Sorenson Communications Announces Text-to-Speech IP Relay Service for Both Mobile Device and PC Users
Latest Free Relay Service Enables 28 Million Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Callers to Place Text-Based Calls from Mobile Devices and Personal Computers
SALT LAKE CITY (September 13, 2005) - Sorenson Communications™ today announced the immediate availability of Sorenson IP Relay™ (siprelay), a free service that enables deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to place text-to-speech relay calls through either a mobile device or personal computer connecting them with any hearing telephone user in the U.S. and its territories.
Sorenson IP Relay allows deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to place text-to-speech relay calls from their mobile device (i.e., Sidekick, BlackBerry®, Treo™ and similar devices) or a personal computer to any standard telephone user in the United States. Relay users simply instant message the AIM screen name "siprelay" or log on to
www.siprelay.com to place a call. A Sorenson Communications Assistant (CA) contacts the hearing telephone user and voices the text message sent by the text relay user.
One of the unique features of this service is the way that the Sorenson IP Relay CAs facilitate relay calls. The trained CAs can easily adapt to caller requests to streamline text-based relay communication by replacing cumbersome TTY commands "GA" (Go Ahead) and "SK" (Stop Keying) with the "Enter" key. Many callers prefer using the "Enter" key to speed up the flow of conversation.
"Sorenson IP Relay is invaluable to me," said Jeff Pollock, a deaf instructor at the University of Utah and a beta user of Sorenson IP Relay. "The service allows me to seamlessly communicate often complex messages from wherever I am, on or away from campus. It enables me to communicate on the run with multiple departments, order a book at the library or the bookstore, or order lunch from my car.
Sorenson Communications already offers the free Sorenson Video Relay Service (VRS). Sorenson IP Relay now provides another option for the deaf community, with whom instant messaging on mobile devices and personal computers is already widespread. Additionally, Sorenson IP Relay is a welcome new service for many hard-of-hearing individuals who do not use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate.
"At Sorenson Communications, we are dedicated to offering a full suite of communication services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community," said James Lee Sorenson, CEO of Sorenson Communications. "The launch of this new relay service is the result of our company-wide efforts to develop the latest cutting-edge technology for individuals who may not be able to use or have immediate access to our video relay service. Additionally, Sorenson IP Relay gives mobile users the freedom-whether they are in the airport or at the shopping mall-to call hearing individuals anywhere in the U.S."
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.