AT&T finally offers iPhone plan for deaf and hard of hearing

not bad for a phone that will now come with unlimited starbucks wifi. its pretty much a lock ATT will follow tmo and utilize IP for its voice infastructure.

Why do the deaf and hard of hearing need an iPhone? Half of the device is that its an “IPOD” with the phone part built in. If your deaf or hard of hearing your not going to be listening to mp3′s. So why again would they want an iPhone? A big brick to text on?

They say activate it as normal and submit an application for approval.

What happens if the application is denied? Then your stuck with a higher plan, and if you want to cancel you’ll be stuck with 10% restocking fee. That’s if they approve or deny the request within 14 days…

Gary – The phone can be used for text messaging and instant messaging which has been a big advance in communication for the deaf. This is why the sidekicks have been so popular with the deaf/HOH. Along with the fact they can place relay calls thru AIM.

Mike, its doubtful the application would be denied if you submit it with a doctors note saying that you are indeed deaf/HOH.

I still don’t get it. So you can’t apply for the plan unless ur deaf or hoh? Thats a bit out for those who prefer to text than call like myself. They should have a plan like this in the uk

That’s not true, out unlimited data + unlimited text is 40 dollars a month. At least in the southeast it is…

This is a great deal for some deaf, but the lack of a keyboard is a HUGE deal breaker for many deaf and hard-of-hearing. Plus with the new Blackberry 9000 coming out, I would say more deaf go for that than the iPhone. I’m an interpreter and have a few deaf family members and most have all switched from the Sidekick to the Blackberry.

Not all of us who are hard of hearing, are completely deaf. I have about 20% of my hearing left in both ears. With the volume cranked all the way up, I can hear enough of my music on my iPhone to keep me happy.
I also use my phone for emails, web surfing and a boat load (800+ a month) text messaging. What I rarely use my phone for is talking on.
I use between 5-15 minutes a month. I’d rather spend under $10 a month for voice use, nstead of the $40 I’ve been paying!

Gary-

You are a fool. Deaf people used text before all you hearing people even thought it was a great idea. We use web, gps, text, and watch youtube-

Not everything needs sound- reconsider how little you see things in your world where sound is everything to you and nothing else.

Q

is there a way for CI user like me, to plug in the iphone to my machine so i can hear it, without using the head phones?

Yoni — depends on which speech processor you are using. I am using the antiquated and now discontinued Spectra 22 processor and I am able to use a special cord from Cochlear to plug it into portable audio devices (read: iPod and probably the iPhone). The cords costs a bundle but can be found on http://www.cochlearamericas.com.

As for the TAP and teh iPhone — my biggest complaint is having to “fill out a form and wait”. You have to VERIFY you have hearing problems? That’s a joke. You can get data only plans from Verizon, T-Mobile and other carriers and not have to take an extra step in order to prove why you need this function… All while AT&T gets a month (or more, depending on their turn around / processing time of that submitted form) of standard charges while you only use a sliver of what you are being charged for.

It’s because most deaf and hard of hearing people such as me want a better screen for the text calls and iphone is perfect for that. Blackberry is fuzzzy and their keyboard is hard to handle. the app’s are also fun.

Don’t forget, you can watch video on the iPhone, too. So even if you are completely deaf, you can still rip your DVDs to mp4 or other file types with captions, can then have a movie ready for a long plane ride, etc. Also, the iPhone has tons of cool apps and games, etc. Se yes, a Deaf person can get as much benefit from the iPhone as hearing, almost, just not the same way.

It still amazes me how naive people are about Deaf and HOH people. Assuming that just because we are deaf we cannot hear anything. The ONLY reason I have passed on the iphone is because there isn’t a keyboard. I currently have the Blackberry Curve which I love for that reason alone. Prior to this I had the LG dare for a short trial which I hated because of the touch screen. Its nice to see AT&T getting a plan like this though… =)

I agree with Shawna and Earld.

It is nice to know that the deaf and HOH can have a plan with the iPhone. I have a Blackberry Curve too, and I like the keyboard feature….which is one of the reasons why I chose the Blackberry over the iPhone. But maybe next time I will get the iPhone with the deaf/HOH plan after this cell phone dies.

Yoni,
If your CI accepts an accessory cord (My Nucleus Freedom does) you can use the accessory cord to plug into the iPhone. If you have telecoil on your CI, you can get a telecoil loop and plug that into the iphone and use the t-coil mode.

Gary, the iphone is much more than a phone and ipod. good camera, video, GPS, apps, games, text, chat, twitter. If you’re not using all of these, you’re missing out.

-S

Why is the blackberry better than a sidekick? Can the blackberry hook up to your computer for internet service too?

You guys are forgetting that iphone also has captel web service, so you can receive regular phone calls and read in caption what the person is saying, it is voice technology. I have been using captel for a few years now and it is pretty good, not great but at least I can call people. The only down side is that anyone who calls you has to call into the captel switch board and then enter the persons phone number. I am thinking about getting an iphone so I can use captel but depends on how much it will all cost. I am wondering if a family plan would be cheaper, we already have AT&T in the house.

Does this iphone have any visual alert like the sidekick that denotes when you have an email or text message?