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Deaf get single number phone option - Salt Lake Tribune
Deaf Americans now can give only one telephone number to friends, families, businesses and others, a breakthrough for people who previously had to provide two numbers to receive telephone calls via a sign language interpreter.
Sorenson Communications of Murray unveiled the first-ever service Wednesday evening, when it offered tours of its offices and video relay facilities to the deaf community.
Up to now, Sorenson and other companies that provide interpreter services could connect a hearing person to a deaf person, but it required two telephone numbers. The first connected a caller to a call center, where a sign language interpreter would call the deaf person and relay the conversation. The deaf person was able to see the interpreter's sign language on a video screen.
Now, with Sorenson's new service, the deaf can give out one number. The call goes through a Sorenson call center and all three parties - the caller, recipient and interpreter - are connected automatically.
"It makes it a lot easier for hearing friends and family to reach out and connect to deaf individuals," said Pat Nola, president and CEO of Sorenson Communications.The service also allows two deaf people to communicate through one telephone number. Previously, one deaf person calling another also had to go through a call center to be connected via video screens.
"It streamlines calling and allows deaf individuals to be connected the same way," said Nola.
Sorenson is the largest provider of video translating services to the deaf among a dozen or so companies that provide it, the company said.
Sorenson Communications estimates there are 500,000 to 1 million people in the United States who communicate using American Sign Language and could take advantage of the company's services.
This new service is available only for deaf people who use Sorenson video phones.
Deaf Americans now can give only one telephone number to friends, families, businesses and others, a breakthrough for people who previously had to provide two numbers to receive telephone calls via a sign language interpreter.
Sorenson Communications of Murray unveiled the first-ever service Wednesday evening, when it offered tours of its offices and video relay facilities to the deaf community.
Up to now, Sorenson and other companies that provide interpreter services could connect a hearing person to a deaf person, but it required two telephone numbers. The first connected a caller to a call center, where a sign language interpreter would call the deaf person and relay the conversation. The deaf person was able to see the interpreter's sign language on a video screen.
Now, with Sorenson's new service, the deaf can give out one number. The call goes through a Sorenson call center and all three parties - the caller, recipient and interpreter - are connected automatically.
"It makes it a lot easier for hearing friends and family to reach out and connect to deaf individuals," said Pat Nola, president and CEO of Sorenson Communications.The service also allows two deaf people to communicate through one telephone number. Previously, one deaf person calling another also had to go through a call center to be connected via video screens.
"It streamlines calling and allows deaf individuals to be connected the same way," said Nola.
Sorenson is the largest provider of video translating services to the deaf among a dozen or so companies that provide it, the company said.
Sorenson Communications estimates there are 500,000 to 1 million people in the United States who communicate using American Sign Language and could take advantage of the company's services.
This new service is available only for deaf people who use Sorenson video phones.
