Apr 01, 2009 08:00 ET

Sprint Announces the Upcoming Availability of the Next Generation of CapTel® Phones for Hard of Hearing Users

Sprint Offers More Choices to Customers Requiring Captioning Services for Telephone Calls; New Model of CapTel® Phone Provides Captions over the Internet

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. --(Business Wire)-- Apr 01, 2009 Sprint (NYSE:S) today announced the upcoming availability of the next generation CapTel® phone for its hard of hearing and deaf users. The CapTel 800i is the latest offering in Ultratec’s CapTel line, joining the CapTel Model 200® – a captioned telephone designed for use with traditional analog phone lines. The CapTel 800i works on any telephone line *, bringing with it the advantages of a telephone with text capabilities via the Internet and the ability to read the captions during telephone conversations. The CapTel 800i will be available for purchase in the near future. Those interested can visit www.sprintrelay.com/800i to be placed on a list and be first in line to order the new phone when it becomes available.

“Sprint Relay is fully committed to offering our customers with the newest technology and a variety of unique options to most effectively meet their particular needs when it comes to telecommunication access” says Mike Ellis, director of Sprint Relay.

The CapTel 800i phone requires a landline telephone (can be analog, VoIP, DSL, or digital cable telephone service) and an Internet connection (high-speed internet or broadband service). Designed specifically for use with high-speed Internet service, the CapTel 800i offers CapTel users the advantage of written text captions to help understand what their callers are saying. Other enhancements include:

• A 5-inch, high quality, tiltable screen for easy to read captions
• The screen offers a variety of font sizes and colors for easiest reading
• High powered volume control (up to 40 DB) with adjustable volume for clarity

One of the greatest benefits of the CapTel 800i phone is the automatic routing of inbound calls to the captioning service without having to dial a toll-free number to reach the CapTel Call Center first. Operators using voice-recognition technology transcribe everything the caller says into text, which is instantly transmitted to the CapTel 800i phone over the Internet. Captions appear on the phone’s LCD screen. This enables CapTel users the ability to utilize their hearing with written captions to read. This process is transparent and can be turned on or off at any time before or during the call.

The following links may be accessed to learn more about Sprint’s captioning services:

www.sprintrelay.com/captel

www.captionedtelephone.com

www.sprintcaptel.com

www.sprintrelay.com/rcc

Sprint Relay Portfolio of Services

CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. In partnership with Ultratec, Inc., CapTel services are available as a component of Sprint’s array of Relay services. Designed for hard of hearing users, CapTel users place a call in the same way they would when using a traditional phone - by dialing the number directly on a special phone model. CapTel phones connect callers directly to the CapTel service when the phone is dialed. When the person being called answers, callers can listen to what the other person is saying, and read captions on the phone’s display screen to catch words that were missed. Captions appear nearly simultaneously with spoken words. An Internet-based service, WebCapTel®, is also available to let people view captions of any telephone call in their computer’s web-browser window.

Sprint is the largest and most technologically advanced Telecommunications Relay Service provider in the nation with more than 17 years of experience in providing relay services to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind or have a speech disability to communicate with hearing persons on the phone. Sprint’s experience in this field assures Sprint Relay users receive quality service regardless of the type of relay service they are using. Sprint’s 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 www.sprintrelay.com.

ABOUT SPRINT NEXTEL

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving more than 49 million customers at the end of the fourth quarter 2008; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com

ABOUT ULTRATEC INC.

Ultratec, Inc. is the world’s leading developer of text telecommunications equipment for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Since 1978, the company has been responsible for numerous advancements in telecommunications technology, including a full range of text telephones, public telephones, amplified telephones, and signaling systems for people with hearing loss. Ultratec works extensively with government agencies, emergency services, and local and national advocacy groups to ensure equal telecommunications access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

* Not compatible with digital PBX office systems unless analog port used.

Media:
Sprint
Sukhi Sahni, 703-926-2184
sukhi.sahni@sprint.com