--- title: "Amidou, the voice box that brings families closer" description: "Amidou is a voice box for your older loved ones. One button, no screen: they listen to your voice messages, and you know when they've heard them." url: "https://www.amidou.eu/en" lang: "en" --- # Grandma missed your call. Amidou, the voice box for your older loved ones Send a voice message. Your loved one just presses a button on Amidou to listen. Discover Amidou [Open the app](https://app.amidou.eu) ## Amidou complements the ways you keep in touch Simply let your loved ones know you're thinking of them, as often as you like. Amidou is a reassuring presence in their daily lives, simple to use, suited to a wide range of personal situations. And for the whole family, the certainty that your messages have been heard. ## How Amidou works ### You record a voice message Every family member can send a message from their own phone, or from the web. ### It lights up, she presses One button, and your voice. She listens again as often as she likes, with nothing to dial or charge. ### You're notified Each time she listens, you're kept in the loop. No camera. Just: she heard it. A simple, discreet voice box Easy setup: plug it in, it works ## Why does it work? ### It complements the mobile phone Grandma doesn't need to keep her phone on her to hear your voice. ### It's always there to use Thanks to its single, glowing button. Suited to impaired sight or a weak grip, it can be used in any circumstances, straight away. ### No need to be free at the same time Its messaging system plays every message received while she was away, with a single press of the button. ## Amidou in action Between two calls, a voice message of a few seconds, when it suits you. She listens when it suits her. Camille Between work and her two children, her weekday evenings are full. She records her messages late in the evening, once the children are in bed. Her mother listens to them every morning, with her coffee. Voice message from Camille > “Mum, we made your crêpes again. The kids put in far too much sugar, it would make you grumble.” Sent Tuesday, 9:04 pm Heard Wednesday at 8:15 am Lucie, 5 Lucie has moved to Canada. She always tells her grandpa about her day when she gets home from school; in France it is late by then, so he listens when he gets up: the time difference is not a problem. Voice message from Lucie, 5 > “Grandpa, at school I painted your house with a big sun. Daddy's going to send you the photo!” Sent Wednesday, 10:35 pm Heard Thursday at 7:30 am Thomas He sees his mother almost every weekend, and he likes to let her know as soon as he gets on the train. Voice message from Thomas > “Hi, I'm getting on the train now. I'll be at yours in an hour. Lots of love!” Sent Saturday, 10:12 am Heard at 10:14 am ## They support us - [Combo — Les Liens du Sud](https://inter-made.org/Les-liens-du-Sud) - [Ronalpia](https://www.ronalpia.fr/) - Advenir Lab - [Valence Romans Innov](https://valenceromansinnov.fr/) - [Malakoff Humanis](https://www.malakoffhumanis.com/) - [AG2R La Mondiale](https://www.ag2rlamondiale.fr/) - [Banque des Territoires](https://www.banquedesterritoires.fr/) - [Agirc-Arrco](https://www.agirc-arrco.fr/) Our story ## It started with Maguy Léo designed the first Amidou for his grandmother during lockdown, when they could no longer see each other. She used it so much that she broke it within a month. We took that as a compliment. Amidou is assembled and repaired in France. Our mission: enrich family ties by complementing the phone: Amidou is always available and easy to use. Léo founder Engineer, 15 years' experience in embedded systems. Romain right-hand man (or left-hand) 10 years' experience in sales, marketing and operations. ## FAQ ### It can't take the place of the phone. Exactly: Amidou complements it. It takes over when the phone isn't enough: a missed call, a phone left in another room, eyes or fingers that tire. ### Is it complicated? There's a single button. When a message arrives, a light comes on; she presses it and hears your voice. ### Grandma knows how to use technology. Good. But her phone also rings with cold calls: 72% of French people get them every week on their mobile. And knowing how to use it is one thing, enjoying it is another. With Amidou, only invited loved ones reach her, and she hears them at the press of a button. Source: [UFC-Que Choisir, 2023](https://www.quechoisir.org/actualite-demarchage-telephonique-le-harcelement-passe-par-le-smartphone-n111966/) ### I'm not old, I don't see the point. There's no age for missing a call! In the UK, almost one in four 18-34 year-olds never answer when someone calls them. Amidou suits every age and every situation. Source: [Uswitch / Opinium, 2024](https://www.uswitch.com/media-centre/2024/04/Call-me-maybe-quarter-young-people-never-answer-phone/) ### Does she need a phone? Your loved one needs none. You and the rest of the family send your messages from the Amidou app, on your phone. ### How do you set it up? You need a power socket and Wi-Fi. Give us your loved one's Wi-Fi when you order: we save it in her Amidou, which connects as soon as it's plugged in. Otherwise, someone close to her sets it up on the spot from the Amidou's page, on a phone or a computer. ### Is it suitable for a very old person? Yes. Its single, glowing button stays usable in any circumstances, including with impaired sight or a weak grip. Nothing to read, dial or charge. ### Is there a subscription? Yes: €49 to buy, then €9.90 a month. No commitment: stop whenever you like, and the Amidou stays with your loved one. ### How does delivery work? Delivery is free, in 2 to 5 days by Colissimo. Returns are free, refunded within 14 days. ### What about grandpas? We love them too! If we mostly talk about grandmas, it simply reflects who we've met: far more grandmothers than grandfathers. Amidou works the same way for everyone. ### Who can talk to her? The loved ones you invite from the app. No one else, never any cold calling. ### Does it monitor her? No. The device has no camera. You only know that a message has been heard. Photo credit: [Maria Ivanova](https://unsplash.com/@marishphoto) LONELINESS ## Loneliness is a major issue. In France, 2.5 million people aged 60 and over feel lonely every day or almost every day. Isolation speeds up cognitive and physical decline. It is a concern shared by many families, and a real public health issue. Yet staying in touch can be simple and respect everyone's freedom. 2M older people cut off from family and friends in France 2.5x more people cut off from almost all social contact than in 2017 750K cut off from almost all social contact ## Try Amidou at home You set it up at your loved one's home, plug it in, and leave your first message. €49 to buy, then €9.90 a month - Easy setup: plug it in, it works - No commitment: stop whenever you like, the Amidou stays with you - Free returns, refunded within 14 days - Free delivery in 2 to 5 days (Colissimo)