[kictanet] Fwd: [Physical] Vodacom Launches Three New Exciting "Speaking Phones" for Persons with Visual Impairment

[Judy Okite]

FYI

I think this is the coolest thing...its a high time we saw more initiatives
like this!





 Media Release for Immediate Publication

Nikki van der Westhuizen [mailto:nikkivdw at meropa.co.za]

 *Vodacom Launches Three New and Exciting "Talking Phones" for Persons with
Special Needs, Especially those who are Blind or Partially Sighted*

* *

*18 September 2008*

* *

Vodacom has launched three new Vodacom Speaking Phones as part of its drive
to make cellular communication accessible to people with specific needs,
specifically customers who are blind or partially sighted.



"Vodacom is proud to be the first operator in South Africa to increase
accessibility to cellular communication products and services in line with
our Specific Needs Initiative launched in 2004," says Dot Field, Chief
Communications Officer, Vodacom Group.

Text-to-speech software is loaded onto the Vodacom Speaking Phones that
converts the information displayed on the cellphone screen to speech,
including text messages and contacts. This software also enables the user to
check other information, including battery life and signal strength.

Speaking phones are available on Vodacom Contract-, Top Up- and Prepaid
packages and are available at participating Vodacom approved outlets.
"Vodacom Speaking Phone users will not pay extra for the text-to-speech
software as Vodacom has subsidised this cost," says Field.

The focus of the Specific Needs Initiative is accessibility: access to the
company, access to information and access to Vodacom's products and services
for all. Karen Smit, Senior Specialist for Specific Needs and Employment
Equity at Vodacom Group and a disabled Vodacom employee herself, highlights
the need for such products and services within the cellular industry, "We
are proud to be the pioneers of this service in South Africa, and on the
continent as a whole. At Vodacom, accessibility is always top of mind and as
a disabled person I understand how important independence, accessibility and
mobility is."



Vodacom will continue to offer the "voice bill" service which allows
visually impaired or blind customers access to their itemised billing
electronically through reader software on their computers.

For more information on Vodacom Speaking Phones, customers can contact
Vodacom's dedicated Specific Needs Contact Centre, which aims to provide
information and assistance on their products and services to customers with
disabilities. The Specific Needs Contact Centre can be reached on 12580,
free from a Vodacom cellphone, or on 082 12580 from any other phone
(standard rates apply). Customers can also send an SMS to 12580 (free from a
Vodacom cellphone) or email to 12580 at vodacom.co.za. Information is available
on the Vodacom website: www.vodacom.co.za, under the Specific Needs
section.

Ends



Issued on behalf of:

Dot Field

Chief Communications Officer

Vodacom Group

#####



For Further Information, Please Contact:

Nikki van der Westhuizen

Meropa Communications

+27 11 772 1029



* *



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