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Product Guide for Wireless Customers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Listed below are features that may make wireless products and services easier for you to use. At the bottom of the page are links to manufacturers who have products that include one or more of the features listed. Clicking on the link will take you to a manufacturer's website where you can get more information about its products.

  • Vibrating Ringer – Product has the ability to vibrate, instead of ringing, to announce incoming call.
  • Selectable Ringer Tones – Product enables user to select a ringer pattern or tone at a frequency that may be easier for him / her to hear.
  • Increased Volume for Audio Information – Product provides the ability to increase the volume for functions such as the ringer and low battery alert.
  • Visual Displays to Indicate Call Functions – Product uses visual indicators (e.g., written characters, icons, flashing lights) on the display screen to notify user of call functions (e.g., In Use, No Service, System Busy, power "on", power "off").
  • Text Messaging, Instant Messaging, and Email – Text based communications.
  • Hearing Aid Compatible – Product is compatible with hearing aids that have t-coils. Hearing aids with t-coils can pick up sound directly from a wireless handset that is t-coil compatible, thus eliminating background noise.
  • Data Device Capability – Product supports data (ASCII) devices.
  • TTY Compatible – Product generally can be used with certain Text Telephone (TTY) devices. TTY devices send typed messages back and forth across the telephone network and enable people who are deaf, severely hard of hearing or who have speech impairments to communicate via telephone.
  • Neckloop or Silhouette Compatible – You may want to consider using an accessory device with your wireless handset, such as a neckloop, an inductive silhouette or a headset. Wireless phone manufacturers and third-party accessory makers offer a variety of these options. A neckloop is a coil of wire worn around the neck and plugs into your wireless phone. A silhouette also plugs into a wireless phone and is made of small coils of wire encased in what looks like a very thin behind-the-ear hearing aid. The silhouette is worn behind the ear next to your hearing aid. Both neckloops and silhouettes magnetically couple with the t-coils in your hearing aids and deliver sounds directly from the phone into your hearing aids thus reducing background noise.
  • 2.5mm Audio Jack – Product provides an external audio jack – 2.5 millimeters in diameter to support external audio devices, such as a TTY or Silhouette System.
  • 2.5mm Audio Jack Interface – Clip-on accessory for products that do not have a 2.5mm audio jack. Manufacturer may include other jacks on this interface, such as an RJ11 jack.

Companies Whose Product(s) Support One or More of the Features Listed Above

Link to Audiovox Link to Audiovox

 

Link to Sony Ericsson Mobile Link to Sony Ericsson Mobile

 

Link to Motorola Link to Motorola

 

Link to Nokia Link to Nokia

 

Link to Panasonic Link to Panasonic

 

Link to Samsung Link to Samsung