Fixed and mobile telephone equipment, features and services
Vibration alert: Equipment which alerts the arrival of a call or message by vibrating can be very useful for the hard of hearing.
Volume: Volume on some telephones can be adjusted higher than on others. Most have adjustable volume levels.
Hearing aids: Some telephones and mobile handsets can be used with a hearing aid which can be connect to a socket on the telephone or wirelessly using Bluetooth (a technology by which devices can communicate without physical connections). These accessories improve the sound quality of telephone calls and help voice-activated dialling.
Sound amplifiers: Telephones and mobile handsets with amplifiers can be very useful for the hard of hearing.
Call alert light: A light which signals an incoming call (flashes as phone rings). This is especially useful for people who cannot hear or who have difficulties hearing the telephone.
Video-calls: Lets you see the person you are talking to in real time. This enables the use of sign language in the conversation.
Internet: services and features
Instant messaging – chat: Instant messaging is a text conversation held in real time. Various instant messaging services are available free of charge and some can be used on mobile phones. The programmes are very useful for the hard of hearing or people with speech difficulties.
Internet Video-calls: There are various programmes available which let you make calls and video-calls over the Internet, either free of charge or at reduced prices. Internet video-calls let you see the person you are talking to in real time. This enables the use of sign language in the conversation.
E-mail: An e-mail is a message sent electronically (over the Internet) from one email address to another. Emails can be very useful for the hard of hearing and people with speech difficulties. Email addresses can be obtained free of charge, although the service is only available to people with a connection to the Internet, which normally has to be paid for.
Customer support and information services
Customer support: Vodafone Portugal, in cooperation with Associação Portuguesa de Surdos (Portuguese Association of the Deaf), provides access to a customer call centre with video-interpreting services providing assistance with tasks such as making doctor appointments or calling a taxi (service available on 12472). The service is available from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 12.30pm. PT Comunicações has a similar service under its partnership with Federação Portuguesa das Associações de Surdos (Portuguese Federation of Deaf Associations) (address: ooVoo - svi_fpas), available on working days between 10am and 6pm.)
Access to other information: If you have any difficulties using call centre services, you can ask for information to be sent by email or obtain this information using the websites of the different providers.
