Rhode Island Relay to Provide Mobile Captions Service(SM) for Residents With Hearing Loss

AURORA, Neb., May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamilton Relay, the exclusive Telecommunications Relay Service provider for the state of Rhode Island, announced that they will begin providing Mobile Captions Service (MCS) to its residents with hearing loss. Starting May 1, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing will be able to read captions on a mobile phone using Voice Carry Over (VCO) technology.

Developed by Mobile Captions Company, Hamilton Relay and Consumer Cellular, the MCS program lets subscribers speak, listen and read during wireless phone conversations made on the Nokia E5. The Nokia E5 smartphone is M3/T3 hearing aid-compatible and comes with a large, 2.4-inch display and full QWERTY keyboard. The MCS program is available exclusively on the Nokia E5.

"Providing Mobile Caption Services is a way for the state of Rhode Island to enable its VCO users to access this communications technology on the go," said Dixie Ziegler, vice president of Hamilton Relay. "We are proud to support Rhode Island Relay in expanding their relay service capabilities and we are committed to delivering advanced solutions designed for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing."

Similar to closed captioning on television, Mobile Captions Service allows subscribers to read text of their phone conversations on the screen of their Nokia E5 smartphone. A specially trained operator types what the other person says. MCS subscribers can then read what is being said directly on the screen of the Nokia E5 mobile device, making it possible to catch every part of the conversation.

"This is a great service to be able to provide to our residents," says Jim Lanni, Associate Public Utilities Administrator For Operations And Consumer Affairs. "Offering Rhode Island residents who experience hearing loss a mobile solution is something we are incredibly proud of."

MCS is offered in participating states where Hamilton Relay is the Telecommunications Relay Service provider.  For information about additional participating states or to be alerted when a new state signs on, visit www.consumercellular.com/mobilecaptions. To purchase the Nokia E5 phone visit www.consumercellular.com/mobilecaptions or call 1-888-725-4428.

About Rhode Island Relay and the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission

The Rhode Island Relay service is administered and promoted by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. The Rhode Island Relay service is available on a twenty-four hour basis, seven days a week, to all telephone subscribers in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island relay service provides numerous services and features that are designed for easy use. For more information about Rhode Island Relay, visit www.RIRelay.org. For information about the RIPUC, visit www.ripuc.org.      

About Hamilton Relay

Hamilton Relay offers a variety of services including Traditional Relay Services, Captioned Telephone and Internet Relay services.  Hamilton provides Traditional Relay and/or Captioned Telephone services to 18 states, the District of Columbia, the Island of Saipan and the Virgin Islands. More information is available at www.hamiltonrelay.com.

About Consumer Cellular

Consumer Cellular, the exclusive wireless provider for AARP members, was founded in 1995 on the belief that everyone should have affordable access to the safety and convenience of cellular service. The company provides its customers with simple, affordable cell phones and calling plans, guaranteed satisfaction and top-ranked customer support staff all located within the United States.  Plus, Consumer Cellular customers never have to sign a long-term contract in order to start service.  

The Portland, Ore.-based company is privately held and utilizes the nation's largest voice and data network, covering more than 296 million people - or 97 percent of the U.S. population. Consumer Cellular is one of the nations leading wireless wholesalers and differentiates itself from it's competitors by providing it's customers with an unparalleled understanding of the mature marketplace, great low rates and the best cellular network available.  As one of the nation's leading wireless wholesalers, Consumer Cellular is able to purchase wireless service in large volumes, providing its customers with the best of both worlds: great low rates and the best cellular network available.  For more information: visit ConsumerCellular.com or call (800) 686-4460.

About Mobile Captions Company

Mobile Captions Company (MCC) an emerging technology and service company founded in 2009. MCC specializes in bringing enhanced mobile communications to people who are hard of hearing. MCC's technology is a patent-pending, end-to-end system that allows captions (text) to be delivered to any MCC enabled cell phone over the cellular infrastructure. To learn more about Mobile Captions Company, go to www.mobilecaptions.com.

SOURCE Hamilton Relay

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