Published:
GoAmerica(R) and AT&T to Demonstrate Fast, Effective 10-Digit Interoperability Between Video Relay Providers
ROCKLIN, Calif., June 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GoAmerica, Inc.
(Nasdaq: GOAM), a provider of relay and wireless communications and
professional interpreter services for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and
speech-disabled persons, and AT&T today announced they would become the first
companies to demonstrate a live point-to-point video call through a 10-digit
numbering system described in the FCC ruling issued yesterday.
The demonstration, to occur at the National Association of the Deaf
headquarters inSilver Spring, MD, will exhibit a technology solution that is
relatively inexpensive and quick to implement for any relay provider.
"Delivering 10-digit numbering is a critical step in providing relay users
with functionally equivalent calling services and essential emergency calling
(e911) access which together have thus far been denied to online relay users,"
said Kelby Brick, vice president of regulatory and strategic policy for
GoAmerica, which provides relay services under the Hands On VRS(R),
i711.com(R), and IP-Relay(TM) brands. "We applaud the FCC ruling which
demonstrates a commitment to ensure that relay users will enjoy the same level
of accessibility and safety that hearing users have had for years."
"A hundred years ago the U.S. concluded that telephone networks for
hearing persons should be interconnected to ensure easy calling between
telephone users, regardless of their chosen telephone network," said David
Huntley, Senior Vice President of Customer Information Services at AT&T. "In
the same way -- and for the first time -- relay providers are agreeing to
interconnect their networks, effectively advancing the same convenience for
deaf and hard of hearing callers."
About Ten-Digit Numbering
As described in yesterday's FCC ruling, ten-digit numbering offers to deaf
and hard of hearing relay users a real, ten-digit number that can be dialed
from any voice telephone to reach the intended relay user. These numbers are
critical in providing users access to emergency calling services through 911.
Real 10-digit numbers provided through this solution are accessible by callers
from any relay provider that shares access to its user directory.
"Real ten-digit numbers eliminate the cumbersome dialing instructions and
procedures required to make voice-to-video calls today," added Brick. "If a
hearing person wants to call me on my videophone, he just dials my number the
same as he would for any other call. The ten-digit number will work for
everyone -- deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing people -- and with any
participating device or service."
Broad Consumer Support
"Every relay provider should take active steps to ensure that their
services are fully accessible for the community they serve," said Nancy Bloch,
executive director of the National Association of the Deaf. "I congratulate
the AT&T and GoAmerica for moving ahead aggressively to establish this
accessibility."
"It's encouraging to see group efforts to jumpstart the process to
establish a telephone numbering system which will enable consumers who are
deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-disabled, to have access to enhanced 911
services," said Sheri Farinha-Mutti, CEO of the NorCal Center on Deafness.
"Lives are at stake, and we can't afford to wait."
Ms. Bloch and Ms. Farinha-Mutti will each take part in the 10-digit number
demonstration.
Demonstration, Pricing, and Availability
GoAmerica and AT&T will demonstrate the 10-digit numbering solution on
Thursday, June 26, 2008 at the headquarters of the National Association of the
Deaf at 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 820 inSilver Spring, Maryland.
The demo will show two 10-digit video calls. First, Sheri Farinha-Mutti
will receive a call from a hearing caller through a 10-digit number. Then, Ms.
Farinha-Mutti and Nancy Bloch, each a customer of a different VRS provider,
will connect through a video-to-video call using a 10-digit number.
GoAmerica anticipates it will begin distributing local 10-digit numbers to
relay users for free in July.
About Telecommunications Relay Services.
TRS is a program established under the federal Americans with Disabilities
Act to provide deaf and hard of hearing persons with functionally equivalent
access to the public telephone network. Traditional TRS involves the use of a
device called a TTY, which consists of a keyboard, modem and display screen
connected to a standard telephone line. The deaf person types his or her
portion of the telephone call to a relay operator, who voices the message to
the hearing party and in return types the hearing party's conversation which
is read on the TTY display screen by the deaf person.
Like other forms of communication, text relay can now be accomplished more
effectively using the Internet. In addition, the Internet now allows deaf and
hard of hearing persons to conduct video telephone calls, thereby enabling
them to use their native visual sign language through use of a sign language
interpreter.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its
subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of
AT&T services inthe United States and around the world. Among their offerings
are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and
the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services.
In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and
advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM
organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as
communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy,
AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services
provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at
http://www.att.com.
About GoAmerica
As a result of its acquisitions, GoAmerica is the nation's largest and
second largest provider of text relay and video relay services, respectively,
and provides an array of communications and interpreting services tailored to
the needs of people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-disabled. The
Company's vision is to improve the quality of life of its customers by being
their premier provider of high quality, innovative communication services that
break down communications barriers. For more information on the Company or its
services, visit http://www.goamerica.com or contact GoAmerica directly at TTY
201-527-1520, voice 201-996-1717, Internet Relay by visiting
http://www.i711.com, or video phone by connecting to hovrs.tv.
Safe Harbor
The statements contained in this news release that are not based on
historical fact -- including statements regarding the anticipated results of
the transactions described in this press release -- constitute
"forward-looking statements" that are made in reliance upon the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking
terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate,"
"continue," or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of
those terms. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties,
including, but not limited to: (i) our ability to integrate the businesses and
technologies we have acquired; (ii) our ability to respond to the rapid
technological change of the wireless data industry and offer new services;
(iii) our dependence on wireless carrier networks; (iv) our ability to respond
to increased competition in the wireless data industry; (v) our ability to
generate revenue growth; (vi) our ability to increase or maintain gross
margins, profitability, liquidity and capital resources; and (vii)
difficulties inherent in predicting the outcome of regulatory processes. Such
risks and others are more fully described in the Risk Factors set forth in our
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our actual results could
differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, such
forward-looking statements. GoAmerica is not obligated to update and does not
undertake to update any of its forward-looking statements made in this press
release. Each reference in this news release to "GoAmerica," the "Company" or
"We," or any variation thereof, is a reference to GoAmerica, Inc. and its
subsidiaries.
"GoAmerica," the "GoAmerica" logo, "i711," and the "i711.com" logo, "Hands
On VRS" and "Relay and Beyond" are registered trademarks of GoAmerica.
"i711.com," "IP-Relay," and "i711 Wireless" are trademarks and service marks
of GoAmerica. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE GoAmerica, Inc.
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