Here is a description of Voice Connect. It is easy to work with and provides
much the same functionality as an address book on a handset. All I needed to
work with Voice Connect was the "Getting Started" document that follows the
overview. It is that simple. Best of all, the monthly service fee is waived
for Cingular Wireless customers whose disabilities make dialing a number
difficult or reading a handset display difficult or impossible. Note normal
airtime charges apply. Please feel free to share this information. Please
send me a copy as well for our records. - Susan
***
Cingular Wireless' Voice Connect and Exemption Program
Voice Connect is the name of a Voice Dialing and Voice Information Services
product that is currently offered to all Cingular Wireless customers. The
product allows subscribers to place calls by saying a name from their
personal address book ("Call Jane at home") or by saying a number ("Call
614-238-5432"). The service works with all models of phones so a special
handset is not required.
One of the nicest features of the service is the personal address book,
which allows convenient "voice" access to contact information. The personal
address book allows the customer to store up to 1000 contacts with up to 5
numbers per name (i.e. Jane's home number, Jane's mobile number, Jane's work
number, Jane's pager number, etc.). How much easier it is just to say a name
rather than having to look it up and then dial it!
Names can be entered into the personal address book in one of three ways: 1)
by voice enrolling them via *8 (or *08 on some GSM phones) by the user
saying, "Add a name", 2) by entering the contact information at the Voice
Connect website, or, 3) if the user already has contacts stored in Microsoft
Outlook or Palm Desktop, he or she can use the free synchronization software
on the Voice Connect section of the Cingular Wireless website to download
those contacts to his or her Voice Connect address book. Once a customer is
provisioned with the Voice Connect service he can access the Voice Connect
website at www.cingular.com/voiceconnect to manage his address book, view a
call log, or get information on all that Voice Connect can do.
In addition to the voice dialing capability, Voice Connect also provides
easy "voice" access to a number of information services. Available
information services include News, Sports, Lottery Results, Stock Quotes,
Weather Reports, TV Dramas, Movies and Horoscopes. Information services are
never more than a voice request away and are available 24 hrs a day and 7
days a week!
While this service provides helpful dialing and information access for all
customers, it can be particularly useful for customers with disabilities
that make it difficult to dial a number or make seeing a handset display
difficult or impossible. Recognizing this need, Cingular Wireless created
the Voice Connect Exemption Program. With the Voice Connect Exemption
Program, customers with significant visual, cognitive and physical
disabilities can complete an application and certification process and
obtain Voice Connect without incurring the normal $4.99 monthly service
charge. Normal airtime charges still apply. To apply for the service,
customers simply call Cingular's National Center for Customers with
Disabilities (NCCD) for help with the application and certification process.
The NCCD is a call center dedicated to providing helpful information and
assistance to Cingular Wireless customer's with disabilities and can be
reached by dialing 866-241-6568 for Voice calls, or 866-241-6567 for TTY
calls. Additionally, information regarding Voice Connect and the exemption
program is available on the Disability Resources section of the Cingular
Wireless website at www.cingular.com/disabilityresources.
*** (The following is a guide with helpful hints.)
Getting Started With Voice Connect
Voice Connect consists of two services:
* Voice Dialer which allows you to place calls by saying a number, or a name
that you have already set up in your address book
* Voice Information Services which allow you to ask for information services
simply by saying the name of the service
You can ask for any of the following Voice Information Services:
* News Desk
* Horoscopes
* Stock Quotes
* Lottery Rundown
* Sports
* Weather
* Movies
* TV Dramas
How to Access the Voice Connect Service:
1. Simply dial *8 (*08 on some GSM model phones) to access Cingular Voice
Connect
2. The system will provide a brief overview and guide you through how to add
names and numbers by "voice"
3. You can also add names to your address book by going to:
www.cingular.com/voiceconnect. The address book is capable of holding 1000
contacts with up to 5 numbers per contact.
4. If you presently use Microsoft Outlook for your address book, you can
also use the synchronization software found on the website to download your
Outlook address book for use with Voice Connect.
5. On your next call into the system, when you hear the initial prompt you
can say a name that you have already set up in your address book or a number
and the system will place the call for you. You can also request an
information service by saying, "Go to (insert the name of the service you
want)" such as "Go to weather."
6. You can use Voice Connect in any Cingular Wireless market by dialing *8
(*08 on some GSM model phones).
Quick Tip:
* To quickly place a second call when using the system, simply press the
pound (#) key three times at the end of your first call. You will be
returned to the main menu where you can say another name or a number, or
request a different information service. (The service will also return you
to the main menu if you simply stay on the line.)
Here are the commands you can use:
* "Go to Main Menu"
* "Go to Quick Tips"
* "Go to Voice Dialer"
* "Go to (insert the name of service you want)"
* "Repeat"
* "What are my choices?"
Need Help or want to apply for the Voice Connect Exemption program for
people with disabilities? Please call Cingular Wireless' National Center for
Customers with Disabilities at 1-866-241-6568.
***
Susan Palmer Mazrui
Director, Federal Regulatory Affairs
Cingular Wireless
1818 N St. NW, Suite 800
Washington DC, 20036
Office: 202 419-3009
Cell: 703 973-5220
This email, and any attachments, are intended only for use by the
addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or
confidential information. It is the property of Cingular Wireless. If you
are not the intended recipient of this email, you are hereby notified that
any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email, any attachments
thereto, and any use of the information contained is strictly prohibited. If
you have received this email in error, please notify me at (202) 419-3009
and permanently delete the original and any copy thereof.
VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html
|