Sprint Announces Upcoming Availability of Next
Generation of CapTel Phones
Editor: Here's another captioning company announcing its intention to
support the new CapTel 800i phone.
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April 2009
Sprint (NYSE:S) today announced the upcoming availability of the next
generation CapTel(r) phone for it's hard of hearing and deaf users. The
CapTel 800i is the latest offering in Ultratec's CapTel line, joining the
CapTel Model 200(r) - a captioned telephone designed for use with
traditional analog phone lines. The CapTel 800i works on any telephone
line *, bringing with it the advantages of a telephone with text
capabilities via the Internet and the ability to read the captions during
telephone conversations. The CapTel 800i will be available for purchase in
the near future. Those interested can visit www.sprintrelay.com/800i to be
placed on a list and be first in line to order the new phone when it
becomes available.
"Sprint Relay is fully committed to offering our customers with the
newest technology and a variety of unique options to most effectively meet
their particular needs when it comes to telecommunication access" says
Mike Ellis, director of Sprint Relay.
The CapTel 800i phone requires a landline telephone (can be analog,
VoIP, DSL, or digital cable telephone service) and an Internet connection
(high-speed internet or broadband service). Designed specifically for use
with high-speed Internet service, the CapTel 800i offers CapTel users the
advantage of written text captions to help understand what their callers
are saying. Other enhancements include:
• A 5-inch, high quality, tiltable screen for easy to read captions
• The screen offers a variety of font sizes and colors for easiest reading
• High powered volume control (up to 40 DB) with adjustable volume for
clarity
One of the greatest benefits of the CapTel 800i phone is the automatic
routing of inbound calls to the captioning service without having to dial
a toll-free number to reach the CapTel Call Center first. Operators using
voice-recognition technology transcribe everything the caller says into
text, which is instantly transmitted to the CapTel 800i phone over the
Internet. Captions appear on the phone's LCD screen. This enables CapTel
users the ability to utilize their hearing with written captions to read.
This process is transparent and can be turned on or off at any time before
or during the call.
* Not compatible with digital PBX office systems unless analog port
used.
The following links may be accessed to learn more about Sprint's
captioning services:
www.sprintrelay.com/captel
www.captionedtelephone.com
www.sprintcaptel.com
www.sprintrelay.com/rcc
Sprint Relay Portfolio of Services
CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. In partnership with
Ultratec, Inc., CapTel services are available as a component of Sprint's
array of Relay services. Designed for hard of hearing users, CapTel users
place a call in the same way they would when using a traditional phone -
by dialing the number directly on a special phone model. CapTel phones
connect callers directly to the CapTel service when the phone is dialed.
When the person being called answers, callers can listen to what the other
person is saying, and read captions on the phone's display screen to catch
words that were missed. Captions appear nearly simultaneously with spoken
words. An Internet-based service, WebCapTel(r), is also available to let
people view captions of any telephone call in their computer's web-browser
window.
Sprint is the largest and most technologically advanced
Telecommunications Relay Service provider in the nation with more than 17
years of experience in providing relay services to persons who are deaf,
hard of hearing or deaf-blind or have a speech disability to communicate
with hearing persons on the phone. Sprint's experience in this field
assures Sprint Relay users receive quality service regardless of the type
of relay service they are using. Sprint's relay service is available 24
hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year, with no restrictions on the number of calls
placed or call length. For more information, visit www.sprintrelay.com.
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 more than 49 million customers at the end of
the fourth 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
ABOUT ULTRATEC INC.
Ultratec, Inc. is the world's leading developer of text telecommunications
equipment for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Since 1978, the
company has been responsible for numerous advancements in
telecommunications technology, including a full range of text telephones,
public telephones, amplified telephones, and signaling systems for people
with hearing loss. Ultratec works extensively with government agencies,
emergency services, and local and national advocacy groups to ensure equal
telecommunications access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.