Fixed and mobile telephone equipment, features and services
Size of text: Some telephones and mobile handsets have larger than normal screens which can display large text. The size of text can be adjusted, which is important to people with impaired vision.
Big button telephones: Some telephones and mobile handsets have big buttons and keys, making them easier for visually impaired people and people who find it difficult to use small buttons.
Screen contrast: Certain telephones and mobile handsets have screens with higher colour contrast than others. There are also telephones which have screens where the contrast can be adjusted, making them particularly suitable for use by visually impaired people.
Luminous buttons: Certain telephones and mobile handsets have luminous buttons, which makes them easier to use in the dark and helps visually impaired users.
Voice-activated dialling: Certain telephones and mobile handsets can make calls using voice commands. In other words, instead of dialling the number, the user only needs to say the name of the person they want to call (provided the number is stored in the telephone’s list of contacts).
Voice-activated menus: This feature, which is available on some mobile handsets, provides access to menus through voice commands. This means that users who cannot read the text on the screen can still access most of the phone’s features.
Text messages (SMS) to voice: This feature converts text messages to voice, so that the recipient can listen to messages instead of having to read them. This feature is useful for people who cannot read or have difficult reading the screen on mobile phones.
MB Phone: TMN, Optimus and Vodafone Portugal all provide this service can be used to conduct various banking transactions, which are usually performed using ATM (Multibanco) machines, over their mobile telephone using voice commands – these transactions include balance enquiries, payments of service and transfers between accounts.
Roaming: When requested by customers who are blind or visually impaired, national providers are required to provide, without undue delay and free of charge, information on prices of calls made and received while the customers is in another Member State of the European Union or European Economic Area 1. This information is provided using a voice message.
Customers who want to use their mobile phone while abroad should make sure that they contact their provider before they travel or at least when they arrive at their destination to obtain information on the conditions governing use of this service outside Portugal 2. TMN has a scheme whereby users can borrow equipment with an installed screen reader, giving blind and visually impaired people access to messages received in roaming, with the text converted into voice.
Internet: services and features
Text conversion into voice: This is a screen reading programme which lets users listen to the information is displayed on the computer’s, monitor, including information from the Internet. Text can be heard clearly and out loud.
Customer support and information services
Access to services via Internet: Some providers offer access to billing or tariff switching services through their websites. This lets users access programmes that convert text information into voice or lets them adjust the size of the text displayed on the screen.
Access to other information: the description of services and instructions on how to use them is often displayed with text whose size can be adjusted or provided in Braille.
Free consultation of directory enquiries: Users who have difficulties in consulting telephone directories (blind and visually impaired customers) can use a service of PT Comunicações which gives free access to information using the number 12133. On dialling this number customers are transferred to 118 where the information is provided. This service gives the right to 20 free calls per month, whereas unused calls cannot be carried over month from month.
Bills in Braille: PT Comunicações provides blind and visually impaired customers with bills in Braille, free of charge.
Spoken bills: Vodafone Portugal provides an electronic bill in a format which is compatible with any screen reader, helping blind and visually impaired customers consult their bill.
1 See list of 27 countries in European Union at http://europa.euhttp://europa.eu/. The European Economic Area includes all European Union countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
2 Provider contact details can be found at Roaming light.
