Since a thief took my Sidekick, I will need to replace it. I might not get a Sidekick this time, so I am hoping for advice on what to get.If you own a Blackberry, please let me know which type you have, what features you like, and also why you like these features. I would really appreciate this information.
Later, if enough of you respond, I'll publish a blog on what hard-of-hearing, deaf and Deaf people like the most, what is most popular, what features seem to be the most popular and so on--but only if enough of you respond.
Also when you respond-- if you could say whether you are hard-of-hearing, deaf, or Deaf and whether you talk with the phone, or only text, or use a loop or whatever. That makes a difference. If you don't want me to publish your response, just say so, and I won't.
Thanks!
14 comments:
I have the 8700g, I think it is. I previously used it only for texting and e-mail, but since my CI surgery I have found that I can also make a decent phone call with it....and hear fairly well.
I have downloaded Gmail on it and I love being able to check e-mail whenever...it will download most web pages, although not some pictures (and videos, but I don't care about that much :) ).
And I am totally deaf with one working and one non-working CI :)
Hi Kim!
My sister in law (is also deaf) said that she loves it! I can ask her why and if I have a chance to get back and give you the features why she loves using it.
Happy New Year! (I'll try to be right back to you soon)
Ooo, I'm going to be watching! I can really use this info too...thanks!
I just gave up and ordered a regular old cell phone (free) and the most basic plan to have while I'm traveling around alone on my 'sabbatical'. It has an M4/T4 rating, but I don't really hold a lot of hope for hearing anything on it. But, as my Texas namesake once said, I can always hit 911 and shout into the phone, and that at least soothes Paul's fears for me. I did add on a cheap text-messaging package & will ask people to text me instead of leaving voicemail.
But when I come back to work, I WILL upgrade to some kind of Blackberry or a Sidekick, so I'll be watching these responses with great interest.
hugs,
Melissa
Here I am!
I just talked with my sister-in-law on Video Phone. She never experienced with the Sidekick before, but she is enjoying her Blackberry. She uses it by doing emails and text-messages. She does it all the time with her hearing sons. She also uses it to call Relay. She said that the new Blackberry has a digital camera. Does it sound good to you?
Good luck, Kim!
Hi DebAnn,
Thanks for checking with your sister-in-law! Do you know what make and model she uses?
Thanks! Kim :-)
get iphone, they have everything
My sister-in-law's Blackberry is 8703E. She purchased it last June (2007) and she thinks that her Blackberry model is probably last.
The new Blackberry model is better because of adding the digital camera to it.
So, here is the website/ the information of Blackberry. =)
www.sprintrelaysupport.com
I'd like to consider to it that I just learned from my friend that she likes her Blackberry better than the sidekick because of the side...she had to open it. The blackberry is a lot easier. That's what she said. I, myself, never use Sidekick or Blackberry. In the future, I would like to buy a Blackberry for sure.
Hi kw,
I just bought my first cell phone after Christmas. I got a Verizon LG VX8350. For those who are hard of hearing and wear hearing aids, it's real important to look for a
M4/T4 rating. That rating means the model has exceeded the standard for hearing aid compatibility. I am using mine for both phone and text messaging. There is a site that was real helpful to me in providing a list of models that are M4/T4. The site is http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/
finder.php
Choose "show all options" at bottom of the page. Then look under Accessibility and check the box for M4/T4.
Sarah
P.S. I found out about this site using the search engine on your blog!
I have a Blackberry Curve. I have nothing to compare it to because it is my very first mobile. But it does everything I expected and more. I can chat on IM, send and receive email, text message with my hearing friends, take pictures. and so on. AT&T left the voice part off,so I do not have to pay for that, but my bill per month is still $63.00! Seems a little steep, right?
DebAnn and Jennifer-- Thanks so much for checking on this. I found someone else blogging about it with a comparison between SK and Blackberry. Here's the link:
http://www.deafpagers.com/blog/2007/12/29/t-mobile-deaf-favorite-shootout-bb-curve-vs-sk-lx/
SpeakUP-- I should use my Google Search Engine more often. Great idea!! hahaha! Thanks for mentioning the hearing aid compatibility. Sometimes I can still hear on a phone when everything all environmental factors are just right, if it has a good volume control and the people on the other end yell.
Lantana-- You're right! $63.00 a mo. does seem really steep! I was paying much less than that for the SK. Hmmmm.
Melissa-- Did your phone come with a loop? If not, you can get a CLA7 at Walgreens that will fit most phones, but you might need to buy at adaptor for it at Radio Shack. the adaptor if under $5.00. I tried one out last year at the SWC Convention. You can also use the CLA7 with an MP3 player. I found the CLA7 at Walgreens on-line for half-price. Great buy! It was real popular. Several people bought them. It even works for people with CI's!! The next phone I get, I'm going to try it with the CLA7 before I buy.
I was going to ask those of you with the Blackberries. The keyboard looks so much smaller than the SK keyboard. How to do you feel about texting with it?
Lantana-- You said you IM?? It seems so small. Is it comfortable for you?
Have any of you look at the iPhone?
I have the iPhone and I love it, but many of my Deaf friends aren't too crazy about it. They're used to texting with both of their thumbs on the keyboard and the iPhone is too skinny and too flat. My husband has the very old version of Blackberry (3-4 years old), my sister got her Blackberry 1-2 years ago and my Mom has the last model before Blackberry Curve came out. Different models, but they still love their Blackberries.
Thanks, Kim - I bookmarked the CLA7 @ Walgreens (best price, definitely), just in case...I did not know about it. Happy 2008!
hugs,
Melissa
Hi. I am deaf..actually late-deafened. I work for Sprint Relay in the Sprint Relay Store division. We currently sell four devices with a special "data-only plan" for deaf and hard-of-hearing relay users. This is only $29.99 a month (plus tax/fees). That plan includes unlimited email, internet, instant messaging and text/SMS messaging and PAM (phone as modem) which allows you internet access to your laptop anywhere you have Sprint coverage! This plan does not include voice minutes but if you need to make a voice call, its readily available and costs $.20 a minute (20 cents) plus long-distance charges. All of our products also let you use Sprint Relay via AIM. We currently sell the Blackberry 8830 World Edition (international) and the 8703e. We also sell the Palm Treo 755 and the Palm Centro. For more info on devices, go to our website at www.sprintrelaystore.com All of our products have a 30-day trial period so you can see if this is right for you. We do have MANY people who have switch to Sprint devices including the Blackberry. Feel free to contact me if you have questions. Ken Arcia - kenneth.arcia@sprint.com
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