AT&T offers new wireless technology to the visually impaired

AT&T Inc. has announced plans to launch new wireless software products this year to increase usability for customers who are blind or visually impaired. AT&T will partner with Code Factory to offer two new products: Mobile Speak and Mobile Magnifier, both for Windows Mobile and Symbian Series 60 operating system devices.

AT&T consults with leaders from the disability community to develop product and service offerings designed to meet the needs of customers with vision loss. "By working closely with organizations that are committed to serving seniors or people with disabilities, AT&T is able to better understand the unique needs of its customers," said Carlton Hill, vice president of Product Management for AT&T's wireless unit. "These new software options will help make it easier for all individuals to enjoy a digital lifestyle wherever they go."

"Code Factory's mission is to make it possible for visually impaired consumers to use the most advanced mobile technology," said Eduard Sanches, CEO of Code Factory. "AT&T has a long track record of enabling communications for all of its customers, and we are very pleased to partner with them to make even more mobile devices accessible to the visually impaired."

Mobile Speak is a powerful, full-fledged screen reader with an easy-to-learn command structure, intuitive speech feedback in several languages and Braille support that can be used with or without speech. Unlike other screen readers for mobile phones, Mobile Speak automatically detects information that the blind user should know, just as a sighted user would easily find highlighted items or key areas of the screen at a glance.

Supported applications and functions include:

-- Speed dial, call lists and contacts

-- Text messaging

-- Calendar, tasks, notes and calculator

-- Internet browser

-- Word, Excel and PowerPoint

-- Voice Recorder, Media Player, voice speed dial and voice command

-- Phone/device settings, profiles, alarms and ringtones

Mobile Magnifier is a flexible, full-screen magnification application that supports low- and high-resolution screens and can be used with or without speech feedback. Magnification software is compatible with a wide range of mobile devices.

Unique features include:

-- Magnification levels from 1.25x to 16x

-- Font-smoothing for easier readability

-- Three different layouts: a full-screen, split and distributed view

-- Different color schemes, including inverted color

-- Automatic panning and cursor-tracking

-- Automatic zoom function that detects areas of interest on the screen

"We have found that individuals who have vision loss want to be able to choose from a range of wireless handsets," said Paul Schroeder, vice president of Programs and Policy, American Foundation for the Blind. "Just like people who can see, customers with disabilities want options.

We applaud AT&T for its leadership in investing the effort to understand and address the needs of individuals with vision loss."

Mobile Speak and Mobile Magnifier for Windows Mobile and Symbian Series 60 operating system devices will be available from AT&T in the fall of 2007.

For more information about wireless product or service offerings for those with disabilities, visit http://www.wireless.att.com/about/disability-resources.jsp.

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About Code Factory, S.L.

Code Factory is a software company committed to the development of products designed to remove barriers to the accessibility of mobile technology for the blind and visually impaired. Noted for innovation and responsiveness, Code Factory is the leading provider of screen readers, screen magnifiers, and Braille interfaces for the widest range of mainstream mobile devices including Symbian-based and Windows Mobile-powered Smartphones as well as phones and PDAs running the Windows Mobile Pocket PC operating system.

Further, Code Factory is the only accessible software provider to support more than a hundred phones working on the GSM, CDMA and WCDMA networks. To learn more about Code Factory and its mission of bringing complete accessibility to mobile devices, visit http://www.codefactory.es/.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services.

In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/ .