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AOL, MCI Offer Phone Numbers to Deaf with IM

By David Worthington, BetaNews

December 13, 2004, 12:00 AM

For the first time, normal telephone users will be able to contact a deaf person without TTY terminals thanks to instant messaging. America Online and MCI have joined together to enable people with hearing disabilities to receive incoming calls using their own unique phone number. This improvement is made possible by an expansion of the AIM Relay service that enables deaf users to receive relay calls through AIM.

The AIM Relay Service launched in July 2004 as an accessibility feature for the deaf, hard of hearing and speech disabled that places outbound calls with AIM. To use the service, users can click on a Screen Name that invokes a session with an MCI relay operator who then places calls on the user's behalf and transcribes the conservation from text to voice and vice-versa.

Now, by adding the My IP Relay Screen Name (mviprelay) to their Buddy List and registering for a local telephone number from MCI, users can receive incoming calls as well. Callers who want to connect with a deaf friend, colleague or family member simply call the number, which then connects them to an MCI relay operator who instant messages the recipient. Recipients answer the call by instant messaging back.

Registration for a My IP Relay Number is free of charge at IP-RELAY.com. What's more, the AIM Relay Service is also free of charge for AOL members, as well as AOL Instant Messenger and Apple iChat account holders. An AOL spokesperson told BetaNews that additional charges may apply for users who access the service via wireless devices.

"This innovative new service is a great example of the convergence of IP Communications," said Steven Johnson, vice president MCI Enhanced Services. "Working with AOL, we are harnessing the power of IP to enable people with hearing disabilities to make and receive calls while on the go."

This is not the first push by AOL into IP telephony. The company publicly launched a consumer-oriented voice conferencing service earlier this month called AIM Voice Conferencing Service (AVC). As first reported by BetaNews, the service is a based upon an existing voice conferencing offering from AIM Business Services.

More information on AOL's accessibility policies is available on its Web site.

Add a Comment (7 Comments)

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By babydeafgurl24

edited Oct 22, 2007 - 4:33 PM

Hey want want concet buddy my frined deaf pls my sn babydeafgurl24@aim.com

Score: 0

By bangbang023

posted Dec 13, 2004 - 1:21 AM

Things like this really need voice recognition software to blossom fully. I'm sure many more people would feel more comfortable if a machine was interpreting their conversation instead of another person, a stranger.

Score: 0

By kberg31974

posted Dec 13, 2004 - 6:21 PM

Why? People with disabilities (me included) have been using relay services like this for YEARS! Now that it doesn't require a separate TTY device or phone line...I'm lovin' it! The operators are required by law took keep ALL information confidential unless someone's safety is at risk. You have to understand that not EVERYONE is paranoid about privacy issues.

Score: 1

By morriscox

posted Dec 15, 2004 - 3:52 PM

Actually, relay operators have to keep *all* information confidential *even* if someone's safety is at risk. I used to relay calls for the deaf and hard of hearing and we faced years of federal prison if we broke confidentiality for any reason. Doesn't matter if it's the FBI, CIA, Secret Service, etc. (Or even our supervisor.) They couldn't question us and we couldn't be subpoenaed. Someone could be discussing plans to blow up the White House or rape/kill someone and we were not to tell anyone. (If someone mentioned blowing up the relay center, we could mention that we planned on taking a break far away and suggest that everyone come along.)

A side note: in some states, 711 is the number to call relay. It really sucks if someone is trying to call 911 and misdial. You can't help them and there's nothing you can do. And you can't tell anyone anything. If you do, it's federal prison for you.

Another note: federal agencies can't place wiretaps in a relay center. They can place one anywhere else, but a relay center is off limits. In fact, law enforcement agencies can't enter the call floor (and we can even refuse to let the President of the United States in).