Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA)
Choosing a Mobile Phone
A Guide for People with Disabilities[1]
This Guide was developed and tested with input from members of the mobile phone industry, relevant regulatory bodies, and organisations representing people with disabilities. Additional comments and suggestions are welcome – please find contact information for comments at the end of this paper.
Choosing a Mobile Phone
You have many choices in mobile phones, networks, and payment plans. This guide will help you choose a mobile phone service that fits your needs and your budget.
Take this guide with you when you visit mobile phone retailers. Visit these stores when sales people are less busy, such as weekdays in mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
Most retailers will have at least some experience in dealing with customers with disabilities and some will have special facilities that will assist in the process of dealing with those customers. For example, some retailers have TTY facilities, or hearing aid loops.
Checklist
What features do I need?
To help manage calls:
? Call waiting and call hold
?Call forwarding
? Call barring (for example, international calls)
?Conference calling
?Voicemail/message bank with message alert
? Video-message bank with message alert
To make physical tasks easier:
?Clamshell (flip-phone) design
? Flat (non-folding) design
? One-touch/speed dialling
? Voice dialling
? Voice activation (ie wake up)
? Automatic redial
? Headset/handsfree jack
? Bluetooth for cordless handsfree
?Speakerphone
?Automatic answer
? Voice recognition for menu selection
?Audible alerts for battery and signal strength
?Choice of ringer tones
? Compatibility with text-to-speech (TTS)
? Extended battery life
? Predictive text with ability to add to dictionary
? Dial-out buffer memory
? Guarded/recessed keys
?Automatic hang up.
To make visual tasks easier:
?Colour display
? Adjustable display brightness and contrast
?Oversized/large display screen
?Standard number key layout
? Adjustable display font
? Adjustable display scroll speed
?Audio feedback for control inputs
?Tactile feedback for control inputs
?Voice output of displayed information
?Voice output of displayed information available as an option (eg additional software)
?Manuals and billing statements in alternate formats
?Easy to read keys – large numbers/good contrast/backlit
?Tactile keys with large pip on number 5
To make auditory tasks easier:
? Flashing with Vibrating ringer
?Adjustable audio volume
?Microphone amplification
?Visual feedback for control inputs
?Text messaging
?Picture messaging (MMS)
?Instant messaging/Chat
? Email/internet access
? Hearing aid compatibility
?Neckloop/TLink compatibility
?TTY compatibility
?Video calling
? Video messaging
To make mental tasks easier:
?Caller ID
?Caller ID with photo option
?Menu prompts and cues
?Reminder function (date book)
?Choice of ringer tones/ ringer types (eg Polyphonic)
?Picture messaging
What additional features do I need?
? Digital camera (still)
?Digital camera (video/with sound)
? Personal data assistant (PDA)
?Navigation aid (global positioning-GPS)
? Broadband access
? Access to Bluetooth for information transfer
?Access to Infrared for information transfer
?Access to premium services (Pay TV, Information and location-based services
? USB port
What accessories do I need?
? Carrying case or holster
?Cradle for carrying in vehicle or in wheelchair
?Full sized portable QWERTY keyboard
?Neckloop/TLink compatibility
? In-vehicle charger
? Hands-free headset (Bluetooth)
?Extra batteries
Other Comments
So which phone is best for me?
Your completed checklist above will help your sales person find the phone or phones with the features you need. Once you have completed the above checklist, print it out using your browser's print feature and take it with you when you shop for your mobile phone.
We hope this Guide is helpful in choosing a mobile phone. We'd be happy to have your comments.
Mail: PO Box 4309, Manuka, ACT, 2603
Ph: (02) 6239 6555
Fax: (02) 6239 6577
Disclaimer
The pages in the ‘Disability Access’ area of AMTA's website are to assist users of those pages with general information on consumer issues. Specific circumstances may affect any information provided above. The tips are not intended to provide advice of any kind in relation to particular circumstances, nor are they intended to endorse, recommend, or guarantee any companies, organisations, products, or services that are mentioned.
Users of this website must make their own enquiries and, where necessary obtain their own independent advice in relation to any of the activities referred to in the Consumer Tips, and of the companies, organisations, products or services mentioned in these pages.
AMTA accepts no responsibility for the consequences of any decisions that users may make as a result of any information they have gained from AMTA's Disability Access pages.
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