I should point out that they don't commit to specifying how this cell
phone is "accessible" to the blind and which particular features and
functions can be used by a blind person and how someone with a visual
impairment could use this phone.  I remain highly skeptical about this
solution until the executives of this company decide to provide more
information than the vague and unsubstantiated promises offered here.

Kelly


----- Original Message -----
From: "David Poehlman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003 7:09 AM
Subject: Fw: News Release


> News Release
>
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>
> Contact:
> Leanne Hartman
> 510-914-0308 [log in to unmask]
> Booths 277/278
> Marriott Exhibit Hall
>
>
> ALVA Introduces the ALVA MPOTM, Mobile Phone Organizer
> First accessible integrated cellular phone and personal organizer on
display
> this week at CSUN in Los Angeles
>
> Los Angeles, Calif. - March 19, 2003 - ALVA B.V., a leading provider of
> assistive information technology for the blind and visually-impaired,
> announced the ALVA MPO, Mobile Phone Organizer, the assistive
technology
> industry's first fully-integrated cellular phone and personal
organizer.
>
> The ALVA MPO offers all the key features traditional cellular phone and
PDA
> (personal digital assistant) users have come to expect, with additional
> features incorporated for blind and visually impaired users.  With 20
> braille cells, an 8-dot Braille keyboard, a high quality speech
synthesizer,
> and ALVA's Smart-ControlTM user interface, the MPO is unique in design
and
> functionality.
>
> Other key features include:
>
> * Fully accessible tri-band GSM cellular phone;
> * Essential notetaker;
> * SMS text messaging;
> * Agenda planner;
> * Alarm;
> * Calculator.
>
> Upcoming, product features will include email, Internet browser, GPS
(Global
> Positioning System), Daisy reader, and an MP3 player and will be
released as
> optional software upgrades in phases beginning in Q3.
>
> While leading vendors of cellular phones and PDAs offer some of these
> features in their current product line-ups, ALVA is the first
manufacturer
> to develop a device for handheld specifically for blind and visually
> impaired users.  The ALVA MPO interface and features are based on
research
> into the needs of blind and visually impaired technology users.  ALVA's
> nearly 20 years of experience working with this customer group provides
an
> unparalleled knowledge base for developing the MPO.
>
> "The ALVA MPO represents a real break-through in mobile communication,
data
> access, and organization for our customers," said Eric Weldink, ALVA
> president and CEO.  " It's so simple to use; if you can operate your CD
> player and heat water in the microwave, you can use an MPO.  Sleek in
design
> and full-featured, the MPO provides blind and visually impaired users
all
> the benefits of a PDA and cell phone combined.  Our GSM antenna and
> super-durable casing, designed solely for this product, are just two
> examples of the kind of detailed engineering that went into the MPO.
As
> veterans in this field, we really understand that our customers are
> demanding more from the IT and telecommunication products they depend
on and
> we have the resources to meet their expectations."
>
> The MPO has the familiar look and feel of ALVA's popular SatelliteTM
series
> of refreshable braille displays, with a special emphasis on portability
and
> durability.  The trademark purple ALVA MPO casing measures 9.4 inches
long x
> 4.1 inches wide x 1.7 inches thick (240 x 105 x 45 mm) and weighs 1 lb.
9
> oz. (700 g).  The slim MPO fits easily into a handbag, backpack, or
> briefcase and features an attractive scratch-resistant finish.
>
> "As soon as we heard the ALVA MPO product concept, we put in our
request,"
> said Chuck Cohen, president of C TECH, a distributor of low vision
products
> and adaptive technology for the blind, visually-impaired, and learning
> disabled in New York and New Jersey.  "We've been in this industry for
> almost 20 years and our clients have complained in the past about
always
> being left behind when it comes to new technology.  These are some of
the
> most sophisticated and productive technology users you could meet.
It's
> fulfilling to me to see that ALVA has put real care into this design,
that
> it's not just another 'yeah, blind people can use it, too' product.  I
am
> really looking forward to my clients having such a remarkable product."
>
> CSUN Attendees Get First Glimpse of MPO
> Those attending this week's CSUN Conference on Technology and Persons
with
> Disabilities will get a chance to preview the ALVA MPO at the ALVA
booths
> 277 and 278 at the Marriott Exhibit Hall from March 19 -22.  CSUN is an
> annual conference sponsored by the Center on Disabilities at California
> State University, Northridge.   The event will be held at the Los
Angeles
> Airport Marriott and Hilton Los Angeles Airport.
>
> Availability and Pricing
> The ALVA MPO will be available in June 2003 through authorized MPO
> resellers.  MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price) and volume
purchase
> pricing will be announced at that time.
>
> About ALVA
> ALVA B.V. is a leader in the assistive technology industry.  Founded in
the
> Netherlands in 1984, ALVA is privately held with offices in the U.S.
and
> Europe.  With innovations that include the patented cursor routing
switch,
> used on virtually every Braille display manufactured today, ALVA
products
> and licensed technologies are helping people achieve their potential.
The
> ALVA product family includes Braille displays, screen readers and
screen
> magnification software.
>
> In collaboration with a network of regional Authorized ALVA Dealers,
ALVA
> customizes access products for rehabilitation professionals, schools,
> government agencies, businesses, and end-users.  ALVA products and
services
> are available worldwide.
>
> ALVA Access Group, Inc, the U.S. division of ALVA B.V., is located in
> Oakland, California.  ALVA Access Group can be reached toll-free at
(888)
> 318-2582 (ALVA) or [log in to unmask]  For more information, please visit
ALVA
> at www.aagi.com.
>
> ALVA B.V. is located in Arnhem, the Netherlands. ALVA can be reached at
+31
> 26 384 1 384 or at [log in to unmask] For more information, please view
the
> ALVA web pages at www.alva-bv.nl or www.alvabraille.com.
>
> ALVA B.V. and ALVA Access Group, Inc. are equal opportunity employers.
>
> ###
>
>
> 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
>


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