Press Room
Snap!VRS Announces New Open Nation Initiative
Comprehensive Plan Involves New Technology Innovations and Programs to Improve Communications and Open More Opportunities for the Deaf Community
November 19, 2007
Pearl River, NY - Snap!VRS, the video relay services provider that distributes the Ojo video phone, today announced plans to launch a new initiative called Snap!VRS Open Nation designed to improve the communications experience for people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in order to open more opportunities to education, employment, and community involvement.
"Snap!VRS supports a world of social inclusion and is dedicated to using technology to open more opportunities for the Deaf community," said Richard Schatzberg, Snap!VRS Chief Executive Officer. "After listening closely to our customers throughout the last several months, we developed Snap!VRS Open Nation to expand our capabilities to meet even more individual needs and preferences for connecting with others."
Snap!VRS Open Nation is a comprehensive initiative involving new technology innovations and programs. The following list is an example of what Snap!VRS plans to make available to customers:
• Wireless —New flexible options to make VRS calls with Ojo from just about anywhere through the use of Wi-Fi wireless access points and WiMAX technologies.
• Mobility — New Home Plug technology allows Ojo users to place VRS calls virtually anywhere within the home by using the home electrical system.
• Portability — New compact travel Ojo.
• Enhanced Video Mail — New feature that permits VRS providers or anyone calling an Ojo using an older VP to leave a video message which can be retrieved directly from Ojo.
• Home and Office Program —New program to provide an additional Ojo for use by working professionals to accommodate the need to place VRS calls from home or the office.
• Friends and Family Program — Hearing friends and family members of Snap!VRS customers may purchase an interoperable version of Ojo capable of communicating with other VPs that use older technology.
• Use Ojo to Make Videos — Use Ojo to record personal video episodes called Ojosodes (Ojo + episodes = Ojosodes) that can be posted to an online social community.
• and much more.
"Snap!VRS Open Nation will provide deaf and hard of hearing people with greater freedom to choose how they can live, learn and work. Snap!VRS intends to empower consumers by providing them with greater technology options for their use as they decide," said Jeff Rosen, Snap!VRS General Counsel and Vice President of Government Affairs.
Snap!VRS is currently developing the above listed technology innovations and programs. The timeline for availability will be announced during the first half of 2008.
About Snap!VRS
Snap!VRS is a video relay service that enables people who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, or Speech Impaired to improve the connection with people in their personal and business life when they use the Ojo video phone to conduct true-to-life video relay calls through qualified sign language interpreters over a high-speed Internet connection. Using Ojo, customers dial "711" and communicate with the interpreter using sign language while the interpreter simultaneously relays the comments in spoken English to the standard telephone user. To learn more about Snap!VRS, visit www.snapvrs.com.
Media Contact:
Andrew Forti
Snap!VRS, Director of Marketing
(845) 652-7104
aforti@snapvrs.com
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© 2007 Snap Telecommunications, Inc. All rights reserved. Snap!VRS is the division of Snap Telecommunications, Inc. providing video relay services. Snap Telecommunications, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aequus Technologies Corp. Ojo is a trademark of WorldGate Service, Inc.
