Access IP Relay from AIM

Editor: Communications continues to get easier for people with hearing loss. Now you can access IP relay from AOL's instant messaging software!

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AOL and Sorenson Communications Team to Offer Text-to-Speech Relay Calls to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community

DULLES, Va. & SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 2005 - The AIM Relay Service Lets Users Access the Sorenson IP Relay Service Directly from the AOL or AIM Buddy List Feature on Their Mobile Devices and Personal Computers

America Online Inc. (www.aol.com) and Sorenson Communications(TM) (www.sorenson.com), the nation's leading provider of video relay services (VRS) and equipment for the deaf community, today announced a partnership to allow deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to access the newly launched Sorenson IP Relay(TM) directly from their AOL or AIM Buddy List feature using the AIM Relay Service (www.aim.com). (1)

Sorenson IP Relay, a free service provided by Sorenson Communications, lets deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals place text-to-speech relay calls to any standard telephone user in the United States. Under the new alliance, the free AIM Relay service provides individuals with a new access point to Sorenson IP Relay via the AIM service and Buddy List feature on their personal computer or mobile device (i.e., Sidekick, BlackBerry, PalmOne, Treo etc.).

To get started, relay users simply instant message the AIM Screen Name "siprelay" to contact a Sorenson Communications Assistant. The assistant then places a telephone call to the hearing recipient and relays the messages between the two parties, reading the instant messages out loud to the hearing recipient and writing the responses back via instant message to the deaf caller. The "Siprelay" Screen Name can be added to the Buddy List feature as a permanent buddy, and deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals can both initiate and receive Sorenson IP Relay calls through the AIM service.

"We are proud of the popularity of AOL and the AIM service in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community as an essential communication tool," said Tom Wlodkowski, director of accessibility, America Online, Inc. "We are excited to make the AIM service even more valuable through this partnership with Sorenson Communications. We anticipate users will appreciate the ease of being able to connect with Sorenson IP Relay to make relay calls through the platform of their choice, whether it's sending a mobile instant message from their wireless device or a standard one from their desktop at work."

"We are honored to collaborate with AOL to improve the quality of communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing users," said James Lee Sorenson, CEO of Sorenson Communications. "Sorenson IP Relay provides deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals with a highly convenient and effective way of communicating with hearing telephone users via mobile devices and personal computers."

The AIM Relay Service is accessible on the Web through the free AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) service (found at www.aim.com), and through the Apple(R) iChat(R) client. It is also available on a wide range of wireless devices and cellular phones that offer WAP-enabled access to AIM. The AIM Relay Service requires no additional software.

The AIM Relay Service is an extension of AOL's Accessibility Policy, a companywide priority that aims to address and meet the technology needs of people with disabilities. More information on AOL's accessibility efforts is available at www.aol.com/accessibility.

(1)A wireless service data plan is required in order to use The AIM Relay Service on mobile devices. Additional charges from the wireless service provider may apply.

About the AOL Instant Messenger Service

The AOL(R) Instant Messenger(TM) (AIM(R)) service (www.aim.com) is at the center of one of the largest and most active communities online, and is available for use on computers, mobile phones and other handheld devices. With a network infrastructure that handles more than 2 billion instant messages each day, the AIM service enables people around the world to connect in real time via text, audio or video instant messaging, and to engage in shared activities, such as casual gaming and picture-sharing.

About America Online Inc.

America Online Inc. (www.aol.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX). Based in Dulles, Va., America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.

About Sorenson Communications

Sorenson Communications Inc. (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communication offerings including the Sorenson Video Relay Service (VRS), Sorenson IP Relay (siprelay), and the Sorenson videophones. Sorenson VRS enables deaf callers to conduct video relay conversations through a qualified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. Sorenson IP Relay allows users to place text-based relay calls from either a mobile device or personal computer to any telephone user. The company's line of Sorenson videophones are the only customized videophones with auto-updating technology, which include the latest video communication features for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.