[blparent] accessable cell phones?

Thu Oct 8 19:58:58 UTC 2009

Steve, 
Thank you for this info. It is excellent. 
I amn ot by any means a power cell phone user. 
And, I agree with you on accessability becoming more and more of an
issue based on how people use phones, mainly our kids. 
Would you happen to know if NFB is taking any action with regard to
this? 
I am stunned at how difficult this has all been. AT&T seems to have the
answers but requires me to shell out the $$$ for a data package I do not
need or want, though they will maybe cancel said package if the gods
that rule AT&T determine I am indeed blind. 
Verizon claims they cannot turn off the data package. 
Technically, the data package can be turned off, and I can't understand
why neither company says "we can turn off the data package, but here are
the risks if we do it". 
What if anything does NFB plan to do about this? 

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Steve Jacobson
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 3:48 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] accessable cell phones?

Rebecca,

Perhaps I'm not the best one to respond because I have frankly been very
frustrated with the inconsistent information I get and the really poor
ways that some of the 
companies are approaching all this.  For example, the virtually same
phones will work differently regarding accessibility when you get the
phone from Verizon or 
Sprint.  You can't assume that anything you hear that works with one
model of phone will work with another just because they are similar.
Having said all this, there 
are a few things I have learned that perhaps I can pass on and save you
some time.

First, the Nokia N82 and apparently the N86, which are the base phones
that are used for the KNFB reader are pretty accessible when you add on
a screen reader 
such as TALX, and of course you can buy them without the reader
software.  These phones are GSM phones which refers to the type of
network they can use and 
work with AT&T and with T-Mobile.  You have to be careful of data
packages, though, because some of these newer phones require data
packages to perform 
some of their functions besides web browsing.  For example, some phones
do not permit or make it easy to transfer contacts and data directly.
Rather, they store 
this kind of data in a "profile" on a server.  If your phone should need
to be replaced and you don't have a data package, it is possible that
you will be out of luck 
getting your contacts transferred.  Some phones automatically update
their software through the data connection as well, and I hear some need
a data connection 
to be activated.  I'm not saying you have to have a data package in all
cases, but be sure that you know of unintended consequences, and a data
package could 
be required for some phones.  If you want to be on the cutting edge,
check out the I Phone through AT&T.  This phone also has speech built in
and has 
implemented a system to make the touch screen accessible.  People whom I
know who have it say it takes time to learn how to use it but it works.

There are some smart phones that are accessible with a cellphone screen
reader that are available for Verizon as well.  I believe that HTC makes
some phones that 
work for this such as the HTC Ozone.

In addition, there are a few LG phones that one can get through Verizon
that have built-in speech.  It can be a little clunky, but you save a
lot of money.  These 
phones do allow you to add contacts and to read and send text messages
as well, but some functions simply don't speak.  These features are
sometimes known as 
"Voice Guide," and do not require adding on a screen reader.  

There is a Verizon Blind Users mailing list where you can get more
information on all of this where Verizon is concerned.  The link is 

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/BlindusersVerizonPhones/

You can subscribe by sending a message to:

BlindusersVerizonPhones-subscribe at yahoogroups.com

but approval is a manual process so it may take a few days to get
information.

Good luck, and I would be interested to hear what you decide and how it
works for you.  While this is not on topic here, I would add that I have
found that I need to 
at least understand something about phones because my teenagers have
them.  The ability to call them and see where they are or remove any
excuse they have 
not to call home is something I appreciate.  They actually use their
phones more for text messaging than for talking, though, and I am
anxious to get into that world 
as well.  Anyway, while this doesn't make phones on topic here, more of
us are going to be affected by how accessible they are over time.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Thu, 8 Oct 2009 13:57:42 -0400, Pickrell, Rebecca M (IS) wrote:

>Hi guys. 
>I don't know if this offtopic for this list or not. 
>Anyway, I'm thinking I want an accessable cell phone and am trying to
>decide between AT&T and Verizon. We have Verizon and our contract is
up.
>A trip to the Verizon store and a talk on their phone about accessable
>options was to say the least not very confidence enspiring. I had to
>tell the Verizon lady on the phone and the guy at the store about
Talks,
>both seemed unaware of it. 
>AT&T seems to have a phone with Mobilespeak that will do what I want. 
>Does anybody on this list know anything about either plan or option and
>have any feedback? 
>AT&T says if I give them proof of my blindness they will take the data
>package off the phone with Mobilespeak. I am not a big cell phone user,
>don't really want the data package, but nor do I want to give AT&T any
>medical info. 
>All I want is a phone where I can add contacts, use menus and know
who's
>calling. 
>Thoughts?						
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