Sprint Launches WebCapTel(r) On the Go
Editor: Here's the next step in captioned phone conversations. Sprint's
WebCapTel On the Go, which allows customers to read word-for-word captions
on select Sprint devices. Here's the press release.
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October 2008
Sprint (NYSE:S) today announced the availability of Sprint WebCapTel(r)
On the Go, a new, free mobile Web-based service that allows hard of
hearing customers to read word-for-word captions on Windows Mobile 6 Web
browsers, such as the Diamond by HTC, Mogul by HTC, Palm Treo 800w and the
MOTO Q9c by Motorola. In addition, this service is also compatible with
the Safari 2.0 Web browser. This new service is expected to help an
estimated 30 million Americans with hearing loss.
"Sprint is committed to equal access to all individuals," said Mike
Ligas, director of Sprint Relay. "As such, we pride ourselves on offering
the newest technology to hard of hearing individuals. This new solution
offers the hard of hearing community mobility by being able to read
real-time Web-based captions on Windows-enabled mobile devices."
With Sprint WebCapTel On the Go, users can make calls using two phones
-- reading captions on a wireless phone and listening and speaking on a
second phone. Prior to making a call, the user would log onto
www.sprintcaptel.com on one mobile device to read text captions of what
the other party is saying. For more information on Sprint's wireless
devices and select plans, go to the Sprint Relay Store at
www.sprintrelaystore.com.
Sprint WebCapTel On the Go is an extension of Sprint's existing
WebCapTel service, which also provides captions during phone calls, but
requires a computer with an Internet browser of Internet Explorer 7.0,
Firefox 3.0 or Safari 2.0 on which to display the captions. This new and
free service is available almost anywhere as long as the wireless device
is equipped with Windows Mobile 6 or an Apple Safari Web browser. Sprint
WebCapTel On the Go changes spoken words and sounds heard on a telephone
into words to read.
"Sprint WebCapTel On the Go allows individuals with hearing loss the
mobility that many of us take for granted," said Robert Engelke, president
of Ultratec, Inc., the company that developed CapTel technology. "It gives
people with hearing loss the independence to make and receive telephone
calls without the necessity of wireline phones or computer connectivity."
This free service is available for customers anywhere in the United
States and within U.S. Territories. However, calls to or from
international locations, such as Canada or Mexico, are not available. To
learn more about this free service, visit www.sprintcaptel.com or
www.sprintrelay.com/webcaptel.htm
CapTel and WebCapTel are registered trademarks of Ultratec, Inc.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline
communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers,
businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for
developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including
two wireless networks serving nearly 52 million customers at the end of
the second quarter 2008; industry-leading mobile data services; instant
national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1
Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.