Tenacity and Snap!VRS Announce Exclusive Partnership to Help Organizations Better Serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing Employees
Lafayette, LA, September 16, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Tenacity Operating, LLC, (”Tenacity”), a Lafayette, La.-based leader in the field of accessible telephony, and Snap!VRS of Pearl River, N.Y., a nationally certified Video Relay Service (VRS) provider for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, today announced a partnership that will help companies and organizations offer visual communication and relay services with the only comprehensive and accessible video technology of its kind.
Tenacity’s accessaphone™ Total Conversation (aTC™), a video softphone, extends telephony by including real-time text, video, and voice with the same endpoint compatible with the business’ current infrastructure, so all major forms of communication are available for the employee, including employees who telecommute. Every employee has the ”freedom” to choose the forms of communication that are optimal for him or her. Information technology personnel finally have a more accessible infrastructure and simplicity of deployment throughout the enterprise workplace. This easy to use video softphone is now further enhanced as a VRS-ready solution through the Snap!VRS partnership, making it easy for enterprises to find a one-stop solution for Section 508 compliance. The access ramps of telecommunication in the workplace are now standardized, often elimating the need for additional individual accommodations, due to improved accessibility and usability of the telecommunication system.
Tenacity and Snap!VRS have partnered to ensure that aTC™ is a VRS-ready solution for employees who are deaf and hard of hearing, including direct dial connection to VRS, provisioning of real ten-digit phone numbers, and e911 services.
Susan Chappell, President of Tenacity Operating, LLC, says that this agreement is an important step towards functional equivalence in communication through an easy-to-use phone for people who need to use sign language or real-time text in a call. Ms. Chappell stated, ”In working with Snap!VRS, we have created a powerful VRS solution for aTC™ users. Snap!VRS is known industry-wide for their quality interpreters, rapid speed of answer, and high ethical standards. We look forward to working with them on the continuous expansion of the feature functionality of our video telephony solutions.”
”This partnership will enable large enterprises – government agencies, corporations, and educational institutions – to better meet the needs of existing and prospective employees who are deaf and hard of hearing,” said Snap!VRS Executive Chairman, Richard Schatzberg. ”With Tenacity’s excellent and well-earned reputation in communication infrastructure and Snap!VRS’ strong service, the match will provide a single solution for Section 508 compliance and benefit those looking to give all of their employees the best communications solutions they can.”
About accessaphone™
Tenacity’s accessaphone™ software applications offer a comprehensive list of communication interface options for people in the workforce. The various call control options include, but are not limited to, text to speech and keyboard controls for people who are blind/low vision, video and real time text for people who are deaf/hard of hearing, intuitive hotkeys for cognitive disability and speech recognition and alternative input devices for people with mobility impairments. People with speech impairments may choose to use real time text for conversation while the Braille display interoperability may appeal to users who are deaf-blind.
For the organization, enterprise licensing creates a single, entity-wide solution, with each individual’s unique needs matched by accessaphone™ built-in product/feature options.
Enterprise licensing of accessaphone™ with Snap!VRS offers a spectrum of benefits for organizations and employees alike:
· accessaphone™ solutions leverage existing investments in unified communication infrastructure (i.e. VoIP) and are multi-vendor compatible.
· accessaphone™ is designed and continues to improve all of its products with Universal Design principles. Providing more accessible and more usable telecommunication infrastructure streamlines delivery of services, enhances integration and unification of communications in the workplace, and provides a more satisfying, robust, and long-term solution for government and business needs.
· Through secure SIP protocols, aTC™ does not require a separate public connection to the Internet. As a result, costly Internet connections such as cable or ADSL for each individual employee’s video phone can often be eliminated.
· Externally validated Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) can be provided for improved compliance with Section 508 requirements for federal agencies and contractors.
· accessaphone™ has been selected by landmark State, Federal, and industry clients.
· Through their Pilot Program, users can evaluate the functionality for themselves for 30 days.
More information about accessaphone™ can be found at www.accessaphone.com
About Tenacity Operating, LLC
Tenacity is a catalyst and leader in providing significant, new, accessible, usable, integrated infrastructure for all employees, regardless of ability. Tenacity designs, engineers, and distributes accessaphone™ software applications necessary to be an effective leader within the field of accessible telephony and related modes of communications. As an industry leader, Tenacity is highly sought after and trusted by individuals, OEM’s, advocacy and support groups, government agencies, and employer organizations, all of whom have a vested interest in assuring that telephones are accessible to everyone.
Company Contact:
Tenacity Operating, LLC
Susan Chappell, President
337-735-9500
About Snap!VRS
Snap!VRS is a video relay service that delivers a high quality and convenient relay experience between people who use American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English. Whether at home or in the office, relay users enjoy fast connections to experienced and professional ASL interpreters that are available anytime from a variety of video phones. Snap!VRS is committed to delivering video relay service with integrity and excellent customer service. To learn more about Snap!VRS, please visit www.snapvrs.com.
Company Contact (for press):
Noah Lichtman/Matt Bartoloni
973-799-0200
###
Tenacity’s accessaphone™ Total Conversation (aTC™), a video softphone, extends telephony by including real-time text, video, and voice with the same endpoint compatible with the business’ current infrastructure, so all major forms of communication are available for the employee, including employees who telecommute. Every employee has the ”freedom” to choose the forms of communication that are optimal for him or her. Information technology personnel finally have a more accessible infrastructure and simplicity of deployment throughout the enterprise workplace. This easy to use video softphone is now further enhanced as a VRS-ready solution through the Snap!VRS partnership, making it easy for enterprises to find a one-stop solution for Section 508 compliance. The access ramps of telecommunication in the workplace are now standardized, often elimating the need for additional individual accommodations, due to improved accessibility and usability of the telecommunication system.
Tenacity and Snap!VRS have partnered to ensure that aTC™ is a VRS-ready solution for employees who are deaf and hard of hearing, including direct dial connection to VRS, provisioning of real ten-digit phone numbers, and e911 services.
Susan Chappell, President of Tenacity Operating, LLC, says that this agreement is an important step towards functional equivalence in communication through an easy-to-use phone for people who need to use sign language or real-time text in a call. Ms. Chappell stated, ”In working with Snap!VRS, we have created a powerful VRS solution for aTC™ users. Snap!VRS is known industry-wide for their quality interpreters, rapid speed of answer, and high ethical standards. We look forward to working with them on the continuous expansion of the feature functionality of our video telephony solutions.”
”This partnership will enable large enterprises – government agencies, corporations, and educational institutions – to better meet the needs of existing and prospective employees who are deaf and hard of hearing,” said Snap!VRS Executive Chairman, Richard Schatzberg. ”With Tenacity’s excellent and well-earned reputation in communication infrastructure and Snap!VRS’ strong service, the match will provide a single solution for Section 508 compliance and benefit those looking to give all of their employees the best communications solutions they can.”
About accessaphone™
Tenacity’s accessaphone™ software applications offer a comprehensive list of communication interface options for people in the workforce. The various call control options include, but are not limited to, text to speech and keyboard controls for people who are blind/low vision, video and real time text for people who are deaf/hard of hearing, intuitive hotkeys for cognitive disability and speech recognition and alternative input devices for people with mobility impairments. People with speech impairments may choose to use real time text for conversation while the Braille display interoperability may appeal to users who are deaf-blind.
For the organization, enterprise licensing creates a single, entity-wide solution, with each individual’s unique needs matched by accessaphone™ built-in product/feature options.
Enterprise licensing of accessaphone™ with Snap!VRS offers a spectrum of benefits for organizations and employees alike:
· accessaphone™ solutions leverage existing investments in unified communication infrastructure (i.e. VoIP) and are multi-vendor compatible.
· accessaphone™ is designed and continues to improve all of its products with Universal Design principles. Providing more accessible and more usable telecommunication infrastructure streamlines delivery of services, enhances integration and unification of communications in the workplace, and provides a more satisfying, robust, and long-term solution for government and business needs.
· Through secure SIP protocols, aTC™ does not require a separate public connection to the Internet. As a result, costly Internet connections such as cable or ADSL for each individual employee’s video phone can often be eliminated.
· Externally validated Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) can be provided for improved compliance with Section 508 requirements for federal agencies and contractors.
· accessaphone™ has been selected by landmark State, Federal, and industry clients.
· Through their Pilot Program, users can evaluate the functionality for themselves for 30 days.
More information about accessaphone™ can be found at www.accessaphone.com
About Tenacity Operating, LLC
Tenacity is a catalyst and leader in providing significant, new, accessible, usable, integrated infrastructure for all employees, regardless of ability. Tenacity designs, engineers, and distributes accessaphone™ software applications necessary to be an effective leader within the field of accessible telephony and related modes of communications. As an industry leader, Tenacity is highly sought after and trusted by individuals, OEM’s, advocacy and support groups, government agencies, and employer organizations, all of whom have a vested interest in assuring that telephones are accessible to everyone.
Company Contact:
Tenacity Operating, LLC
Susan Chappell, President
337-735-9500
About Snap!VRS
Snap!VRS is a video relay service that delivers a high quality and convenient relay experience between people who use American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English. Whether at home or in the office, relay users enjoy fast connections to experienced and professional ASL interpreters that are available anytime from a variety of video phones. Snap!VRS is committed to delivering video relay service with integrity and excellent customer service. To learn more about Snap!VRS, please visit www.snapvrs.com.
Company Contact (for press):
Noah Lichtman/Matt Bartoloni
973-799-0200
###
Contact
Tenacity
Susan Chappell
3377359500
www.accessaphone.com
Susan Chappell
3377359500
www.accessaphone.com
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