If you can get this phone without a data plan that would be another market for it to address. Sighted people can still get and use feature phones without signing up for a data plan. It would be a good thing if blind people also had an accessible similar option.

In addition to Mobile Accessibility, there's Talk Back and Spiel for Android phones, which are free screen readers, and since Android 4.0, Talk Back has been included with Android phones.

On 06/06/2013 04:58 PM, Brad Hodges wrote:
List Members:

I looked at the Oden site and was struck by the glairing absence of any
discussion of data services. Only voice and text plans are listed.
Additionally T Mobile will not establish new service in WV, where I am
located, and I'm curious how many other markets are to be ignored.

For those of my friends who desire the availability of smart phone
functions but who are not financially or temperamentally interested in
VoiceOver and the iOS, I strongly recommend that they look very
seriously at using Mobile Accessibility from one of the pay-as-you-go
companies. I note that Boost Mobile has good plans, offers free Mobile
Accessibility and gets good reviews.

Just some thoughts,

Brad


On 6/6/2013 4:32 PM, Keith wrote:
no, it still works, it's just the fact that they do not do support
work on it anymore.  It's the 2nd device built in France that has been
discontinued. First, the V Voice mate organizer, and then the GPS
unit.  no offense to France, but whatever

Keith
----- Original Message ----- From: "Christopher Chaltain"
<[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 2:31 PM
Subject: Re: new accessible phone for the blind.


I'm confused. Did this stand alone GPS unit stop working when the unit
was withdrawn? Even if this company stops producing or supporting this
phone, it will still work on the cell phone network. If Apple went out
of business today, I could still use my iPhone on AT&T.

I agree, I'll use an off the shelf product over a product made for the
blind if it meets my needs, but it isn't clear to me that the iPhone
meets every blind person's needs.

I used JAWS and Windows on my job for 15 years. I would not have had
that job without JAWS. I still couldn't do that job with a Mac and
VoiceOver. I used a note taker made for the blind in the 80's and 90's.
There was no alternative accessible main stream product during that
time, no accessible PDA's, laptops or netbooks.

Like I said, I think we should use off the shelf products whenever
possible. I also think we should continue to push to make off the shelf
products accessible. I get concerned when I hear statements about the
blind ghetto or not using products made with the blind in mind. These
products have and will serve a need. The unemployment and under
employment rates for the blind would be even worse than they are without
products like JAWS, and I think this is a worse situation for the blind
then using products and applications developed specifically with the
blind in mind. I also don't think we'd necessarily be where we are with
out such products. Would we have accessible iPhones right now if there
hadn't been products like Outspoken or Talks? Maybe we would, but I
think these products proved that it could be done and developed a market
where blind people wanted such main stream devices.

On 06/06/2013 02:16 PM, Keith wrote:
That, and I wonder how long this device will be available.  I purchased
a stand alone GPS unit from leader dogs and less than 6 months later,
the compnay pulled the item.  No further developments on that device.
$250.00 down the toilet.
Keith

    ----- Original Message -----
    *From:* Larry Lumpkin <mailto:[email protected]>
    *To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
    *Sent:* Thursday, June 06, 2013 1:36 PM
    *Subject:* RE: new accessible phone for the blind.

    My concern is and always has been with “devices, software, etc. for
    the blind, is that they are always separate and never equal. I have
    often found that developemtns like this never keep up with
    mainstream technology.

    *From:*[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
    [mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Maria & Joe Chapman
    *Sent:* Thursday, June 06, 2013 1:16 PM
    *To:* [email protected]
    *Subject:* Re: new accessible phone for the blind.

    Hi.  I'm in australia so it's kind of irrelevant for me at the
    moment but I agree with you.  I would lose i messageing and that
    wouldn't be cool.  not to mention face time and all the hundreds of
    dollars I've probably spent on apps over time.

    regards

    Maria and crew from australia

    email:

    [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>

    check out

    www.95-the-mix.com <http://www.95-the-mix.com>

    where we play lots of great music

    On 07/06/2013, at 4:13 AM, Chuck Dean <[email protected]
    <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:



    No thanks, I am happy with my iPhone, an odd the shelf device that
    does everything this phone claims to do... And much more.

    Chuck (mobile)

    Pleez x cuze any tie ping or spelin airors.


    On Jun 6, 2013, at 11:09 AM, Fred Olver <[email protected]
    <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

        America's First Mobile Smartphone & Service for The Blind and
        Visually Impaired.

        PRNewswire.
        June 5, 2013.

        Project RAY Ltd., developer of the first smartphone specially
        designed for eye-free operation, and Odin Mobile, the nationwide
        provider of cellular service dedicated to providing mobile
        communication services to the blind and visually impaired, today
        announced America's first full mobile service for the blind and
        visually impaired.

        "This collaboration will provide the blind the ability to access
        smartphone technology through a unique user interface that
        emphasizes simplicity and ease of use," said Robert Felgar ,
        general manager of Odin Mobile. "Odin Mobile is excited to
        partner with Project RAY to make advanced mobile technology more
        accessible to the blind."

        Features of America's first full mobile service include:

        . Odin Mobile's full telephone service including voice, text and
        data, with customized eye-free setup and services.

        . Affordable smartphone developed by Project RAY specially for
        the blind, from its unique operating system & eye-free operation
        to specialized built-in apps and content.

        . Multiple built-in services for the blind and visually impaired
        within a single affordable device and one unified user
        experience - including voice calls, email, messaging contact
        list services, calendar, GPS, advanced WEB remote assistance,
        voice recorder, panic and emergency services, color
        identification, pictures transcription, banknote recognition,
        and more.

        . Advanced communication and lifestyle services such as book and
        magazine subscriptions built into the off-the-shelf device.

        . Unique operating system and user interface specially developed
        for eye-free operation including single gesture access to
        frequently used numbers and functions, one-hand operation,
        homogeneous interface across multiple system functions and
services.

        "Together with Odin Mobile, and with the initial and invaluable
        support of Qualcomm's Wireless Reach program, we are excited to
        bring the affordable, lifestyle changing benefits of smartphone
        technology and services to millions of blind and visually
        impaired people throughout the United States," said Boaz
        Zilberman , Founder & CEO of Project RAY. "Our RAY smartphone
        combined with Odin Mobile's full-cellular services for the blind
        and visually impaired, will finally bring to this important
        community the same services available to the mainstream
        full-sighted community."

        Project RAY and Qualcomm Wireless Reach collaborated on the
        first trial and commercial launch of the RAY device in Israel in
        early 2013. As one of the project's primary funders, Qualcomm
        provided technical advice, support, funding and in-kind
        contributions in support of the development of a device that
        successfully promotes independence and social inclusion for
        people with disabilities.

        "We are proud to work with Project RAY and support their
        objective of bringing a mobile device to market that supports
        blind and visually impaired people so they can access resources
        and information independently," said Kristin Atkins , Senior
        Director of Government Affairs for Qualcomm. "Our team at
        Qualcomm Israel worked closely with Project RAY on the
        operational and product efforts of the first RAY device enabling
        independence and a richer social life for users by providing an
        all-in-one, independent-living companion capable of eye-free
        input, text-to-speech, access to content, navigation, label
        recognition, augmented reality and integration with social
        networks. This is a great example of how working with partners,
        we can help improve people's lives with the latest technology."

        America's first full mobile service provided by Odin Mobile,
        including RAY, the world's first mobile device specially
        developed for the blind and visually impaired, will be
        officially launched at the 2013 M-Enabling Global Summit
        organized in cooperation with FCC and ITU on June 6-7 in
        Washington.

        About Odin Mobile:
        Based in Rockville, Maryland, Odin Mobile is a T-Mobile MVNO
        focused on providing unparalleled mobile service to the visually
        impaired. Every aspect of its innovative service is designed to
        make it easier for the visually impaired to take full advantage
        of mobile technology. Its mission is to narrow the gap between
        the extent to which the visually impaired and general
        populations use mobile services. For more information, please
        visit www.odinmobile.com <x-msg://1184/www.odinmobile.com>.

        About Project RAY:
        Project RAY Ltd. develop and market breakthrough accessibility
        solutions for blind and visually impaired people. The flagship
        product, the RAY smartphone, is an integrated mobile device
        developed especially for eye-free usage. It features a common
        user interface across all system functions, apps and services
        including voice calls, email, messaging, calendar, GPS, advanced
        WEB remote assistance, voice recorder, panic and emergency
        services, and more. RAY leverages cutting edge mobile
        technologies to afford all blind and visually impaired people
        the lifestyle improvements we all take for granted in today's
        smartphone world: greater independence, spontaneity and mobile
        accessibility to services we use daily. For more information,
        please visit www.project-ray.com
<x-msg://1184/www.project-ray.com>

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chaltain at Gmail

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