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