Relay Calls from Your Pager

Editor: We all know that new technology is making communication easier for people with hearing loss. The ideal situation would be if everyone had a device that allowed him to transparently communicate with everyone else, without having to worry about what kind of device the other person had. We're still a long ways from that, but we're moving in that direction.

Here are portions of a press release regarding the capability to place and receive relay calls using a Blackberry pager!

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From the newsroom of the Business Wire, Thursday, October 7, 2004 .....

MCI Expands Wireless IP Relay Services to Business Customers; Support for BlackBerry Enables Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Employees to Make 'Wireless Calls'

ASHBURN, Va. -- MCI, Inc. (NASDAQ:MCIP) today announced the launch of the first wireless IP-Relay communication service targeting deaf and hard-of-hearing business customers, making it possible for them to communicate using a BlackBerry Wireless Handheld(TM) from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq:RIMM; TSX:RIM).This service turns a BlackBerry Wireless Handheld into a "wireless phone," enabling the hearing impaired to communicate "on the go" with anyone, anywhere in the U.S by utilizing the SkyTel nationwide, wireless data network.

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In minutes, software can be downloaded to a BlackBerry 957(TM) making it possible to place and receive relay calls. Once enabled, users simply click on the Wireless IP-RELAY.com icon and are connected with a Relay Operator. Users simply type what they want to say on the wireless device and the operator facilitates the call. The software also features keyboard shortcuts, font size and style options plus the ability to make sequential calls.

"MCI is utilizing the SkyTel wireless data network, its connectivity to other wireless networks, and the BlackBerry wireless platform to deliver innovative solutions like Wireless IP-RELAY.com services to our business customers and their deaf and hard-of-hearing employees," said Bruce Deer, president of SkyTel "MCI's leadership delivering IP Relay services, coupled with its expertise serving the business market, makes us an obvious choice for companies who want to implement the most reliable, mobile communications available today."

There is currently no charge to use Wireless IP-RELAY.com for calls anywhere in the United States. However, normal connectivity rates charged by wireless carriers may still apply.

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