FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PANASONIC INTRODUCES MORE ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES IN ITS 2003 CORDLESS TELEPHONE LINE LAS VEGAS (January 8, 2003) 3/43/4 Panasonic is proud to announce the expansion of accessibility features throughout its 2003 cordless telephone line. The company was recently honored by the Consumer Electronics Association's Innovations Award program for its model KX-TG2258S digital cordless telephone in the new Accessibility category. The phone includes several innovative features that assist people who are hearing impaired, visually impaired or blind. Panasonic's commitment to accessibility for consumers with disabilities is a natural extension of its business philosophy, created by the founder of its parent company, Konosuke Matsushita. He believed that a company is indebted to the society in which it operates, and is therefore responsible for giving back to the community; and that the benefits of technology should be readily available and abundant for all to enjoy. "To achieve this goal, Panasonic has been devoting research and development resources addressing accessibility to ensure that its products use all readily achievable means to make them ever more accessible to, and usable by, people with varying ability levels," said Eugene Seagriff, Product Accessibility Manager for Panasonic. The Innovations Award winning model KX-TG2258S and other Panasonic 2003 digital cordless phone models feature Talking Caller ID. Used in conjunction with the Caller ID* service that may be available through the local telephone company, this feature enables users to hear who is calling before they even pick up the phone. True text-to-speech software converts the incoming Caller ID data into sound, enabling the phone to actually speak the name of the party calling. The audible announcement is heard through a speakerphone on the handset as well as on the base unit, so users can hear who is calling anywhere they take the phone. There's no need for consumers to refer to the LCD, which also displays the caller's name and number, if they have difficulty reading the screen or if they have their hands full. "Previously, this feature was available only on top-of-the-line cordless phones, " said Frank Lasorsa, Group Merchandising Manager for Panasonic's Communications/Home Office Products Division. "This year, it is featured in products starting at a suggested retail price of $79.95**." To make telephone conversations easier to hear and understand, Panasonic's exclusive Voice Enhancer Technology analyzes the incoming speech signal and recreates most of the upper and lower frequency bands that are typically lost over normal telephone transmission. The recreation of more of the whole spectrum of the human voice improves audibility and voice quality. This feature is found in many Panasonic cordless phone models in the new 2003 line. "In addition to the long range and excellent clarity offered by our cordless phones, we are very happy to announce that our 2003 line includes more innovative accessibility features in more models," said Lasorsa. Other innovative features that are found throughout Panasonic's line are: * Slow Talk (in models that include digital answering systems): Allows playback of messages left on an answering machine at 30% slower than normal speed, without changing the pitch of the voice. * Handset locator: To help one find a misplaced handset, just push a button on the base unit and the handset will beep. * Beep alert: The handset beeps when properly placed in its cradle for recharging. * Buttons that are differentiated by size, shape and tactile marks, to make it easier to recognize and use features such as speed dial and redial. * Visual ring indicator: An indicator lights up when the phone rings. * Handset speakerphone: A speakerphone conveniently located on the handset enables users to conduct multiple-party conversations anywhere they take the handset. * Lighted keypad: Provides enhanced visibility of the phone's buttons. * Headset jack: Can be used to connect assistive listening devices. * TTY compatibility: TTYs, or tele-typewriters, are used by people who are deaf or hearing impaired to make and receive calls on their home phones. Users type their messages on a device which turns the letters into electrical signals for transmission over phone wires. When the signals reach their destination, they are converted back into letters, which appear on a display screen. This feature is also found in Panasonic's Allure* phone, the first TTY-compatible wireless telephone. * Any Button Answer: To answer the phone, the user can push any keypad button on the handset without having to search for the "Talk" button. * Large buttons: Model KX-TG2208B features large buttons on the handset that are twice the size of conventional keypad buttons found on cordless phones. "Our model KX-TG2208B not only features large keypad buttons," said Lasorsa, "but it also has Voice Enhancer, a handset speakerphone, handset locator, headset jack and visual ring indicator * and it has a suggested retail price of just $39.95**. We are very excited to make these kinds of features more affordable to anyone." Panasonic continually strives to explore and utilize new technologies in order to bring freedom and independence to consumers with disabilities. Information about Panasonic accessibility programs and products is available at www.panasonic.com/accessibility. Consumers may contact Panasonic by e-mail at [log in to unmask], by phone at 800-211-7262 or by TTY at 877-833-8855. Panasonic consumer electronics products are marketed in the United States by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. The company is a division of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., (NYSE:MC) of Japan, one of the world's largest developers and producers of innovative electronic and electric products for consumer, business and industrial use. Media can access press releases via the Panasonic Pressroom web site, www.panasonic.com/pressroom, or through the company's toll-free fax-back system at 888-734-7490. * Requires subscription to optional services that may be available through the local telephone company. **Manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP.) All prices are in U.S. dollars. Panasonic cordless phones make and receive calls within a range determined by maximum power allowed by FCC rules. Range depends on local reception conditions. Specifications subject to change without notice. Editorial Contacts: William Pritchard Panasonic 201-348-7182 [log in to unmask] Jo Ann Guear New Directions 609-951-2230 [log in to unmask] -###- 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. 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