[nabs-l] FW: [MSP] Verizon wireless Press Release regarding Talks

[Liz Bottner]

I thought this might be interesting to some. 

Liz 

email: 
liz.bottner at gmail.com 
Visit my livejournal: 
http://unsilenceddream.livejournal.com 
Follow me on Twitter: 
http://twitter.com/lizbot 
Consider helping blind and visually impaired Delaware students in the March
for Independence:
http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/TR/walk/General?team_id=2830&pg=tea
m&fr_id=1050 



 
Available Initially on the MOTO Q 9c, TALKS for Verizon Wireless Gives Blind
and Visually Impaired Customers Audio Feedback Support for Writing and
Reading Text Messages, E-Mail and Notes BASKING RIDGE, N.J., March 12
/PRNewswire/ -- The owner and operator of the nation's most reliable
wireless network announced today the availability of
TALKS(TM) for Verizon Wireless -- a new assistive technology that converts
displayed text into highly intelligible speech for Verizon Wireless
customers who are blind or visually impaired. Available initially on
MOTO(TM) Q 9c smartphones beginning March 15, TALKS for Verizon Wireless
supports audio feedback for writing and reading text messages, e-mail and
notes. 

Powered by Nuance Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: NUAN), TALKS for Verizon
Wireless uses ETI-Eloquence text-to-speech software -- similar to other
screen-reading packages on Windows(R) PC platforms
-- to offer visually impaired and blind customers instant familiarity and
the highest intelligibility. With the TALKS application, the MOTO Q 9c from
Verizon Wireless can:

Read the caller ID of an incoming call 

Dial a number from the phone's Contacts directory 

Add and edit entries in the Contacts directory 

Read and write text messages and e-mail 

Read and write documents using Mobile Office 

Access and compose multimedia message service (MMS) messages 

Use Mobile Internet Explorer to access the Internet 

Control speech volume and rate of speech "The TALKS application helps
Verizon Wireless provide the best wireless experience for our customers who
are visually impaired,"
said Jeffrey Dietel, vice president - marketing operations for Verizon
Wireless. "TALKS for Verizon Wireless turns the MOTO Q 9c smartphone into a
communications tool that will help customers with impaired vision stay
connected to family, friends and colleagues through methods beyond voice
calls."
The MOTO Q 9c with TALKS for Verizon Wireless will be available online at
www.verizonwireless.com on Sunday for $249.99 after a $70 online instant
rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.
Existing MOTO Q 9c customers who wish to add the TALKS application should
contact Verizon Wireless Customer Service at 800-922-0204. 

Customers can learn more about TALKS for Verizon Wireless by visiting
www.verizonwireless.com/accessibility. For more information about Verizon
Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications
Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. 

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless
voice and data network, serving more than 80 million customers.
Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 85,000 employees
nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications
(NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit
www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video
footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to
the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at
www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

TALKS(TM) is a trademark of Nuance Communications, Inc. and/or its licensors
and is used under license.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless
Link:

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104
<http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STOR
Y=/www/s
tory/03-12-2009/0004987528&EDATE>
&STORY=/www/story/03-12-2009/0004987528&EDATE=