TTY Telephoning on a Mac – PC Software Compatibility

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Level 1

8 points

TTY Telephoning on a Mac – PC Software Compatibility

I need to make TTY phone calls and I only have a cell phone (no land line). The only product I can find that lets you make TTY calls on a computer is NexTalk, which would be perfect except it only runs on an IBM-style PC and there is no implementation that runs on a Mac.

I can run a PC program like NexTalk if I use VMWare's Fusion or Parallel's Desktop. But they both run only on Intel-based Mac processors and I have a PowerPC G5 Mac.

Am I hosed or is there something I can get?

Mac PowerPC G5, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Apr 6, 2011 11:38 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,763 points

Apr 6, 2011 6:30 PM in response to kschroer105

Only solution I can see since it runs on XP is to find a copy of Virtual PC7 for PPC Macs, a bit slow but it lets you install Windows® up to XP anyway & run XP Software.

Hmmmmm, Cell Phones are supposed to allow TTY!?

Consumers are now generally able to use TTYs to complete calls with their digital wireless phones, including 911 calls, if the phone itself is TTY-compatible. To find a TTY-compatible digital wireless phone, contact your wireless service provider or handset retailer.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/ttywireless.html

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Answer 2

Robbi

Level 1

130 points

Apr 8, 2011 7:43 PM in response to kschroer105

I am deaf and I've got several TDD/TTY options. But have you thought about using a regular TDD with your cell phone set to TDD/TTY?

My various options are:

1) I use IPRelay with AT&T and iChat.

2) I use an Ultratec EZCom Pro portable TDD with my iPhone with the TDD setting on.

3) I use my iPhone with an app called Hamilton CapTel.

And for those who may be reading this and have a landline, I also use the Sprint CapTel 800i.

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