>AROGA ANNOUNCES THE NEW AROGAPHONE
>
>
>
>North Vancouver, March 10, 2003 - Aroga Group, today announced the release 
>of the ArogaPhone 9290, a state-of-the-art speech accessible cell phone/ 
>PDA (Personal Data Assistant) combo which combines a Nokia 9290 
>Communicator and speech output software from German manufacturers Brand & 
>Grober.
>
>
>
>"We are very excited to be able to offer this innovative product.  We 
>expect that it will be extremely popular with both our visually impaired 
>clients and also expect that people with other print related disabilities 
>will benefit from it."  said Steve Barclay, VP of Marketing and Sales at 
>Aroga Headquarters in Vancouver British Columbia. "By being able to use a 
>mainstream product such as the Nokia 9290 Phone, we realize significant 
>cost savings over traditional speech output note takers.  This is now the 
>least expensive speech output PDA on the market, and it has a feature set 
>that compares to units which cost thousands of dollars more."
>
>
>
>The ArogaPhone, which consists of the Nokia 9290 Communicator and the 
>custom made screen reading software known as TALKS, allows visually 
>impaired users to access many of the phones features, including:
>
>
>
>·        Phone / Speakerphone - With the ability to use PDA features while 
>talking on the phone.
>
>·        Clamshell Design with small QWERTY Keyboard integrated into phone
>
>·        Digital Voice/Audio Recording - Including the ability to record a 
>phone call or part of a phone call, play .wav files - MP3 conversion 
>software available as an add-on (mono output only)
>
>·        Wireless Email
>
>·        Send and Receive SMS text messages
>
>·        Contact List and Appointment Calendar - Can Synchronize with 
>Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes
>
>·        Send and Receive Wireless Faxes (Received Faxes cannot be spoken 
>but can be sent to a printer or another fax machine for printout)
>
>·        Word Processor with Microsoft Word conversion utility
>
>·        Spreadsheet with Microsoft Excel conversion utility
>
>·        Install and run third party applications - open source Operating 
>System allows for third party software development.
>
>·        32 Megabytes standard internal memory, expandable to 80 Megabytes 
>using industry standard memory cards.
>
>·        Synchronize phone, or transfer files with your computer via 
>included serial or infrared connection
>
>
>
>The specially designed TALKS software provides speech output using the ETI 
>Eloquence text-to-speech engine through the phones internal sound card. 
>Eloquence is used in most screen readers on the market today, making TALKS 
>a familiar voice to anyone who has used a screen reader in the past.
>
>
>
>The ArogaPhone not only replaces conventional notetakers, but also 
>performs tasks an ordinary portable accessible device never could. For 
>more detailed information on the Web, go to 
>http://www.aroga.com/blindness/arogaphone.asp
>
>
>
>Information on the Nokia 9290 phone component can be found at 
>http://www.nokia.ca/english/products/9290.asp
>
>
>
>Coverage for the ArogaPhone is available through the Microcell wireless 
>network and is available in most major Canadian centres. For more detailed 
>information regarding your area, visit 
>http://www.canadagsm.com/english/html/coverage/fs_cov_cities.html
>
>
>
>The ArogaPhone is now available for $1695.00 CND plus shipping and 
>activation charges should it be activated as a cell phone. Call 
>1-800-561-6222 for additional details.


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