[nfbcs] BlackBerry screen reader app to help blind

[David Andrews]

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><http://www.technobloom.com/research-in-motion-releases-free-blackberry-screen-reader-app-to-help-blind/228518/>Research 
>in Motion releases free BlackBerry screen reader app to help blind.
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>Research in Motion has seen their market share 
>dip all the way down into the single digits over 
>the past couple of years, but the company has 
>not stopped trying to find that one place a 
>BlackBerry phone would be a benefit.  Today, the 
>company announced plans to launch a new mobile 
>app that helps the blind “see” what is on 
>their handset screen.  The BlackBerry Screen 
>Reader software helps those that are blind stay 
>connected with the information that is most 
>important to them.  With the released software, 
>Research in Motion shows their support to help 
>customers that have disabilities.
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>According to the press release issued regarding 
>the announcement, Senior Product Manager, Greg 
>Fields, said “We are excited to introduce 
>BlackBerry Screen Reader as part of our suite of 
>accessibility solutions for BlackBerry 
>smartphones.”  The BlackBerry Screen Reader 
>can be downloaded for free from 
><http://www.blackberry.com/screenreader>www.blackberry.com/screenreader 
>and the mobile app is compatible with the 
>BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360 and the 9370 
>smartphones.  The new screen reader app is 
>available in French, English, Italian, German 
>and Spanish.  The app will help those that are 
>blind operate their BlackBerry smartphone with little to no hassle.
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>Some of the key features that are listed for the 
>BlackBerry Screen Reader include:
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>Support for core applications – Users can easily 
>access core BlackBerry applications including 
>email, calendar, phone calls and more.  Speech 
>settings – users can customize the 
>text-to-speech settings (volume, pitch and 
>speech rate) and preferences for punctuation, 
>verbosity and password security.  Keyboard 
>shortcuts – Users can set speech and audio 
>preferences quickly and easily through 
>(physical) keyboard shortcuts Accessible 
>documentation – User Guide available in 
>accessible HTML through a desktop web 
>browser.  More information can be found at BlackBerry.com/accessibility.
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>Many experts believe that Research in Motion is 
>not going to be around very much longer and 
>might not even be a good prospect for a 
>potential buyout.  According to numbers recently 
>posted online, RIM shares have dropped more than 
>70 percent in the past 12 months with the market 
>share dropping over $72 billion in the last 
>three years.  BlackBerry released 12 handsets in 
>2011 and so far this year only 1 with the 
>BlackBerry Curve 9220.  Rumors that hit the Web 
>earlier this year included a possible buyout by 
>Samsung, but since January nothing has been announced by either company.