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Cingular Launches New Software to Meet the Communications Needs of its Blind and Low-Vision Customers Florida Customers Now Have Access to a 'Talking Phone' BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless today announced the launch of TALKS(TM), a speech-enabled application designed to address the needs of blind and low-vision mobile device users. TALKS by Cingular Wireless gives the blind and low vision consumer equal access to many of today's advanced wireless services. Created in partnership with ScanSoft, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSFT), TALKS is compatible with the Nokia 6620, essentially turning it into a "talking mobile phone." TALKS converts menus, instructions and content displayed on the Nokia 6620 mobile phone screen into speech for output to the phone's internal speaker or through an optional wired or Bluetooth headset. According to the American Foundation for the Blind, there are approximately 10 million people who are blind or have low vision in the United States.* TALKS allows the blind and low-vision community to be more productive since audible cues allow users to access advanced communications services such as text messaging, email and phone directories. One of the unique features of TALKS is the talking incoming caller ID via natural sounding, computer- generated speech. Typically, blind and low-vision mobile users must answer the phone to learn who is calling. TALKS eliminates the guessing game by enabling a person to hear who is calling and be selective with the calls they take, as would any sighted customer. "The American Foundation for the Blind applauds Cingular for its innovative approach to addressing cell phone accessibility for people who are blind or visually impaired," commented Paul Schroeder, vice president, program and policy group, American Foundation for the Blind. "This is the first advanced cell phone released in the U.S. that allows users to access all of its many features through speech output. We commend Cingular for its leadership in ensuring that all their customers can take advantage of state- of-the-art communications technology." "TALKS levels the mobile playing field by giving our blind and low-vision customers the ability to access and interact with some of the most advanced wireless products and services available today," said Rich Guidotti, vice president and general manager, Cingular Wireless-South Florida. With TALKS and the Nokia 6620, users can**: - Hear caller ID information and check logs of incoming and outgoing calls - Write and hear emails, text messages and notes - Manage contact information and dial phone numbers from the directory - Use the appointment calendar - Edit and add contacts, settings and profiles according to their personal preferences - Use the calculator, unit converter, alarm clock and other tools - Receive audible information about the battery level, network and signal strength "Having been in the real estate and mortgage brokerage business for thirty-eight years, I never had the convenience of having a talking phone, much less being able to use the text messaging, e-mail, and other features that required sight," said Erodio Diaz of E. Diaz Real Estate & Associates Inc. in Miami. "Now with TALKS by Cingular, I am able to be more self- sufficient. This technology has made a big difference in my business and personal life, and I applaud Cingular in their continued efforts to increase accessibility options available to the blind and low-vision community." TALKS uses ScanSoft's software to make the wireless handset talk by providing dynamic, detailed and personalized information through an automated voice familiar to the blind community. TALKS will tell users if email or text messages have arrived or how many calls they missed, and will speech-enable the most important key functions for the phone. TALKS allows blind and low- vision customers to fully integrate today's wireless technologies into their lives. The product "package" includes the handset and software, sold separately. The Nokia 6620 can be purchased for $299 after the $100 rebate from Nokia; this is based on a two-year commitment. The TALKS software retails for $199, however Cingular Wireless is offering an introductory rebate offer. For a limited time, customers with qualifying visual disabilities can receive a $199 service credit rebate (for a two-year contract) or a $100 service credit rebate (for a one-year contract). Currently, the Nokia 6620 is the only handset Cingular offers that is compatible with TALKS. There are three ordering options for TALKS by Cingular Wireless: - Order by calling the National Center for Customers with Disabilities (NCCD) at 1-866-241-6568. The NCCD is available from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. The NCCD can also provide installation assistance by phone. - Order on the web by visiting http://www.cingular.com/ . TALKS is listed as an accessory item for the Nokia 6620. - Order at a Cingular Wireless retail store. An associate can assist in the ordering process. TALKS by Cingular will be delivered to the customer. Additional product and rebate details are available by visiting http://www.cingular.com/disabilityresources . ABOUT CINGULAR WIRELESS Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between SBC Communications (NYSE:SBC) and BellSouth (NYSE:BLS), serves more than 25 million voice and data customers across the United States. A leader in mobile voice and data communications, Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Cingular is the largest provider of GSM services in the United States, and has a 100 percent digital GSM/GPRS footprint across its service area. It also launched the world's first commercial deployment of wireless services using Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology. Cingular also provides corporate e-mail and other advanced data services through its GPRS, EDGE and Mobitex packet data networks. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/ . Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://www.cingular.com/newsroom . * Statistic from American Foundation for the Blind can be found at http://www.afb.org/ . ** Some capabilities of TALKS software cannot be used without the addition of optional Cingular services such as text messaging and multimedia messaging. These services are available, at an additional charge. ScanSoft, SpeechWorks and TALKS are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ScanSoft, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT: Dawn Benton of Cingular Wireless, office +1-404-236-5305, wireless +1-404-202-6335, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://www.cingular.com/newsroom http://www.cingular.com/disabilityresources http://www.afb.org/

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