Consumer Cellular and Hamilton Relay® Premiere Mobile Captions Service™for Customers With Hearing Loss

PORTLAND, Ore. (Nov. 8, 2010)Consumer Cellular (www.consumercellular.com), the exclusive wireless provider for AARP members, partnered with Hamilton Relay and Mobile Captions Company to launch Mobile Captions Service^™ (MCS). Similar to closed caption on television, MCS enables persons who are deaf or hard of hearing to read typed captions of what is being said on a wireless phone display as the conversation is taking place.

Available exclusively through Consumer Cellular on the Nokia E5, MCS subscribers can speak, listen and read during a wireless phone conversation. The Nokia E5 smartphone is M3/T3 hearing aid-compatible and comes with a large, 2.4-inch display and full QWERTY keyboard making viewing and typing a breeze.

"Consumer Cellular is continuously looking for ways to better serve our customers, empowering them to lead independent, mobile lifestyles with easy-to-use devices and inexpensive calling plans,” said John Marick, Consumer Cellular CEO. “We hope customers using our new Mobile Captions Service will enjoy an improved mobile experience that allows them to stay in touch with friends and family from home, work or while on the move.” 

How It Works

When customers place a call, the Nokia E5 automatically connects to Hamilton Relay Service. A specially-trained live operator known as a Communications Assistant (CA) begins typing – in real time – what the other person says. MCS subscribers can then read what is said directly on the screen of the Nokia E5, making it possible to catch every part of the conversation while on the go.

The technology that supports MCS is known asVoice Carry Over (VCO). VCO allows individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to utilize their speech on the telephone. Using Hamilton Relay Service, the VCO user speaks directly to the other person, and when the person speaks back, the CA types the response, which is then displayed on the device.  

“This new mobile access for VCO users takes traditional telecommunications relay services to an entirely new level,” says Dixie Ziegler, vice president of Hamilton Relay. “We are excited about our partnership with Consumer Cellular and the introduction of Mobile Captions Service, and we look forward to expanding MCS offerings to additional markets in the future.”

Consumer Cellular’s MCS is only offered in participating states where Hamilton Relay is the telecommunications relay service provider. For information about participating states, how to purchase the Nokia E5 phone, or to be alerted when a new state signs on, visit www.consumercellular.com/mobilecaptions or call 1-888-725-4428.

About Consumer Cellular
Consumer Cellular, the exclusive wireless provider for AARPmembers, was founded in 1995 on the belief that everyone should have affordable access to the safety and convenience of cellular service.The company provides its customers with simple, affordable cell phones and calling plans, guaranteed satisfaction and top-ranked customer support staff all located within the United States.  Plus, Consumer Cellular customers never have to sign a long-term contract in order to start service.  

The Portland, Ore.-based company is privately held and utilizes the nation's largest voice and data network, covering more than 296 million people - or 97 percent of the U.S. population.  As one of the nation's leading wireless wholesalers, Consumer Cellular is able to purchase wireless service in large volumes, providing its customers with the best of both worlds: great low rates and the best cellular network available.  For more information: visit ConsumerCellular.comor call (800) 686-4460.