DoCoMo to Launch Speech-Slowing Mobile Phone

Tokyo, Aug. 9 (Jiji Press)–With a new mobile phone terminal to be launched by NTT DoCoMo Inc. shortly, those having difficulty hearing will not have to ask the person on the other end of the phone to speak more slowly.

NTT DoCoMo said Tuesday it is launching the FOMA Raku Raku Phone II on Aug. 19 that reduces the speed of speech by 30 pct.

The phone prolongs the length of words spoken by the person on the other end while cutting short the length of pauses between words and phrases, according to the company.

The new terminal, to be made by Fujitsu Ltd. , is expected to be sold for around 25,000 yen at retail outlets, it said.

Fixed-line phone terminals and televisions with speech-slowing functions are already commercially available. But NTT DoCoMo said this will be the first mobile phone terminal of its kind and is expected to attract elderly people.

The FOMA Raku Raku Phone II will be the sixth in NTT DoCoMo’s Raku Raku Phone series. With “Raku Raku” meaning easy to use in Japanese, the series is designed with ease of use in mind.

Demand for such user-friendly mobile phone terminals will continue growing, an NTT DoCoMo official said.END