Vodacom today launched a pioneering initiative to make cellular communications accessible to all South Africans, especially people with disabilities.
Under the banner of Vodacom "Specific Needs", SA`s leading cellular network is launching a "Speaking Phone" which enables sight-impaired people to access voice and text services via text-to-speech technology. Additionally, company information will be made available in audio format via "Tape Aids for the Blind". The company has also established a call centre that will be accessible to people with disabilities.
"The communications revolution that has changed the lives of some 20 million South African cellular customers over the past decade has gone largely unnoticed by the several million South Africans living with disabilities and who would potentially benefit most from this technology," said Mthobi Tyamzashe, Vodacom Group`s Chief Communications Officer.
Welcoming news of the initiative, Dorothy-Anne Howitson, the president of the South African Federal Council on Disability, said: "SAFCD supports any initiative aimed at giving people living with disabilities greater personal freedom. Cellular technology offers people more control over their lives and it`s therefore wonderful news that Vodacom is bringing thousands more South Africans into the cellular loop."
At the heart of Vodacom`s new initiative is a focus on accessibility: access to the company, access to information and access to Vodacom`s products and services for all.
The Vodacom "Specific Needs" call centre provides free customer care support and can be reached by phoning or sending an SMS to 12580 from a Vodacom cellphone. Customers can also e-mail 12580@vodacom.co.za or go to the Specific Needs section on www.vodacom4me.co.za for more information.
Available at Vodashops from 7 September 2004, the Vodacom Speaking Phone, a Nokia 6600 cellphone loaded with text-to-speech software, allows blind and visually impaired people access to data services via "audible display", for example text messages and phone book entries, battery life and signal strength. Vodacom is the second cellular phone operator in the world, after its UK-based shareholder Vodafone Group plc, to launch the Speaking Phone.
Endorsed by the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB), the Speaking Phone is set to increase the level of access to cellular communications among blind and visually impaired people, closing the current communications gap.
Dr William Rowland, SANCB`s Executive Director, said: "We are very grateful to see Vodacom leading by example and making the Speaking Phone available to the blind and visually impaired. This is critical to building a united SA whose people benefit equally from the technological developments witnessed in cellular communications."
Besides the Specific Needs initiative, Vodacom is also the official sponsor of the South African Paralympic team and has financially supported the Mandeville sports ground for people with disabilities.
Through its corporate social investment arm, the Vodacom Foundation, the company has further invested in several initiatives that include the Quadriplegic Association of South Africa, Retina SA, and Netcare`s eyesight restoration programme. Combined, these investments run into millions of rands.
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Below are criteria a customer who is blind or visually impaired can use to choose the best cellphone to address their cellular communication needs:
Keypad
* A keypad with large, well-spaced keys
* A raised dot on the number `5` to help you find your way around the keypad
* Back-lit keys that are easier to see
Tones
* Tones that sound when you press a key
* The ability to choose different ring tones for different people
* A warning `beep` when the battery is running low
Screen
* A large, clear display screen
* A contrast or brightness control
* The option to change the size of characters on the screen
Control
* Voice activated calling, so that you can call someone`s number by speaking their name
Making and receiving calls
* Vibrating alert whenever you receive a call or a text message
* Flashing keypad and display whenever you receive a call or a text message
* Keys that `click` under your finger when you press them
Controlling sound
* Compatibility with hearing inductive loops, so that you can use your cellphone with the `T` setting on a hearing aid
* Easy to adjust volume control
* Ringtones that can be changed to the frequency and volume that`s best for you
Sending and receiving messages
* Predictive text, which uses a built-in dictionary to make sending text messages faster
* Portable `qwerty` keyboard to make texting easier
* The ability to link to a laptop or PDA (handheld computer)
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