Captioning Videophone to talk to family and friends — with captions and, during video calls, lip reading too.
Watch Derek explain why his mother is less lonely and what she likes about her Videophone.