[blindlaw] A Change of Topic-Cell Phone Access

James Weisberg jimi-law at dc.rr.com
Tue Mar 30 23:42:43 UTC 2010 

Hello:

I have had the nokia, forgot the model, running talks and then moved to the
Motorola Q9 running mobilespeaks.  At first I found Talks superior but it
was obviously due to my familiarity with it and the Nokia I had been using.
I soon discovered the "MotoQ" running the mobilespeaks software was much
slicker.  I had access to basically all blackberry type options although I
did not pay for the internet and cannot say how that worked.  Currently I am
using an iPhone with "voiceover" which is inadequate if you are totally
blind but usable with limited vision and worth the hassle.  

Jimi

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Steve Jacobson
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 11:41 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] A Change of Topic-Cell Phone Access

Cathryn,

Like Joe, I am also using an accessible cellphone through Sprint.  Maybe I
can shed a little light on a couple of things.

First, the KNFB Reader phone is as expensive as it is mostly because of the
KNFB reader software rather than the phone.  However the total price has
come down 
to around $1,500.  Of this, $995 is for the software that converts print
into spoken text.  That is about the same price as the K-1000 software that
performs that 
function on a personal computer.  Speaking very generally, the phone itself
is roughly $300 and the software or "screen reader" that makes the phone
functions talk 
is around another $200.  The price estimated here for the phone is based
upon buying a phone from a dealer without going through a phone company.
Generally if 
you buy a phone through a service provider and sign a two year contract or
renew one for two years, the phone company in effect subsidizes the cost of
a new 
phone by $150 or $200 or so.  Therefore, if you sign a new contract or
extend an existing one, it is very possible that you can get a phone that
can be made 
accessible for $100 or so, but you still have to buy a "screen reader" for
the phone which will probably cost you another $200.

However, as Joe mentioned, there are some phones out there which have some
speech built in.  These phones can cost you less than $100 with a new
contract or 
an extension, and no screen reader is required.  However, phones with
built-in speech generally cannot handle e-mail or web browsing, but they can
usually handle 
text messaging now and allow access to your contacts.  I believe that Sprint
still has the LG Rumor 2 and the LG Lotus and there could be others by now
that fit this 
category.  

You cannot add a screen reader to just any phone.  Like computers, the more
advanced phones have "operating systems," and some of these do allow a
screen 
reader to be added.  The most common operating system on phones that can be
used with Sprint and Verizon is called Windows Mobile.  There is a screen
reader 
called Mobile Speak that works with many of these phones.  Such phones are
sometimes called SmartPhones or Pocket PC's.  Common brands include Samsung 
and Joe mentioned and also HTC but there are others.  Many of the Palm
phones cannot be used with a screen reader.

Many of the phones that work on T-Mobil and AT&T use the Simbian operating
system.  There is another screen reader that is used on these phones called
TALKS.  
However, Mobile Speak also works on some of these phones, and TALKS works on
certain Verizon phones now.  Phones made by Nokia are most common in this 
category, but not all Nokia phones are capablt of supporting a screen
reader.

I just went through the process of buying an HTC Snap phone which I use on
Sprint with Mobile Speak, and I found the whole business to be confusing at
best.  
Therefore, I hope the above helps a little, but keep in mind that something
I have written could easily have become out of date since I started this
note.  <smile>  
Still, if you can keep in mind that some phones are simply not accessible,
some have some built-in accessibility for basics, and some that use Windows
Mobile or 
Simbian operating systems can be made accessible with the addition of a
screen reader, you will be off to a good start.  Then also remember that you
can usually get 
a big discount buying a phone from a service provider with a new contract or
contract extension.  Good luck.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson  ,

On Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:03:52 -0400, Cathryn Bonnette wrote:

>Thanks much- Do you know if it is possible to purchase the voice software
to
>install on a cell?

>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Joe Orozco
>Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 9:47 AM
>To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
>Subject: Re: [blindlaw] A Change of Topic-Cell Phone Access

>I have a Samsung Intrepid through Sprint.  I switched over from Verizon,
>better deal on unlimited data plan.  The only advantage through Verizon, I
>think, is that you can purchase their HTC Ozone with Mobile Speak
installed.
>Someone can correct me on that, and Verizon also carries the LG line that
>provides moderate accessibility.  I also live in DC and both carriers are
>the best ones here in terms of reception.

>Joe Orozco

>"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves,
>some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing 

>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>[mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cathryn Bonnette
>Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 9:03 AM
>To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
>Subject: [blindlaw] A Change of Topic-Cell Phone Access

>Greetings to All:

> 

>Wondering if anyone can offer guidance on good deals, best 
>companies, etc.
>for cell phones or cell/internet packages.  I confess I don't 
>have $2,000.00
>to spend on the KNFB version, though it sounds great.  I have heard the
>frustration from Verizon employees in their center for customers with
>disabilities that no one listens to their attempts to advocate. 
> I observed
>yesterday that several cell phones using "Talks" voice software are no
>longer available. 

> 

>I'm hoping to shortcut similar research on several companies by seeking
>wisdom from the group.

> 

>Thanks in advance for any tips you may have to offer, and thanks for
>listening- 

> 

>Cathryn 

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