need some info: Why are VPs free to deaf/hoh?

naisho

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Hey guys.

I'm planning on getting a VP soon to talk to some friends, but I have some questions first.

I have noticed long ago and also recently at DeafNation.. Purple and Sorenson are the two major providers for video phone units, and I think there were a couple others too, but I forgot what were their names.

Anyways, my questions are pretty simple. Why are VPs free for the deaf?
Are there some kind of strings attached or something we have to give back in return?

The units don't look that cheap to produce, it should cost some decent money to manufacture one and give it away at a loss, from my experience nothing is ever exactly free in this world, there's always something involved that makes it so.

So what's the catch to getting a free videophone?

Do they take your personal information and advertise or something? Or do they earn money off some other way?

Could I just buy some kind of unit that would be able to communicate with other Sorenson/Purple devices?

Someone who owns a purple MVP can communicate with someone else with a Sorenson VP right?


Thanks in advance for the responses
 
ASL is supposed to be your primary language before you get a VP.
 
I guess that means I'm not supposed to get one, right?
 
Use common sense, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 cost more for producing those system than retail price but in order to make profit is selling softwares such as games. So for VP products, deaf and hoh people get it for free but those companies, they make profit by receiving money from FCC or goverments. Correct me if I am wrong.

There is one catch is return VP to their company if you decided disconnecting this product. But its no big deal.
 
I thought they check your school history or somehow they can find out if you are deaf or not.

I said nothing about deaf. I said ASL is primary language. There are plenty of oral deaf people.
 
Right. But lots of people lie if they want one.

Are they politically specific, or do you know what's the fine print word-for-word? Because ASL is my primary language right now, I believe ;).
 
Are they politically specific, or do you know what's the fine print word-for-word? Because ASL is my primary language right now, I believe ;).

I believe that is the case for quite a few people who want one. :lol:
 
Are you in the ASL "world". Nasiho?

And by the way, I have so many videophones in my end.....:whistle:
 
3 years ago, this deaf couple asked me if I had a VP ?...I never even heard of them before!...To find out he worked for Sorenson and was an installer....and he installed one in my home. No questions asked!

I know ASL but I'm not really fluent with it, I'm oral also. They are nice to have...all you need is internet. I was able to reach many of my old classmates, which was really awesome via VP200!...And being able to see them after so many years....wow...blew my mind!
 
As far as I understand, these companies are hoping you will use their Relay services. There is a tiny portion of your phone bill that is allocated to Relay services and they get reimbursed for every relay call. Now I assume that using a VP to VP call to friends doesn't net these companies anything at all, but as long as you use them for the Relay they get paid for it in the end.
 
As far as I understand, these companies are hoping you will use their Relay services. There is a tiny portion of your phone bill that is allocated to Relay services and they get reimbursed for every relay call. Now I assume that using a VP to VP call to friends doesn't net these companies anything at all, but as long as you use them for the Relay they get paid for it in the end.
"There is a tiny portion of your phone bull that is allocated to Relay Services"? What does this even mean, as a deaf person, you wont see a cent being charged on a phone bill.... only to the hearing people though.
 
I said nothing about deaf. I said ASL is primary language. There are plenty of oral deaf people.
your stated, "Right. But lots of people lie if they want one. " I assume you implied like hearing people lie or pretend they are deaf or asl language is their first primary in order to get a free VP"
 
your stated, "Right. But lots of people lie if they want one. " I assume you implied like hearing people lie or pretend they are deaf or asl language is their first primary in order to get a free VP"

Oh! :lol: No I just meant deaf people I know of.
 
your stated, "Right. But lots of people lie if they want one. " I assume you implied like hearing people lie or pretend they are deaf or asl language is their first primary in order to get a free VP"
That's another theory, really. Peoplpe with oral ability with no knowledge of ASL but keen to learn is finding plenty of different ways to get their hands on one, including myself LOL! --- it has been a fail
 
"There is a tiny portion of your phone bull that is allocated to Relay Services"? What does this even mean, as a deaf person, you wont see a cent being charged on a phone bill.... only to the hearing people though.

This may not be the same for you in Australia. All I know is that here in the US, when we look at the bottom of our phone bill, there are state and federal taxes added to the bill, and there is an allocation of that that goes to Relay services. All hearing and deaf people who have a phone line pay this, not just hearing people. Anyone with a phone number pays this. It is just a few cents - I think mine is typically around 6 cents. I'm not sure if it's a percentage or a set fee. All the Relay funds that come from everyone's phone bill is pooled into a general Relay fund (I may be simplifying this, but it's the overall concept) and then reimbursed to individual Relay companies that submit Relay charges. So in the case of this thread, Sorenson and Purple (and any others) get reimbursed a set fee for every relay call that is made. This covers their employment, equipment fees, and the like. Anybody correct me if I'm wrong, but this is how I've always understood it.
 
This may not be the same for you in Australia. All I know is that here in the US, when we look at the bottom of our phone bill, there are state and federal taxes added to the bill, and there is an allocation of that that goes to Relay services. All hearing and deaf people who have a phone line pay this, not just hearing people. Anyone with a phone number pays this. It is just a few cents - I think mine is typically around 6 cents. I'm not sure if it's a percentage or a set fee. All the Relay funds that come from everyone's phone bill is pooled into a general Relay fund (I may be simplifying this, but it's the overall concept) and then reimbursed to individual Relay companies that submit Relay charges. So in the case of this thread, Sorenson and Purple (and any others) get reimbursed a set fee for every relay call that is made. This covers their employment, equipment fees, and the like. Anybody correct me if I'm wrong, but this is how I've always understood it.
That's a interesting theory, AlleyCat and that may be correct but I remember someone saying that taxpayers cover these relay servie but the theory you said might be in a significant way of the system that FCC made, perhaps?
 
That's a interesting theory, AlleyCat and that may be correct but I remember someone saying that taxpayers cover these relay servie but the theory you said might be in a significant way of the system that FCC made, perhaps?

Technically, we are the taxpayers. Anyone who's paying taxes, whether in the form of state or federal taxes and on phone bills, we are the ones paying these taxes that cover the relay services. Deaf or hearing.
 
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