AT&T has reportedly pulled a $27.99-per-month data-only iPhone plan that had previously been offered to the hard of hearing and deaf. I remember seeing a lady with a Sidekick WAY back when they first came out and when I excitedly stopped her to high-five about being Sidekick owners, she replied that she used one because she works with the deaf.
The iPhone would tend to be a similarly useful device but it seems ludicrous to pay for voice calls when you’re never, ever going to need to use the phone. Boo, AT&T. Boo, hiss.
AT&T puts the kibosh on voice-free iPhone plans for the deaf [TUAW]
I got my iPhone for 2 months, and I had battery problems. Apple store was gracious enough to offer me a full refund. And I was able to cancel my AT&T subscription, but I was hoping to re-purchase a new unit (hopefully, this time without battery problems) when AT&T offered data-only plan for deaf and hard of hearing. It was pretty ridiculous having to pay for 250 voice minutes a month and I can’t even use any of it!
I waited… and I waited. To this day, I still am waiting. :-( Why? I loved my iPhone, and I just can’t justify spending $69 a month (including taxes and fees) for something I have no ability to use.
I’m not hyper-focused on always being the nice guy, and business have to make business decisions,but this seems like yet another item on the long list of reasons why AT&T sucks:
http://comparati.com/1026-Verizon-Wireless-vs-AT-T-Wireless
Well my friends, Apple and iPhone do the best they can for what they offer at the prices. Lot of technology in there. OH and for those of us who cannot use the voice feature thats fine by me as i am profoundly hard of hearing. Howerver, what have i done to fix that. I took on the iPhone went to the new http://www.sprintcaptel.com service (free of course) and i can make captioned calls with my iPhone problem solved and i dont care if it cost me 69 a month not looking for a handout just looking for new and newer technology that i can use modify or otherwise make use of. OH and while I am at it go to http://www.phonetag.com they will (for a fee–$29 month) let you fwd your voice mails to thier service and they will transcribe them to text and send them back to you. Another problem solved i just dont bother to ans incoming calls as they go to my voicemail and i get a nice typed out copy of the voicemail on my textinbox. I have been hoh for all my life. I have never complained or had any difficulty “fitting” in or accomplishing anything I wanted. I have always said go away i can do this myself. So i ask dont bag on iPhone just be glad there are ways to use it to your/our advantage.
Best Wishes to all of my fellow hearing impaired friends.
Lets show em we are fantastic achievers!!!
Warmest Regards
Les6