[Athen] RIM Launches BlackBerry Screen Reader for Customers with Visual Impairments

[Jeffrey Dell]

I just got word that it is only for their consumer models and will not
work on the models that the government and other large companies use.
For blind professionals needing a screen reader on the blackberry that
their employer gives them Accessibility has never been alive.
Jeff
On 5/7/12, Sam Joehl <sam.joehl at ssbbartgroup.com> wrote:

> Just when you thought Blackberry accessibility was dead…

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> Waterloo – - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today

> launched BlackBerry® Screen Reader, a free software application that helps

> customers who are blind or visually impaired operate their BlackBerry®

> smartphone. BlackBerry Screen Reader provides an audible output based on

> visual information displayed on a BlackBerry smartphone.

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> “We are excited to introduce BlackBerry Screen Reader as part of our suite

> of accessibility solutions for BlackBerry smartphones,” said Greg Fields,

> Senior Product Manager. “BlackBerry Screen Reader helps customers with

> visual impairments stay connected with the people and information that

> matter most to them, and is representative of RIM’s continuing commitment

> to support customers with disabilities.”

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> Key features of BlackBerry Screen Reader include:

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> •              Support for core applications – Users can easily access core

> BlackBerry applications including email, calendar, phone calls and more.

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> •              Speech settings – users can customize the text-to-speech

> settings (volume, pitch and speech rate) and preferences for punctuation,

> verbosity and password security.

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> •              Keyboard shortcuts – Users can set speech and audio

> preferences quickly and easily through (physical) keyboard shortcuts

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> •              Accessible documentation – User Guide available in

> accessible HTML through a desktop web browser.

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> BlackBerry Screen Reader is available now as a free download from

> www.blackberry.com/screenreader for the BlackBerry® Curve™ 9350, 9360 and

> 9370 smartphones. The application is available in English, French, Italian,

> German and Spanish.

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> For information about BlackBerry accessibility solutions for customers with

> disabilities, visit www.blackberry.com/accessibility.

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> About Research In Motion

>

> Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation,

> revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry®

> solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by

> millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and

> content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in

> Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia

> Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market

> (NASDAQ: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more

> information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.

>

> Media Contact:

>

> Krista Seggewiss

>

> Research In Motion

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> kseggewiss at rim.com

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> 519-597-0348

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> Investor Contact:

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> RIM Investor Relations

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> investor_relations at rim.com

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> 519-888-7465

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> ###

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> Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the

> "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform

> Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used herein,

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>