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TALKS for Verizon Wireless Offers Mobile Accessibility to Blind and Visually Impaired Customers

Posted on: Thursday, 12 March 2009, 09:00 CDT

Available Initially on the MOTO Q 9c, TALKS for Verizon Wireless Gives Blind and Visually Impaired Customers Audio Feedback Support for Writing and Reading Text Messages, E-Mail and Notes

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network announced today the availability of TALKS(TM) for Verizon Wireless -- a new assistive technology that converts displayed text into highly intelligible speech for Verizon Wireless customers who are blind or visually impaired. Available initially on MOTO(TM) Q 9c smartphones beginning March 15, TALKS for Verizon Wireless supports audio feedback for writing and reading text messages, e-mail and notes.

Powered by Nuance Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: NUAN), TALKS for Verizon Wireless uses ETI-Eloquence text-to-speech software -- similar to other screen-reading packages on Windows(R) PC platforms -- to offer visually impaired and blind customers instant familiarity and the highest intelligibility. With the TALKS application, the MOTO Q 9c from Verizon Wireless can:

• Read the caller ID of an incoming call
• Dial a number from the phone's Contacts directory
• Add and edit entries in the Contacts directory
• Read and write text messages and e-mail
• Read and write documents using Mobile Office
• Access and compose multimedia message service (MMS) messages
• Use Mobile Internet Explorer to access the Internet
• Control speech volume and rate of speech

"The TALKS application helps Verizon Wireless provide the best wireless experience for our customers who are visually impaired," said Jeffrey Dietel, vice president - marketing operations for Verizon Wireless. "TALKS for Verizon Wireless turns the MOTO Q 9c smartphone into a communications tool that will help customers with impaired vision stay connected to family, friends and colleagues through methods beyond voice calls."

The MOTO Q 9c with TALKS for Verizon Wireless will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com on Sunday for $249.99 after a $70 online instant rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Existing MOTO Q 9c customers who wish to add the TALKS application should contact Verizon Wireless Customer Service at 800-922-0204.

Customers can learn more about TALKS for Verizon Wireless by visiting www.verizonwireless.com/accessibility. For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 80 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

TALKS(TM) is a trademark of Nuance Communications, Inc. and/or its licensors and is used under license.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless

Source: PR Newswire

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