This is the most information I have found about Cell phones. > The Fred's Head Companion > Thursday, September 07, 2006 > > Accessible Cell Phones for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired > > By Michael McCarty > > It seems that cell phones keep getting more and more complicated. You can > browse the internet, take pictures, chat and check your email with your > cell phone. Unfortunately accessability hasn't improved with the phones. > > Some companies have figured out that blind people do use cell phones and > we want to use the same features as our sighted counterparts. Before I > give you a list of some accessible cell phones, let me tell you about a > very basic phone and phone service. > > Originally designed for elderly parents or grandparents to use as an > emergency phone, or for anyone who is technically challenged Jitterbug is > a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that uses the Sprint system and > features easy-to-use phones with operator-assisted calling and speed dial > set-up. > > Jitterbug currently features two phones made by Samsung. Both have large, > easy-to-read displays, loud and clear sound, and feature large, easy to > dial buttons with clear markings (no confusing icons). They also "play" a > familiar dial tone when the phone is opened to simulate a landline. One > phone has a standard keypad, the other has three one-touch dial keys. > > LINKS: > http://www.gojitterbug.com/ > http://www.sprint.com/ > > The ease of use makes these phones a great option for people who are blind > or visually impaired. A perfect peace of mind without 37 ringer choices > and streaming TV. > > Accessible Cell Phones > > I just stumbled onto the Fred's Head Companion page and listened to your > very informative tutorial. I sincerely appreciated all the info you gave > about what a Blog is and your discussion on RSS technology. :) > > I am a business banking professional and have recently lost a majority of > my vision. I have just received a promotion at work (I am so excited!), > but it will require that I am available to clients by cell phone. After > hearing your description of podcasting and knowing that iPods and MP3's > really are the best and easiest way to access the web in an audio format, > my question is do you know of a product that can work as a cell phone, PDA > and MP3 player all in one? > > I do have some resources for you to check out. HP is coming out with just > such a device this summer in the US. You use Mobile Speak Pocket for > access to the menus and online services. Information is available at > > http://www.codefactory.com. > > There is an email list dealing with accessible phones. Go to > > http://www.mosenexplosion.com > > for details. > > Thanks to special software, the Vodafone Speaking Phone reads and > describes the icons in the menu to the blind user. It is also capable of > reading text messages and allows users to compose and send their own > messages. > > Vodafone's close collaboration with the Italian Association for the Blind > on the Vodafone Speaking Phone project included a trial phase, and the > subsequent distribution of the phones to as many blind people as possible. > > Click here to visit the Vodafone web site: > > http://www.vodafone.it > > Nokia N91 > > The Nokia N91 phone will probably be the one most attractive to people who > are blind or visually impaired, as it promises, when combined with the > screen reader or screen magnification software, a fully accessible > handheld mobile music experience. This device, combined with a screen > reader or screen magnifier and the DAISY book reading software from Code > Factory could serve many needs in one package. It could be a phone, > notetaker, appointment calendar, book reader, web browser, e-mail tool and > a music player all in one, eliminating the need to carry several devices > at once. > > The Nokia N91 features storage for up to 3000 songs, plus smartphone > functionality in an ultra-portable package. It is a device optimized for > mobile music consumption. With room for up to 3000 songs on the integrated > 4-gigabyte hard disk, the Nokia N91 delivers a premier music experience. > In addition, the industry standard 3.5mm stereo headset jack and easy > transfer of music files from your PC help make the Nokia N91 a connected > mobile jukebox. > > Encased in stainless steel, the Nokia N91 has dedicated music keys on its > face, which slide down to reveal the phone keypad. The Nokia N91 serves up > to 12.5 hours of sound via the included stereo headset. It supports a wide > range of digital music formats including MP3, M4A, AAC and WMA. The phone > also contains a 2 megapixel camera for print-quality photos, email > support, a full web browser and video sharing. The N91 is expected to > become commercially available worldwide by the end of this year. > > For more information on the Nokia N91, click this link to visit the Nokia > home page: > > http://www.nokia.com. > > Another choice for the PDA functions is the forthcoming E61 which is > business oriented with Blackberry and Office applications. More important > to blind users, it doesn't have a camera, which can lower the price. There > are no multimedia keys like the N91, nor such an interesting storing > capabilities, but you can use a 2GB MiniSD memory card. > > BlindSea is a site containing, among other things, information about > third-party programs for use on Series 60 cell phones. the programs, many > of which have free demos or are free, have been found to mainly work with > the Talks program, and many would presumably work with Mobile Speak. > > Click this link to visit > > http://www.blindsea.com. > > Nuance TALKS > > Nuance TALKS software converts the display text of a cellular handset into > highly intelligible speech, making the device completely accessible for > blind and visually impaired people. Nuance TALKS runs on Symbian-powered > mobile phones to speech-enable contact names, callerID, text messages, > help files and other screen content. > > With Nuance TALKS you can: > > Know that you have email ... and hear it! > Write and listen to text messages or instant messages > Hear caller id information > Know that email or text messages have arrived > Listen to your email > Add contacts and dial from your directory > Use the calculator, calendar and alarm clock > Know how much battery life remains and your phone's signal strength > Edit your phones profiles > > Nuance TALKS runs in the background of a Symbian-powered mobile phone. The > software currently works with the Nokia 3230, 3600, 3620, 3650, 3660, > 6260, 6600, 6620, 6630, 6670, 6680, 6681, 6682, or the N-Gage phones as > well as the Siemens SX1, and the Samsung SGH-D730. > > Click this link to visit Nuance's website for the complete list of > compatible phones, this list is current as of April 2006. > > http://www.nuance.com/talks/phones.asp > > Click this link for more information about Nuance TALKS from the Nuance > website. > > http://www.nuance.com/talks/ > > Nuance TALKS can be purchased from the Sendero Online Store. > > http://www.senderogroup.com/shoptalks.htm > > posted by Michael McCarty at 2:52 PM > > > http://fredsheadcompanion.blogspot.com/2006/09/accessible-cell-phones-for-people-who.html > > -- > BlindNews mailing list > > Archived at: http://GeoffAndWen.com/blind/ > > Address message to list by sending mail to: [log in to unmask] > > Access your subscription info at: > http://blindprogramming.com/mailman/listinfo/blindnews_blindprogramming.com > > To unsubscribe via e-mail: send a message to > [log in to unmask] with the word unsubscribe in either > the subject or body of the message >