Free, Mainstream Strategies and Applications for Accommodating the Communication Needs of Individuals with Speech Disabilities

Thank you to the sponsors of this free resource!

Table-of-Contents:

1. Speaking Pad

2. NexTalk.net

3. Send an SMS Message Using Your E-Mail Account

4. Skype "Voice-Carry-Over" communication

5. Send an SMS Message to Skype

1. Speaking Pad Top

Install IDEAL Group's Speaking Pad (free) application on your T-Mobile G1 phone. Speaking Pad enables you to type something into your T-Mobile G1 (Android) cell phone and have it spoken out loud using a text-to-speech synthesizer.  Over 50,000 copies of this application have been downloaded.

2. NexTalk.net Top

As a member of "NexTalk.net", you have many state-of-the-art text-based communication features available at your fingertips, and best of all--it's free!

• Call or accept text calls from any other NexTalk.net user

• Call a TTY

• Anyone on a browser can call you

• Receive "Text Mail" messages that are forwarded to an email address

• Send or receive Instant Messages with any NexTalk user.

• Transfer and conference text calls between NexTalk.net users

3. Send an SMS Message Using Your E-Mail Account Top

If you don't own, or can't use, a cell phone you can still send SMS messages to your friend's (and family's) cell phones!  Just send them an SMS message using your standard e-mail account. Use the following tables to learn how to format your e-mail SMS message!

4. Skype "Voice-Carry-Over" Communication Top

You can use Skype's messaging feature (>Chat>Group Chat>OK) along with Skype's Voice over IP capabilities to conduct "Voice-Carry-Over" communications with family and friends!  You can type a message to someone (or a group of people) and have them talk back to you.

5. Send an SMS Message to Skype Top

If you don't own, or can't use, a cell phone you can receive SMS messages using Skype!  All your friends and family need to do is use the SMS feature on their portable device to send a message to your Skype account!

• SMS to Skype is a free service from Connectotel allowing GSM mobile phone users to send Skype™ instant messages to any Skype™ user. SMS to Skype is based on M-Mail, Connectotel's free SMS to e-mail service, established in 1999.

• Setting up your mobile phone:

• Select the option on your mobile phone to add a new entry to the phone book

• Type the name SMS to Skype

• Type the number +447747782320

• Save the entry to the phone book

Sending a Skype message from your GSM mobile phone

• Select the option on your phone to send an SMS text message

• Type the word skype followed by a space

• Type the Skypename of the recipient followed by a space

• Type the text of your message

• When asked to type the number, select the SMS to Skype entry from your phone book

• Select the option to send the message

Skype Privacy Settings

• In the Skype software please select: Tools / Options / Privacy and set "Allow chats from..." to "anyone"

• (The Skype user which sends the messages is called "sms-to-skype")

Example:

• You would like to send a Skype message to johndoe from your mobile phone asking him to call you. Here is an example showing how the message should be written:

skype johndoe This is an example message

• You would then choose the SMS to Skype entry from your phone book and send the message.

• Tip: Many mobile phones allow the creation of template SMS text messages, which can be used instead of having to type the same message each time. Save a template SMS text message for frequently used Skypenames, like this:

skype johndoe 

Frequently Asked Questions

• For more information about using the SMS to Skype service please see the SMS to Skype FAQ

• For information about the Skype to SMS service please see the Skype to SMS FAQ

Additional Features

• The Connectotel M-Mail service allows you to send SMS to e-mail from any GSM mobile phone. For information about M-Mail and its additional features, such as Reply path, Signature, Aliases, Memo and SMSstore, please see the M-Mail FAQ

This resource is sponsored by:

• IDEAL Group, Inc., home of IDEAL Conference^®, the low-cost, fully accessible, 508 compliant online conferencing, distance-learning, and webinar system

• IDEAL at NCR Corporation / IDEAL at Teradata Corporation. Both partner organizations are not-for-profit business resource groups whose missions include “engaging in mutual support alliances that support individuals with disabilities through the use of advanced technology”

• IDEAL Group's Apps4Android project. IDEAL Group's Android development team is dedicated to developing low/no cost mobile applications that enhance the quality-of-life, independence and employability of people with disabilities.

Copyright © 2002-2009 by IDEAL Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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