As I am a hearing impaired individual, there are several benefits of the BlackBerry for the Deaf and for Hard Of Hearing. Most deaf users often go for the cheaper Hiptop/Sidekick because of instant messaging and better color screen. But today's BlackBerries are now much better and more consumer-friendly, with screen quality to match nowadays.

• Most Stable Wireless Email and SMS
  The BlackBerry is widely known to be one of the best wireless email and SMS device. Emails are instantly received and automatically displayed on the screen pager-style. No need to check email. No need to connect. Email comes in automatically. Much more reliable than Hiptop/Sidekick email, and you receive your emails faster with no delays and no lags like for Sidekick/Sidekick2/old 950.
  Methods of Receiving Email on BlackBerry
  SMS Between BlackBerry and Other Cell Phones
  
  
• Wireless TTY Relay Services Galore!
  Relay services are interpretor-like services that translates voice to text and voice-versa so you can use the thumb keyboard to speak; to make voice phone calls. There are several wireless relay services now exist that works on BlackBerry, including Lormar Logic, AOL Instant Messenger Relay, MCI Wireless IP Relay, and Fuse Wireless. You don't even need to buy a BlackBerry from a deaf provider anymore. No need to get Wyndtell brand; if you remember it. My favourite is MCI Wireless IP Relay, but requires an expensive telnet client called Idokorro Mobile SSH (Configure Idokorro to use hostname "wireless.ip-relay.com" and port "2510" for telnet protocol). You can do relay via WAP, via AIM, via SMS, and via telnet nowadays -- which all are possible on BlackBerry!
  
  
• Voicemail with Automatic Voice-To-Text / Alphanumeric Paging
  Even though most BlackBerries no longer provide paging included, you can still get paging-like services from a third party. The modern service today is a voicemail box that automatically has voice-to-text. This allows you to not need to explain to other people how to call you by relay service; they just call your voicemail and leave a message. And you simply read a transcription of your voicemails.
  More About How To Get Voice-To-Text Voicemail / Alpha Paging
  
  
• Instant Messaging, AOL, MSN, ICQ, IRC, Yahoo
  You can now do instant messaging on today's BlackBerries using VeriChat, WebMessenger and IM+.
  BlackBerry Instant Messaging FAQ
  
  
• Better Vibrate Alert Than Most Phones
  Current BlackBerry models has a very good vibrating alert that vibrates more powerfully than most other cellphones. Vibrate alert works on everything -- emails, SMS, alarms, and calendar appointment reminders!
  
  
• Vibrating Travel Alarm With Snooze Feature
  Your BlackBerry doubles as a vibrating pillow alarm that keeps persistently vibrating until you select Snooze. It is the most reliable travelling vibrating alarm I have ever found; even more reliable than other battery-powered vibrating alarms intentionally manufactured for the purpose of use by the deaf. If you need more powerful vibrating and are worried the BlackBerry will fall off the bed or out of the pillowcase, wear a long sock and slip the BlackBerry inside your sock before you sleep. That'll do the job!
  
  
• Vibrating Appointment Reminder
  Turn your Outlook Calendar appointments into a vibrating appointment reminder. BlackBerry is one of the best vibrating appointment reminders. Great for forgetful deaf people.
  
  
• More Software Than Hiptop/Sidekick
  There is more software for BlackBerry now than for Hiptop/Sidekick, including free software too. And you can even run Nokia/Motorola/Sony/Siemens Java phone software on BlackBerry now too!
  BlackBerry Killer Software Thread
  Midlets: You can use Nokia/Motorola/Sony/Siemens Java apps on BlackBerry!
  BlackBerry Web Browser FAQ
  
  
• More Durable Than Both Hiptop/Sidekick 1 and 2
  BlackBerries are more ruggedized and will resist being dropped by clumsy guys like me. I have dropped my BlackBerry 7280 many times and it has never broken, yet. Even to cement and asphalt.
  
  
• Smaller And Lighter Than Both Hiptop/Sidekick 1 and 2
  The recent models of BlackBerry are smaller and lighter than other wireless handhelds, making it more comfortable to carry around, which is a good bonus.
  
  
• Faster Thumb Typing
  An experienced thumb typist on BlackBerry can easily exceed 50 words per minute after practice if you are already a fast desktop keyboard typist. (On a BlackBerry, it is possible to thumb touch type staring at the screen and not the keyboard, after some practice). The fastest thumb typist went about 84 words per minute on a thumb keyboard, in the Dom Perignon III Contest run by Fitaly Inc.
  
  
• Longer Battery Life Than Both Hiptop/Sidekick 1 and 2
  On most modern GSM-network-based BlackBerries now, you can go away for a long travelling weekend without needing to recharge. 4 days, 5 days are not unusual for moderate always-on usage, 3 days for heavy usage with hundreds of emails and instant messages. Up to a whopping 9 days of very light usage!
  
  
• Better Color Screen On New BlackBerry Models
  If you get a newer BlackBerry model, the Blackberry 77XX series, the 71XX series, or the 7290, the bright color screen is better looking than Hiptop/Sidekick!

Yes, Hiptop/Sidekick is cheaper. But not as good. For more information, see BlackBerry versus Sidekick.

All of this will work on all North American BlackBerries, regardless of who you buy the BlackBerry from. You may have to pay more money to purchase third-party services (i.e. you can get paging, relay, TTY, and voicemail-to-text services from another company separately from the network carrier). But the advantage is that if you ever switch between wireless devices, you can keep your existing services because they work over industry-standard methods such as emails, WAP, SMS, etc.

For more information, please feel free to read the BlackBerry FAQ link below:

For more information, about MSN/AIM/ICQ/Yahoo on BlackBerry, see:
BlackBerry Instant Messaging FAQ

For other reasons about BlackBerry advantages, see:
Why BlackBerry?

For a comparision between BlackBerry and Sidekick:
BlackBerry versus Sidekick

.

thanks for this post...it helped me out a lot. My daughter is deaf...and this is the ticket for her. Maybe I can call on you for a question or two down the road on this subject.

I am deaf user and would like to know what kind of aol software you use? I have tried Ramble and it has one small negative side is that when it is running in the background and someone aims me, it does not vibrate.

Please share with me your experience.

Thanks!

I would take a look at webmessenger www.webmessenger.com, this all in one messenger will work with your profiles on your BB, so it will always vib when you have a message.

Only downfall I have seen with the BB vs the Hiptop is the vib alerts, I have a friend who is def and he likes his Hiptop 2 due to different vib alerts. That way he knows what type of message he is getting without actually looking at the device.

pink

I faintly remember I got Ramble to vibrate on incoming messages, but since I don't use Ramble anymore, I can't remember how I did it. I think it was via Profiles (if it integrated with Profiles) from the Main Screen instead of directly via Ramble. Not 100% sure.

If your Ramble can't be configured to vibrate, I know that my VeriChat, WebMessenger and IM+ does.

If you need reliability, WebMessenger seems to be the best. A bit hard to configure. You have AIM, MSN, ICQ, Yahoo in one client with several programs, but most of them are pay programs though.

i noticed that a lot of threads has websites url.. so are you implying that if I want to download an application I would have to goto the website in order to get AIM?

Does BB come with iprelay? I know about yahoo but most of my contact are on AOL but that is about to change....

How the billing structure works...... Bec this cat said I would have to get buy the in messaging bundle for $10 to get 1000 text messages.. i like i thought that was part of the data plan? what gives?!?!

We are still doing some testing internally right now, but IP relay has released a free dowload version for 4.0.2 and later devices. I like it just as much as the Hiptop2/sidekick2 (i carry one of these around also) version and find it easier to type. Oh, you do HAVE to have the full TCP stack to use it.

Katrina Niolet

With RIMIP-Relay 1.42, I cant seem to type with predictive text or even hit a key twice to get the second letter to spell a word (ex. hello = gello). With IP-Relay 1.0.7 I can type perfectly in the bottom box but the operator does not see what I'm typing. Does anyone have a clue on either version?

If you use the text version of AIM or Yahoo, you can get IPRelay to work with suretype. For those of you who prefer to do VCO calls, the instant messaging clients will log off if you try to switch to the phone app, so using the text version works nicely. I use this method when doing VCO calls on my cell, especially when I'm on the road. No extra device(s) necessary.

Mark,

I have read your FAQ's with great interest, as I am deaf. However, I prefer to do VCO calls whenever possible when making phone calls, as I type pretty slow compared to speaking. I'm sure you know how that goes. Anyhow, I'm curious about your statement regarding using the Idokarro Mobile SSH/Telnet client for conducting relay calls. Can this client be used as a hyperterminal client from the BB for direct calling to any of the state relay services, especially in case I need to make a 911 call? Any advice/experience regarding that?

SO U CAN DO VCO CALL ON A BLACKBERRY??? I DARN NEARLY FALL OUT OF MAH CHAIR?!?!? ARE U SERIOUS?? CUZ I BEEN LOOKING FOREVER FOR A PHONE THAT COULD DO WHAT I CAN DO WITH A LANDLINE PHONE VCO..

WHAT APPLICATION WOULD ENABLE ME TO USE MY BB AS VCO AND RECIEVE TEXT MSG FROM A RELAY OPERATOR?!?!?

DeafCeo,

I'm deadly serious, matter of fact, I have done it several times last month. If you have the mobile AIM working, especially in text/sms mode, (I believe this might be t-mobile's strength, I cannot vouch if cingular does the same because t-mobile treats all IM as sms), you will be able to do VCO calls without an additional device.

1) You'll need to add my iprelay to your buddy list in aim, make sure it's in the mobile group.
2) Now, go to aim.com and register your phone nbr and turn on IM forwarding, you'll need that.
3) Send an sms shortcode to 4646 (t-mobile shortcode for aim signon), type your screen name followed by space, followed by your passward, then send.
4) Send sms shortcode to myiprelay to get an operator, and then type 2lvco call from your nbr to hearing party's nbr
5) This is important, you'll need to remain in the messages app, so when the relay operator calls you, press the green button to answer, put the operator on hold, click wheel and then scroll down and click new call, type new nbr. When you're connected to the new nbr, click wheel>join call, then press escape to home screen, click ok if you get a prompt. Then go back to messages, from then on you'll get text msgs from the relay operator, which you'll read then you respond using your voice as if your talking normally. It's a little clunky, but it works. At least I'm using some of those minutes, and not wasting them just because I'm deaf.

Have fun!

Titetanium

so it only works if the carrier is tmobile??? because my carrier is verizon...i may have to contact my company rep to switch out to tmobile.......

I wouldn't say it only works on t-mobile, but you can give it a shot on verizon and post your experience to see if it works or not. I do know it works with t-mobile because that's what carrier I'm with.

I just bought a BlackBerry 7105t and I also have a BB 7100t and a BB 7730. Which relay program works best for these models? My college disability counselor is Deaf and I need a way to contact her if I am off-campus.

The BlackBerry relay program from IP-Relay is the best one so far:
www.ip-relay.com

Wirelessly posted (Cingular-Blue 7290: BlackBerry7290/4.0.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

Did you plan on giving her one of those BB's? Why not use Blackberry Messenger (PIN msgs) from one of your BBs?

Otherwise... I'm assuming you are hearing... You should ask her which relay service/method she prefers. Could be TTY (need her phone number), AIM (need her screenname), or Video Relay Service (need her IP address). Then she can give you the relay phone number for voice callers.

You couldn't use a Blackberry Relay Service application like IP-Relay, since it is a bridge for hearing to deaf / deaf to hearing users.

Steve

I am hearing. My counselor doesn't have a BlackBerry so I am not sure what to use.

Mark,

I am the delighted new owner of a T-Mobile 8700g. Being deaf, I am attempting to optimize it for my communication needs. Seeking a wireless relay solution, I downloaded and apparently successfully installed Wireless IP Relay for Blackberries, but am receiving error messages that say, "Disconnected: null Exception error occured, java.io.IOException: could not open tunnel - failed could no open tunnel - failed." Does this mean the software won't work with the 8700g, or is there a way around the problem? I did a search and could not find an answer.

Thanks,

Rick Lanser

Mark,

Following up...I finally found the needed information to get Wireless IP-Relay to work. It was at blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?t=3284&page=2, and involved setting the APN in Options > Advanced Settings > TCP to wap.voicestream.com (no id or pw needed). All's well; no more tunnel error! There are so many nooks and crannies on this forum for finding information, it can take a while.

Rick Lanser

An update to my previous post....I downloaded IP-Relay in case I need to use it. Thanks.

The ip-relay program doesn't work well with suretype. I've tried it, and it only recognizes the first letter of each key you type with. That's why I suggested using ip-relay through AIM or yahoo as those clients are already on your device.

is it possible for me to call a tty machine with my blackberry? or do I still have to do ip-relay via voice to call a deaf friend?

thanks

I'm not sure if this is possible. Here is where I got my information from, directly from the FAQ on ip-relay:

www.ip-relay.com/faq_using.html

From what this implies, it's vco to a hearing caller, not to a tty machine. Even with my main tty/phone, I wasn't able to use the relay services to a tty caller either.

The actual steps I used to do it all on my BB alone, isn't quite the same as what they said on the FAQ, but it's similar. The key is you must use the text (SMS) form of AIM or yahoo to be able to do this. The built in clients didn't work, because they log out as soon as you switch out to another app, like the phone or address book. Using the text form of AIM or yahoo isn't that much harder than using the client, it isn't pretty, but at least you get your messages in your inbox to save for future reference, and moreover, you don't run down your battery as it doesn't keep a constant data connection open. I was told by an ip-relay rep that it wasn't possible to do it on the cell phone by itself, because (their words) the cell phone can be in either data or phone mode, but not both at the same time.

Thru trial and error, I kept at it and found a way to get it to work. Look at the how-to dated 4/2/06 earlier in this thread on how it's done.

I have been able to use other apps and still be logged into AIM or Yahoo.

Erica,

You're right, with the 4.1 firmware, it doesn't log out when switching apps. I had been on 3.8 for so long (for the tty mode), and it was the only thing I was used to till I upgraded to 4.1 just 2 months ago. The IM clients on the 3.8 software was terrible, with frequent connection problems, and the inability to put it in the background so I can use the phone app or look up addresses in my address book. After I upgraded, I didn't bother using those clients again even though they looked new, I assumed that they were the same as the old ones. As you've already noticed, I'm used to the text form of AIM and Yahoo, so to each their own.

Btw, my earlier post about the tty not installing with 4.1, I had to modify the phone.alx file to get it to show up as an option to install.

Thank goodness I didn't have 3.8 LOL I find that the text versions are harder to remember the different codes for so I would just wait for someone to IM me and I would reply back (thank God for T-Mobile Unlimited Messaging).

As for the TTY situation, I don't know if you saw my post, but my College Disability Services counselor is Deaf and I don't have a TTY at home so I need a way to contact her when I'm off campus or away from my pc. I thought about just getting her email address and emailing her from my BlackBerry but I don't know how often she is near a PC or if she has a pager (I have an old BlackBerry and I could give it to her. LOL A new CrackBerry Addict LMAO). I had Wireless IP-Relay on my BB but apparently it got deleted. Any way I can go about doing this?

Well, you could ask your counselor if she is provided a device by the school for her needs. If she isn't, she needs to be persuaded to request a device from the school as it is an excellent tool for her job. Not necessarily a cell phone but a blackberry on a data only plan would be perfect and cost effective for both her and the university as well as the students who needs to get in touch with her. That said.....

Let's say you gave her your blackberry and put it on a data only plan with unlimited sms. Next you'll need to convince her to go to www.ip-relay.com and register for a my ip-relay number for you to call so she can get your voice msgs translated as text. That gives you the ability to use your voice and her the ability to type back her response to you for the duration of the call. If you want to just text or email her, then that's fine too. But she will have to provide the nbr and email to her students that she counsels so they can email or text her if they need some assistance from her when she's not at the computer during reasonable hours.

The wireless relay application can always be redownloaded and installed on your blackberry. If you want to use it to call a tty, you'll need to go here for more information: http://www.ip-relay.com/faq_using.html. Personally, i think you're better off just calling her my ip-relay nbr rather than using the wireless ip-relay app.

One last thing, I would bet that she wouldn't like to be contacted too much during off-hours, if she endures too much of that, she could/would end up sticking with the computer and get her email on her own time.

ip relay is very easy to use on the bb but I hardly use it .. Except when I am in the field I use it a lot mostly to make reservations... It sure does pays to be a fast typist and make the use of cheat keys.. but not sure if it would work with the ip relay module...

Ok I got a question for yall...

I want to get a telecoil coupler for this blackberry of mines...but I've been trying to find out what kind of ohm audio jack output does the Blackberry 7290 has? Can its accept a 3.5 mm mono jack? I check Blackberry offical site and it doesnt tell you if it can or cant accept a listening device with a 3.5mm mono jack. Thanks!



Please advise!

Hey I'm deaf user, too!! Also I have i711.com for wireless relay in my new blackberry 8700g, too.... It can download. Here is www.i711.com

- Never mind.. idiotic question

I'll ask a different one. Are calls to Credit Card companies secure through Relay Services?

Hi I want to know if 8700g is far better than 7290 ? I just know that it is 64 mb and more memory than 7290. what else is better than 7290? Is it worth it?
Mookia

Wirelessly posted (Cingular-Blue 7290: BlackBerry7290/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/101)

My wife bought a 8700g from T-Mobile at the NAD Conference to replace her 7290 and I'm jealous! Screen resolution is way better, I know I could use the additional programmable buttons she gets on it to shortcut to GoogleTalk or a Browser or whatever. I had forgotten the memory doubled. I could also use the speaker phone for VCO calls with VRS!

The 7290's are 2-years old already. By the time you end your contract they would be way out-of-date.

My contract is finished and I was planning to hang on until the next generation of BlackBerrys, but I may grab an 8700 now as they will be 2-3 years old by the time a new contract runs out.

I've seen some 8700 going for less than the 7290 and SK2 on some websites. Go figure.

Steve

And these last couple of replys have what to do with the title of this thread?

Wirelessly posted (Cingular-Blue 7290: BlackBerry7290/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/101)

Well, let's see...

"BlackBerry Technical»*Aftermarket Software»*Thread: Benefits of BlackBerry for the Deaf & Hard Of Hearing"

We've got Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing members with BlackBerrys, the beneifts, and now, helping someone decide which one to buy.

Instead, we could question why this thread is even in the Aftermarket Software forum instead of its own Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Forum. Probably because it was in the right place at the right time, such as my previous post.

Cheers!
Steve

Well, I am deaf and I didn't see any mention about how a rely service is affected by the unit. I just see a question on what BB is better.

I greatly apologize for bumping an old-old thread as my first post...

But I'm a deaf/hard of hearing person in search of a wireless device and to be frank and honest -- this thread was a lot more informative about the blackberry as to the Sidekick or other pagers than most media web sites I have gone to while searching for "deaf wireless" on google.

I'm a veteran of simple (if not stupid) wireless devices. I used to use the Motorola T900 talkabout. I purchased a Ogo messaging device just before Cingular officially swallowed up AT and T and the simplicity of the device plus the weak battery was more of a turn off than anything.

The benefits at the begining of this thread were of great value. I'm wondering about dealers though along with not being forced into certain service plans (for example -- Amazon.com offers certain blackberrys but you cannot chose the data-only plans).

I appreciate any (additional) help you can give.

I am deaf and I have BB Pearl. I hardly feel vibrating, only 3 times (weak/short). I used to have SK2. The vibrate would keep vibrating til I read it. I turned on LED flashing and noticed that keeps flashing longer til I read the message, is there to vibrate instead?

Wirelessly posted (Cingular 8100 Pearl: BlackBerry8100/4.2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

Belated welcome to the BlackBerry Forum.



Take a look at Welcome to Deafpagers.com! for data-only plans and Berries. They cover most carriers.



Steve