Maine Relay Begins Offering Mobile Captions Service

Hamilton Relay, the exclusive telecommunications relay service provider for the state of Maine, today announced the availability of Mobile Captions Service (MCS). With this offering, the deaf or hard of hearing will be able to read captions of their conversations on their mobile phones using Voice Carry Over (VCO) technology.

Developed by Mobile Captions Company, Hamilton Relay, and Consumer Cellular, the MCS program lets subscribers speak, listen, and read during wireless phone conversations made on the Nokia E5. The Nokia E5 smartphone is M3/T3 hearing aid-compatible and comes with a large, 2.4-inch display and full QWERTY keyboard. The MCS program is available exclusively on the Nokia E5.

"Mobile Captions Service is valuable for the residents of Maine because it allows VCO users to stay in touch with friends and family while on the go," said Dixie Ziegler, vice president of Hamilton Relay. "Today, we all rely on our cell phones. That's why we're committed to delivering advanced mobile device solutions designed for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing."

Similar to closed captioning on television, Mobile Captions Service allows subscribers to read text of their phone conversations on the screens of their Nokia E5 smartphones. A specially trained operator types 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.

"We are pleased to extend this valuable service to the residents of Maine," says William Nye, chairman of the Maine Telecommunications Advisory Council. "We're certain Mobile Captions Service will allow our residents with hearing loss to more easily communicate with their family, work colleagues, and friends, allowing them to be more independent."