Telecommunications relay service

Relay services are services that help people with hearing impairment in telecommunications.

A relay service is especially utilized when a hearing impaired person wants to communicate with another party, the (mobile or landline ) only has a speaker phone, the hearing-impaired person such but does not have or can not use.

Principle

A relay service offers the hearing impaired person to contact about the usual written or video-based telecommunication devices to, shapes the message by a person trained in the talk mode and sends it to the subscriber with speakerphone. Its replica is formed on the same path back to the receive mode of the hearing impaired call participant and sent this.

There are services with simultaneously expiring sign language interpretation with access either via ISDN video phone, SIP video phone, UMTS -enabled mobile phone, PC with webcam and special software. In addition, there are services with simultaneous implementation of writing ( which includes fax, e-mail, write, telephone or SMS to speech and back.

Expiration

For a recent telephone call the relay service will be contacted in writing or by telephone and informed of the call request and the phone number ( or e-mail address, etc. ) of the other interlocutor. The service calls for this application at the desired partners and inform him of the communication request. After mutual confirmation of the actual conversation begins.

Costs

Are usual a monthly or annual fee and additional costs per unit time telefonierter. Occasionally, required equipment will be provided (eg, videophone ) or PC software.

The cost control must be clarified before use with the relay service provider. Either this is done via the appropriate integration offices after application due to the communication aid ordinance or personal contract between the customer and service provider.