My First Accessible Cell Phone

Last week I purchased my first accessible cell phone, and I can't believe I waited this long. I have been a cell phone user for over 8 years, but not until now have I been able to do anything but make and receive calls. You may be thinking that should be enough, but with all that cell phones can do, I was really paying for features I couldn't use. I couldn't even tell who was calling me or if I had messages waiting for me. Thanks to Apple and their commitment to making their products accessible to all their customers, the Iphone 3gs is opening new doors to me.

In the short time that I've owned my new Iphone I can already tell that this phone is going to add value to my life. Since all of the built in apps are compatible with VoiceOver, the Iphone's built in screen reader, I won't have to bring my lap top with me every time I leave the house. My Iphone gives me access to my email, calendar, twitter, the web, and so much more. When someone calls me I know who's calling before I answer the phone and when I'm on the bus I can listen to music or books with the built in IPod.

There are many reasons that I chose to go with the Iphone instead of a phone that could use Talks or Mobile Speak. One is that I'm already a Mac user so I'm familiar with VoiceOver and Itunes. The other major reason was cost. I don't have to purchase anything extra for my Iphone. It came usable out of the box. The only thing I feel I'm missing by having an Iphone instead of a windows mobile phone is accessible GPS, but I have a feeling that soon the Iphone will offer the blind GPS functionality just like it does to the sighted.

I've heard from many in the blind community that their major concern with the Iphone is the lack of a keyboard. This is a reasonable concern, but the newest version of the Iphone operating system now offers users to connect either a blue tooth keyboard or braille display. For a look at all the accessibility features of the Iphone please visit this link. In 2010 the blind and low vision community has multiple options when it comes to owning an accessible cell phone, but the Iphone is still the only option that is fully accessible out of the box. It is my hope that other main stream companies follow in Apple's foot steps and offer the blind more options for accessible devices that will cost us the same amount as everyone else.