3G phones for the deaf coming

NOW THE BLIND AND DEAF will be able to enjoy mobile phones just like the rest of us, with the introduction of a recently approved mainstream standard for 3G and Next Generation Networks.

The standard allows for real-time communication in video, real-time text and voice, and is a "big step" towards making telecoms available for everyone, thinks CEO of accessible IT company Omnitor Gunnar Hellström.

The new standard has been dubbed "RTP Payload for Text Conversation" and will be leaking into the mainstream soon.

Omnitor has worked on a bunch of other stuff to make mobile communication easier for the disabled, including this textphone which operates much like an instant messenger, and "alert systems" - which is basically a little light. That blinks. On your phone. µ