Cell Phone Advice for totaly blind needed for use in OntarioCanada

[Aman Singer]

Hi, Neil and all.
	I would agree with Neil below except as to the following points.
	Neil says
Talks can do some
things that MS cannot such as browsing the internet whilst on the phone,
something which at this time you may think you'll never wish to do, but as
you become more confident etc you might like.

	While this is true on Symbian, it is not on Windows Mobile. Both
Mobile Speak products for Windows Mobile work very nicely in the browsers
for Windows Mobile as well as with mail, FTP, telnet, etc as well, of
course, as for using the media players to stream audio. This is why I jumped
from a GSM provider, in fact, my WM phone worked well with the unlimited
plans on offer from the CDMA providers here. As for Symbian, according to
Amir at Mobile Space, Code Factory has released their Symbian browser
support to beta
	
http://mobilespace.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/rumors-mobile-speak-to-support-t
he-nokia-web-browser-shortly/ 
	This has been confirmed by Code Factory. That should, therefore,
bring both products to an equality on Symbian within the next few weeks.
	Secondly, Neil said
Anyhow, the other thing I would add at this choice stage is that Windows
based phones may also be a little more complicated, Symbian phones tend to
be a little more structured and refined, offering you a basic level of
features and services with a high degree of options below the surface if you
wish to dig down and find them. Where as Windows ones have them all up front

	I'm not sure this is quite accurate. Having used first (Nokia 3650),
Second (Nokia 6682 and N70), and third (Nokia e65), edition Symbian phones,
as well as Windows Mobile 5 and 6 Smartphones and Pocket PCs, I don't find
the phones too different for the beginner in their level of difficulty. The
interface on the today screen and the screen brought up on booting the E65,
for example, isn't horribly different, and I'm able to access the same
things (mail, the phone application, a menu of other options, and so on. I
think Symbian has slowly moved towards the WM model and WM has slowly moved
towards the Symbian model, particularly recently. Nothing could be more
different, for example, than the 3650 and a Windows Mobile 2003 smartphone
but as things have progressed, they have come closer together. I think WM
phones still have their settings sometimes unnecessarily buried, and I still
think Symbian has a tiny edge in stability (again, that is something WM has
fixed a good deal of recently), but other than that, I'm tempted to say that
it boils down to a matter of preference, and that there is no great
difficulty in one OS that is not in the other.
	Aman 
	 

-----Original Message-----
From: blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com
[mailto:blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com] On Behalf Of Neil Barnfather
- TalkNav
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 10:25 AM
To: 'The Accessible Phones Discussion List'
Subject: RE: Cell Phone Advice for totaly blind needed for use in
OntarioCanada

Sharon,

Supplementary to Aman's list, I would just point out that there are several
other things to consider;

The two main types or perhaps even the only two types of phone we as blind
folk can access at present are Windows based phones or Symbian ones. The
Symbian ones are primarily made by Nokia...

Firstly Only Code Factories Mobile Speak product will at present work on
Windows based devices, whereas both Nuance the makers of Talks and Code
Factory's offering will work on Symbian phones.

This does not mean that Mobile Speak is better than Talks. Talks can do some
things that MS cannot such as browsing the internet whilst on the phone,
something which at this time you may think you'll never wish to do, but as
you become more confident etc you might like.

Anyhow, the other thing I would add at this choice stage is that Windows
based phones may also be a little more complicated, Symbian phones tend to
be a little more structured and refined, offering you a basic level of
features and services with a high degree of options below the surface if you
wish to dig down and find them. Where as Windows ones have them all up front
and you may as a new user find yourself quickly in over your head.

OK so once you're in on a choice then get your self a demo of each Talks and
MS, that is provided you go down the Symbian route, play with each and once
you've made a choice find yourself a dealer and make your purchase.

Talks and MS will other than the internet and a few other differences both
do the same thing, text messages, contacts etc.

As for GPS, this topic has been briefly touched upon in other messages, but
you can read all about Wayfinder at:

http://www.talknav.com/access.php

If you have further questions please feel free to ask, either on list or to
service at talknav.com

Regards. 


Neil Barnfather
WF Access List Administrator
TalkNav is a Nuance Accessibility software reseller and authorized
distributor of Wayfinder products. 

www.talknav.com
www.wayfinderaccess.com 
Telephone: - +44 (0) 870 351 7532
MSN: - neil at ehosting.com
-----Original Message-----
From: blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com
[mailto:blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com] On Behalf Of Sharon
Ballantyne
Sent: 12 May 2008 03:22
To: blindphones at mosenexplosion.com
Subject: Cell Phone Advice for totaly blind needed for use in Ontario Canada

Hello all,
 
I was using one of those phones that look like they are from the dinosaur
age-- analogue, large and clunky and most primitive basic but it is not
working so I have to do some quick research as I like to have the security
of the cell for emergencies. Due to the antequated nature of my old phone, I
did not use it a lot but would like to get to the 21st century.
 
I would like to be able to maintain an address book/contacts. i would like
to do texting if possible. 
 
What sorts of questions do I need to ask? Cell providers have been at a loss
as to what to recommend.
 
Is there anything on the horizon to do GPS as well that is going to be
affordable? I understand cell phon rates in Canada are huge by contrast to
some places and that there is much to be considered.
 
Thanks for any advice.
 
Sharon
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