A Baltimore-based company called reachNET introduced a wireless messaging solution that provides a direct connection between a wireless device and the telephone teletype machines commonly used by the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Called Wireless TTY, the service uses the Inter@ctive Pager 950 from Research In Motion Ltd. and airtime from BellSouth Wireless Data L.P. to allow users to place and receive calls to and from teletype machines.
TTY machines can be connected to traditional voice phones so users can have near real-time text-based conversations with deaf users. Hearing callers without a TTY machine call an operator who transcribes words into text, then relays the text to the deaf TTY user. The TTY user then types in a response, which the operator reads to the hearing caller. Alternatively, both callers may have TTY machines, allowing them to converse in text on both ends.
However, a mobile TTY solution featuring a such a direct connection has been lacking for some time. While two-way pagers have been used as a mobile communication option by many deaf users, the solution was not truly mobile because TTY machines were unable to send messages directly to alphanumeric pagers, and vice versa.
The reachNET solution allows two TTY users to have a text-based conversation using the RIM pager and BSWD airtime, featuring a more dedicated connection between the two. For a true dedicated data connection, the solution would have to use a circuit-switched network. Wireless TTY is a packet-based solution.
However, reachNET proponents say the service features a somewhat greater level of dedicated connection than other options available.
Wynd Communications Inc. was the first company to offer a wireless TTY solution with its TTY Reply addition to the WyndTell service, also using the Inter@ctive pager and BSWD airtime, introduced last November. That service essentially allows users to send messages between Inter@ctive pagers and TTYs, much like instant messaging between two online users.
The reachNET solution’s dedicated wireless connection allows for a real-time, text-based conversation-much like being in an online chat room.
BellSouth’s interactive paging solution has proven popular with the deaf community. The New York Society for the Deaf was one of the first to adopt the interactive messaging solution for its employee communications.
BSWD’s network uses dedicated-data Mobitex technology, known for its higher speed and lower latency, a feature preferred for more real-time conversational style chat.
In contrast, two-way paging networks based on ReFLEX technology use a store-and-forward transmission system, meaning text messages sent to the network are first stored and then sent along to the intended receiver. These messages generally take a bit longer to reach their final destination.
Customers can buy the Wireless TTY pager for $350. Payment plans are available.
Airtime charges include $35 for 50,000 characters a month and $50 a month for unlimited characters.
