Sprint Launches Leading-Edge Technology - CapTel(SM) Relay Service for Hard of Hearing Community in Ohio

From: PR Newswire (press release) - Jun 1, 2005

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Sprint (NYSE: FON), the leading provider of telecommunications relay services (TRS) for the deaf and hard of hearing, has launched CapTel(SM) Relay Service (Captioned Telephone) in Ohio. CapTel was approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) as an additional service administered through the Ohio Relay Service. CapTel is an assistive technology aimed at easing communications for the more than 24 million Americans who are hard of hearing, have experienced hearing loss later in life or are deaf individuals with good vocalization skills.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO )

CapTel Relay Service is a leading-edge technology developed by Ultratec, Inc. of Madison, Wis., and a special CapTel(TM)-equipped phone is required in order to place a call through CapTel. The CapTel phone works like any traditional phone with callers talking and listening to each other, but with one very significant difference - captions are provided live for every call. The captions are displayed on the CapTel phone's built-in screen so the user can read the words while listening to the voice of the other party. This allows conversations to flow more naturally, allowing for normal interruptions and expressed emotions. CapTel services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

"I've seen firsthand how using CapTel can be a life-changing experience for many because it helps them to better communicate by phone and to understand the emotions and words expressed through a phone conversation," said Mike Ligas, region vice president - Sprint Relay. "We're excited that Ohio has chosen to offer CapTel to its residents who are hard of hearing as Sprint continues to work hard to bring and broaden CapTel availability to additional states."

CapTel is available through Sprint in 21 other states, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia. Hard of hearing active and retired federal government employees (civilian, military and federally recognized U.S. Tribal members) also can take advantage of CapTel services through Federal Relay.

For more information on CapTel services provided by Sprint in Ohio, contact Danny Barrett, account manager - Sprint Relay, at Danny.Barrett@mail.sprint.com . Or you can refer to Ultratec's website at http://www.captionedtelephone.com .

How CapTel Works
As the user dials the phone number of the person they wish to call, the CapTel phone automatically routes their call through the CapTel call center and connects them to their called party. At the call center, a specially trained operator uses a customized voice-recognition computer and revoices whatever is said by the called party. The voice-recognition software transcribes the operator's voice into captions that appear on the bright display screen on the CapTel phone for the user to read. The user also hears the other party's voice on the phone to the best of their ability, just like any other amplified phone.

Sprint Relay Portfolio of Services
Sprint has more than 14 years of experience in providing relay services to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled, allowing them to communicate with hearing persons on the phone. Sprint offers relay services through an intelligent platform to 30 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, New Zealand and the federal government. Sprint's experience in the field provides the assurance that all Sprint Relay services will meet or exceed Federal Communications Commission requirements for telecommunications relay services (TRS). Relay service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no restrictions on the number of calls placed or call length. For more information, visit http://www.sprintrelay.com .

About Sprint
Sprint offers an extensive range of innovative communication products and solutions, including global IP, wireless, local and multiproduct bundles. A Fortune 100 company with more than $27 billion in annual revenues in 2004, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state- of-the-art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network; an award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone; and one of the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide wireless networks in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.sprint.com/mr .

SOURCE Sprint
Web Site: http://www.sprint.com http://www.sprint.com/mr
http://www.sprintrelay.com http://www.captionedtelephone.com

Photo Notes: NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO AP
Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Copyright © 1996-2005 PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved. A United Business Media company.