Kisa Phone: A Smart Solution for Older Australians

The Kisa Phone is a game-changer for older Australians who want to stay connected with loved ones and access essential services.

With the Kisa Phone, users can enjoy a simple and intuitive interface that's easy to navigate, even for those who are not tech-savvy.

The phone comes with a range of pre-installed apps that cater to the needs of older Australians, including emergency services and medication reminders.

One of the standout features of the Kisa Phone is its large display and loud speaker, making it perfect for those with hearing impairments or visual difficulties.

The Kisa Phone is a smartphone designed for children, with a focus on safety and education. It's a great alternative to traditional smartphones for kids.

The Kisa Phone has a dedicated app store that offers a curated selection of educational and kid-friendly apps. This ensures that children can only access content that's suitable for their age and maturity level.

It's designed to be easy to use, with a simple and intuitive interface that's perfect for little hands. This makes it easy for kids to navigate and find the apps they want to play with.

The Kisa Phone also has a built-in feature that allows parents to set time limits and schedule downtime for their child's device. This helps promote healthy screen time habits and prevent overuse.

One of the standout features of the Kisa Phone is its ability to monitor and control screen time, with features like app blocking and time limits. This gives parents peace of mind and helps them keep their child safe online.

The Kisa phone is designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind. The phone's layout can be customized to suit the number of people you want to call, from one to 10 contacts.

The phone's colour scheme is also highly customizable, with options available for dementia or low vision, and even a Braille version can be ordered. This makes it a great option for people with specific needs.

The phone's SOS distress button is located on the back and can send out a preset SMS to an authorized number as well as emergency services. This provides an added layer of security and peace of mind.

The phone comes with a range of features, including a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting to a wired headset, and an on/off button and simple volume control. The phone also includes a speaker that can be very loud.

Here are some of the phone's key features:

The Kisa phone is a fantastic option for older Australians who want a simple and easy-to-use mobile. It's designed to be user-friendly, with a straightforward process for selecting the layout, colour scheme, and even Braille version.

The phone's design is thoughtful, with the back containing an SOS distress button and critical contact and health information. This is a lifesaver in an emergency.

The phone's features are also accessible, with a loud speaker and a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting a wired headset. This is a great option for those with hearing impairments or who prefer to use a headset.

A different take: Connect Headset

You can even order a custom SIM to be installed, or use your own SIM with an extra fee. Plans can be adjusted after receiving the phone, but you can't change networks or move to another plan outside the options offered by Kisa.

The kit includes a lanyard to keep the mobile on you at all times, a USB charger, a micro USB cable, and a cradle. The cradle is a great option for easy charging, and leaving the switch in the "on" position is recommended to ensure the phone charges properly.

The phone also has a unique way of showing reception quality, with green lights indicating the strength of the signal. A single blue light means no reception, which is a handy feature to know.

Here are the different reception quality indicators:

The display on the KISA Phone is a game-changer for those who struggle with touchscreen precision. It's completely screen-free, which makes it perfect for people who find it difficult or impossible to use a traditional touchscreen.

The phone features a selection of mechanical buttons that can be labeled with the names of call recipients or even printed pictures of those people. This makes it easy to make calls without having to navigate a complicated menu.

For vision-impaired users, the buttons can be imprinted with braille for selection purposes. This is a thoughtful touch that really shows the KISA Phone's commitment to accessibility.

On the rear of the phone, you can have specific details printed, such as the owner's name and an emergency contact number. This is a practical feature that can be really helpful in an emergency situation.

The Kisa phone is designed to be user-friendly, even for those who need assistance with setup. The admin page called MyKisa allows caregivers to change contact numbers associated with the buttons.

You can adjust the settings to fit the user's needs, such as changing the number of button presses required for a call from one to two or more. This helps prevent accidental calls that can go on for hours.

Caregivers can also enable and disable fee-based services like automatic reminders and GPS tracking online. This gives them control over the features that are most important for the user.

With MyKisa, you can rest assured that the user's device is set up to meet their specific needs.

The KISA Phone is available for purchase with a price tag of $579 as a standalone device. However, if you opt for a KISA plan, the price drops to $389.

KISA offers a range of plans, including Red Essential, Red Unlimited, Blue Essential, and Blue Unlimited. These plans use either Vodafone or Telstra networks, depending on your location.

The Red Essential plan costs $15 per month, with 50 minutes of calling to other phones included. Excess call charges apply at 30c per minute.

The Red Unlimited plan costs $35 per month, with unlimited calling to other phones included. The Blue Essential plan costs $20 per month, with 50 minutes of calling to other phones included. Excess call charges apply at 40c per minute.

The Blue Unlimited plan costs $40 per month, with unlimited calling to other phones included. All KISA to KISA calls are free on all plans.

Here's a summary of the KISA plans:

It's worth considering other plan options at these prices, as many other SIM-only plans can provide better calling value.

The KISA phone is a refreshing approach to mobile phones, stripping back to a call-only device that still looks like a smartphone, making it useful for the elderly or those with a disability.

The entry cost is $214, or $349 for a BYO-SIM configuration, which is $135 more than the tied option. This suggests that the BYO version offers better value.

The phone itself is quite good value, but its plans let it down, making it harder to justify the cost. However, the peace of mind that comes with knowing your relatives are safe and contactable in an emergency might be worth the price.

Is having no phone at all better than a basic phone with a limited phone plan that comes with some upfront costs?