Filed under: iPhone
AT&T issues statement on iPhone data-only plans for hard of hearing customers
I put in a call today to AT&T public relations, following up to our post last week. At that time, I wrote that AT&T in Colorado had mistakenly offered a data-only plan, which was rescinded. Today, Warner May of AT&T called me back to clarify. He told me that the original offer posted at DeafMac never existed and was, as posted, a mistake. AT&T does not offer an iPhone-specific data-only plan at this time: not for hard of hearing, not for the general population. They are working to have one in the near future.
The rumor about hearing customers overwhelming the plan and destroying opportunities for the hard of hearing community was just that, a rumor. No such incident occurred. May went on to explain that AT&T offers a variety of text accessibility plans (TAPs). These plans are available for a number of devices including Blackberries and such but not the iPhone. May was unable to tell me what it takes to qualify for such plans, whether a doctor's note for example was required. He promised to get back to me with an answer about qualifications and I will update this post when he does.
AT&T offers a hard-of-hearing hotline for customers who want to learn more about accessibility options. You can call them at 866-241-6568 (Voice) or 866-241-6567 (TTY).
Thanks to Michael Coe and Warner May.
Update: I'm told that iPhone TAP plans, when and if they exist, will only be offered to deaf customers. Customers will be sent certification paperwork, which they fill out and return to the call center. Once received and approved, either a plan rate change is applied to their current plan or the call center can help the customer set up a new activation. Paperwork (when this goes live) can be submitted via TTY, email, fax and postal mail.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve Denton said 4:37PM on 12-03-2007
Pardon?
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Steve in Denmark said 4:39PM on 12-03-2007
A quarter past four
cronick said 4:58PM on 12-03-2007
Reverse discrimination against the hearing capable?
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punkassjim said 5:40PM on 12-03-2007
What, you want access to handicap parking spots now too?
tim said 5:43PM on 12-03-2007
its ridiculous for deaf people to pay for phone service (and phone minutes) that they will never use. i have a iphone with what.. 400 minutes a month that i never use. i'd gladly trade that in for extra text messages or a cheaper plan.
im not asking ATT to discriminate against anyone. they can offer this plan to everyone for all i care. all im asking (and other Deaf customers) is a phone plan that fits our general phone use needs better.
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Christina Warren said 7:30PM on 12-03-2007
I agree with Tim -- it IS ridiculous that Deaf customers have to pay for voice minutes they will never use. As for the so-called "reverse discrimination" - no, it's called the Americans with Disabilities Act (which I presume they are getting around because they offer TAPs on other phones).
You know, as a hearing person, I have the option to totally remove text messages from my account (unless they are service messages that cost me nothing) - why should a HI person not have that same option. And you know - let's just say for the sake of argument that AT&T were to offer a plan only to HI users that was unavailable to users with full hearing -- I'm perfectly OK with that. Why? It's called sucking it up and accepting that a trade-off for having good hearing is not being able to get a data-only cell phone plan (which you can still get from other carriers/phones - T-Mobile has it for the Blackberry, Sidekick and others - I think AT&T does for other phones too - regardless of hearing status).
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starkruzr said 7:50PM on 12-03-2007
Why does this even need to be "protected" from people who have normal hearing? If providing a data-only plan sells more phones, where is the problem?
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Big John said 4:31AM on 12-04-2007
"As for the so-called "reverse discrimination" - no, it's called the Americans with Disabilities Act (which I presume they are getting around because they offer TAPs on other phones)."
Unfortunately the ADA has nothing to do with giving a disabled person a financial break on any kind of service and the potential phone plan IS an example of reverse discrimination. The ADA was designed to help the disabled achieve a better lifestyle and make facilities more accommodating to their special needs so they can do things and go places a normally capable person could. Wheelchair ramps are in place for obvious reasons, however there is nothing stopping anyone with two good legs from using it, nor should there be. Thanks to TTL any deaf person can use the telephone, but the phone company doesn't charge them any less because they use a modem instead of their voice. Data over a cell phone is no different. It's just another way for the cell phone companies to put the screws to the customer and squeeze out another penny.
Anyone giving anyone else a reduced rate because of an ability or a disability is discrimination pure and simple. Because you have a disability, it does not mean you are special. It only means that you are differently able.
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NEPatriot4life said 9:43PM on 12-13-2007
Tough shit I am glad deaf people get TAP because it silly to use voice plan that deaf people cant even talk or hear but they depend on data plan for Email, TEXT message, Instant message. if i use Voice plan it would cost alot money to add unlimit text message with voice plan it silly thing for deaf people to not use voice plan so i think this is very reasonable montly service for Hearing Impaired. One more thing you forgot other thing. Most all of hearing Impaired had to buy equiment for phone ring or alarm it extra cost for hearing impaired and hearing people dont so QUIT WHINING about it leave deaf commuity alone
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andintroducing said 10:22PM on 2-13-2008
starkruzr said...
"If providing a data-only plan sells more phones, where is the problem?"
One word: Skype.
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Jack Tea said 4:08PM on 2-22-2008
An undiscussed point is that with TAP the phone companies use this plan to encourage communication disabled to get a phone if, for some reason they have not.
About the "alleged" discount offered; the cellular companies actually save money with texting & data as opposed to voice calls. With voice, an individual phone is in continual send/receive mode from dial to hang-up. With text (in particular) the call lasts about 3 seconds. Data is has a longer connect time but only during data transmission/reception. Compare this to a person who is talking on their cell for a half hour or more; hanging up only to call someone else. The discount, if you want to call it that, is recognition of the fact that airtime isn't as used.
Lastly, I'll quote Dennis Miller, "This is just my opinion and I could be wrong"
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