Raytown, Missouri – July 7, 2010 – sComm, developer and manufacturer of UbiDuo, the face-to-face communicator, announced the UbiVia, the next generation of cellular text communication on smartphones. Beta testing of the new product was launched at the National Association of the Deaf conference, taking place this week in Philadelphia, PA and will be offered exclusively to BlackBerry® smartphone users to start.

The UbiVia, which is downloaded on smartphones, allows users at both ends of the conversation to read what each other types in live real-time, on a split-screen display. This results in faster and simultaneous conversations, eliminating the need to take turns talking or wait for a response from the other person. This new form of communication is faster than instant messaging (IM) or SMS.

“The UbiVia establishes new standards of texting and experience never available or offered before on cell phones,” says Jason Curry, CEO of sComm. “When you call someone, it will ring like a cell phone, and you will have the option of accepting or rejecting the incoming text call. You also have audible, visual and vibration alert options.”

The UbiVia will run on BlackBerry smartphones available through all four major carriers in the United States – AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. sComm is now recruiting current BlackBerry smartphone users to participate in UbiVia beta testing trials; the last stage before going on the market. Product information and UbiVia beta tester sign up is available at the UbiVia website at www.myubivia.com.

About sComm
sComm, which stands for “simultaneous communications,” is a privately-held company in Raytown, MO founded in 2002 to design its first product, the UbiDuo, a dedicated communicator that facilitates face-to-face text-based communication in businesses, government, agencies and social settings. Information about sComm and the UbiDuo is available at www.scomm.com.

sComm was a recipient of the Technology Company of the Year Award by the Missouri Department of Economic Development in 2006, and the Inclusion for Universal Design Award from the Governor’s Council on Disability in 2006, and is a member of the BlackBerry Alliance Program.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

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VPAD/VPAD+
If you don’t have VPAD, this is your chance to apply for FREE VPAD. But be aware that you will be only qualified for one first generation VPAD. VPAD+ have been suspended due to FCC investigation. It could take awhile. But no worries, VPAD+ will be on sale again.

VPAD offers:

- an innovative 10-inch touch screen interface,
- a built-in multi-colors flasher so you don’t miss any calls,
- the capability to be hooked up to a TV,
- Ethernet,
- SD memory card diver,
- USB port,
- Headset-microphone inputs

Swap Program
If you have Ojo, we can swap your Ojo to VPAD.

If you’re interested, call our customer support from any videophones.

Customer Support: 866-949-7627
E-Mail: info@snapvrs.com
Snap!VRS: www.snapvrs.com
ViableVRS: www.viable.net

Have a good one!

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We aim to put a smile on your face and a pager in your hands! Need an Amplified Phone or TTY? We can help!

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Morayo Communications
6420 Hillcroft Street, Suite 209
Houston, TX 77081

VP/Voice: 866-552-4660
Fax: 713-777-4055
mc@morayocomm.com

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Presenter:
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Woodhaven Deaf Church
9920 LongPoint
Houston, TX 77055
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Starts at 6:30pm

Please RSVP to kbarron@c-s-d.org by December 16.

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Among the notable deaf-friendly features mentioned in a Deaf411 video announcement is a larger 3.2 inch display screen and a trackball navigator that lights up to alert you of not only just email and instant messaging (IM) messages, but also alerts from any one of the three social network sites: Twitter, MySpace and Facebook.

This new Sidekick model continues its reputable messaging capabilities with multiple email and instant messaging (IM) service options, and a spacious keyboard. An upgraded 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus and flash, YouTube Mobile access, Flash video support and the 3G network capability are now incorporated in this new model.

SEE SIGNED/CAPTIONED VIDEO

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Saturday November 7, 2009
9:00am – 4:00pm
Hilton Houston Post Oak
2001 Post Oak Blvd
Houston, Texas 77056
*self parking $5.00, valet parking $13.00*

AGENDA
8:30am – 9:00am Coffee Chat
9:00am – 9:30am Introductions and Overview of Relay Texas and Sprint Relay
Presenters: Eileen Alter and Shelley Oishi
9:30am – 10:00am What is 4G?

Presenter: Karl Ewan
10:00am – noon Passport to Technology
Noon – 1:00pm Open Space Technology with Lunch
1:00pm – 2:15pm Relay Texas Town Hall Forum
2:15pm – 2:30pm Coffee Break
2:30pm – 3:00pm TAD
Presenter: Paul Rutowski, TAD president
3:00pm – 4:00pm “Journey Through Deaf Texas” showing

Click here for Registration Online. Deadline is on November 3rd, 2009
Click here for Registration Form. Deadline is on November 3rd, 2009

Send registration form by email or Fax at the following information:
Email: Shelley.Oishi@sprint.com
Fax: 913-523-1853
Sponsored by Relay Texas and Sprint Relay

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I want to address a few concerns by those in the deaf and hard of hearing community. While we condemned the abuse by the scammers using the ip-relay. We want the community at large to understand that while we conduct business or personal calls through TTY (Telephone Typewriter) ip-relay (internet), Video Phone, or VRI (Video Relay Interpreter). There will be a concern among those in the community at large on whether a relay call would be legitimate or a scam.

This scam reflects poorly on the deaf and hard of hearing community and we strive to fight against the abuse of our services. The purpose of using an relay service provides us the independence in order to function within the hearing community. In fact, there are two devices that provides us the giant leap when we socialize with those in the community at large. First is a relay service which a deaf person has access to and currently the three most common “phones”  are: TTY, ip-relay (internet), and Video Phone. Second is the use of pager/cell phone with a QWERTY key (virtual or physical) in order to communicate with other people.

Let’s put some of the technology we use in a nutshell. TTY is an age-old technology which unfortunately many of them are still in use within the business community. It is quickly becoming an obsolete device very much like the VHS tape of the old days. You can still find many of them within the government sectors and hospitals. Personally, every time I go to a hospital and I say, “Can I make a phone call? I am Deaf and do you have a device I can use?” The first thing the staff would say, “Yes, we have a TTY.” *record scratching* NOOOOO! Come on! Upgrade already!

Ip-Relay has been around since the 1990′s and is still in moderate use. The most common method of an ip-relay is when we are on our cell phone or pager that has a AIM or an Internet connection. For example, on my iPhone, I use AIM to conduct calls via sprintip and it enables me to make calls quickly anywhere as long as my iPhone is connected to a wifi or a 3G network. Unfortunately, ip-relay is one of the most abused by scammers because it is relatively easy to use and requires no knowledge of sign language in order to communicate. All the scammers have to do is type on a keyboard and communicate with anyone under secrecy. To my understanding, the FBI task force is aware of this abuse and there have been raids in some parts of country, more on that later.

Video Phone is a newcomer and is one of the fastest growing segment in regards of deaf and hard of hearing customer’s preference. It requires the knowledge of sign language to communicate in order to use Video Phone. Also, it is one of the most saturated in the market because there are more competitors than the device themselves. You have competitors such as HOVRS relay, CSDVRS, Viable, SNAPVRS, Sorenson, and Sprint whom are competing for the deaf customer’s business. In regards to the device that is used to conduct Video Phone, is it an ever changing environment because new technology are coming out every year.

The FCC pays for all of those device and the services that is being provided for those in the deaf and hard of hearing community, increasingly, I have been noticing that more and more deaf and hard of hearing individuals are now preferring to purchase the device themselves and do not need the FCC to purchase them for the deaf and hard of hearing community. That will be another story to write about later.

I want to emphasize to the community at large, many of us in the deaf and hard of hearing community condemned the abuse of our relay service and we hope that this communication access will not set us back when we try to call anyone in the community due to the concerns on whether a relay call is legitimate or a scam. Of course, there are preventable measures and the only way to fight against  the scammers is by educating everyone on this issue. Everyone is responsible in educating each other whether you are hearing or deaf in knowing what service is legitimate or not.

Education is the key in exposing awareness of the needs of those in the deaf and hard of hearing community.

By the way, I encourage many in the public, private, and the government sector to take a serious look at VRI (video relay interpreter). It is the new kid on the block and it enables many of those in the community to quickly have a communication access with those whom are deaf and hard of hearing. It is a lot cheaper than having a real interpreter being present and reduced the delay of having an interpreter to show up. For an illustration of an VRI, click here.

Correction: Please note, VRS (Video Relay Service) is a free service that is provided for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and VRI (Video Relay Interpreter) is a pay-per-use service that provides an intermediate interpreting between two parties in the same room. Sorry for the confusion!

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You are wondering what is up with Twitter gaining a foothold in the Deaf community? The answer to that is, communication and information. The Deaf community is thirsty for communication from anyone, anywhere, and no matter how they get it. Having communication and information enables one to stay ahead of the pack. A competition of knowing at it’s finest…what is embarassing is when someone comes to you and say, “Have you heard about the earthquake in Italy?” (Pardon the satire)

I do not have to type much information about Twitter because it takes one to try it and realize its’ full potentinal. You would realize how much closer you are with your friends once you use Twitter and you would allow yourself to maintain updates on your blog, facebook, and myspace. Talk about sitting in your car and you decide to have a say about something. You type on your cell phone and Twitter away, everyone on facebook, myspace, blog, etc would automatically know what is up with you all the while you are sitting in your car.

Currently, there are many competitors out there that would compete to grab market share away from Twitter. Competitors such as Friendfeed, Tumblr, Posterous, etc. You can check them out and use any to your preference. All of them will still connect to twitter and use twitter as a platform to connect to your friends. It seems that now every website, rss feed, email, and post are all now connecting to Twitter. Let’s just say, Twitter is the information gateway to the world.Let’s look at different third party API that enables you to use Twitter to post up to 140 characters each. You can just go ahead and do a google search for Twitter 3rd party and there are plenty to come up with.

Here is what I use and I believe is the winner, however, you are free to disagree. For the Desktop or Laptop user, I use TweetDeck because it works on all platforms across Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Basically, it use a platform called Adobe Air and you would need to download Adobe Air to be able to use TweetDeck. For the power social users, you can use Digsby or Nomee (it is a new player in town).

I have a Blackberry and I use this nifty appliction called TinyTwitter. My wife has a iPhone and she use Twitteriffic (free version).

We are Twitter addicts… are you?

Catch me at Bporche (Twitter)

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