Sprint today announced the Sprint Relay ID pack, which allows anyone who has difficulty hearing on their phone and members of the deaf community who use sign language to receive a customized bundle of applications, links, tips, icons, widgets and wallpapers on their Sprint ID-capable Android device. The bundle includes voice mail transcripts, visual and vibrating alerts and readable captions, among others – all available in a single download.
The bundle marks the first time a carrier has developed multiple applications in one package for the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing communities. The Sprint Relay ID pack is currently available on the following Sprint ID devices: LG Optimus S, Sanyo Zio, Samsung Transform, Samsung Epic 4G and Samsung Galaxy Tab.
The Sprint Relay ID Applications
- Sprint Mobile Video Relay Services – video relay services for sign language users
- Calendar Notifier – provides visual alerts and repeating reminders of calendar events
- Handcent SMS – visual alerts and notifications of texts
- VideoPlayer – captions on videos downloaded to a secure digital (SD) card
- Gmail Notifier – visual and vibrating alerts and reminders for your gmail email
- TuneWiki – to read and learn the lyrics to songs
- Captionfish.com – captioned movies playing in a customer’s area
- AIM Instant Messenger – access telephone relay services through AIM Buddy “SprintIP”
- Google Voice – transcribe audio messages left on voice mail into text
According to Claude Stout, executive director, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Inc. (TDI), “TDI commends Sprint Relay for its ‘Sprint Relay ID pack.’ While TDI has a non-endorsement policy, we salute Sprint for taking the lead as the first telecommunications carrier to give attention to a bundle of new apps that directly benefit users who are deaf and hard of hearing. Only with relevant information and resources included in Sprint’s Relay ID pack can we have an exciting “mobile online experience” as these apps have taken into consideration our unique informational and entertainment needs.”
Mike Ellis, director-Sprint Relay Service, said, “The Sprint Relay ID pack addresses current and future needs of an important – and growing – segment of the U.S. population. It also demonstrates that Sprint takes corporate responsibility for disabilities. Sprint has provided relay capabilities for more than 20 years, and we’re pleased to now make it even easier for people who have trouble hearing on the phone to use their mobile phones.”
