"We set out to create an online portal that offers consumers a high quality, innovative approach to making relay calls while also being a preferred source for unique community information," said Dan Luis, CEO of GoAmerica. "We would like to thank all of the beta users who have given us insight into important features and call tools that set i711.com apart. This ongoing input from the user community will continue to be critical as we enhance and expand i711.com."

i711.com Internet Relay
i711.com was designed to streamline relay calling, with easy access to the most popular dialing features on the home page, and one-click access to other features through its custom user interface. With free online registration, i711.com users get access to an assortment of unique call tools, including:

- Customization with My i711. Users can set global preferences for all of their i711.com relay calls, including call style (IM or TTY), call assistant gender, special instructions, and conversation text color and font size.

- i711 Phone Book. The i711 Phone Book is a single location to store frequently dialed numbers. Users can associate specific call preferences with people in the i711 Phone Book. For example, a user might choose to omit “relay instructions” for a call to a hearing spouse, but always include such instructions for calls to a doctor or mechanic. When these numbers are dialed using the i711 Phone Book, the specific preferences are applied to the call.

- i711 Speed Dial. Speed Dial provides instant, one-click dialing of users’ most frequently called relay numbers. Users decide who is or isn’t included in their Speed Dial list by using a simple check box in the i711 Phone Book.

- i711 Recent Calls List. Likewise, users can set i711.com to keep track of recently dialed numbers. The user can quickly select a Recent Call number from a drop-down list, and redial it with one click.

"I love the convenience of the i711 Phone Book," said Paul Sommer, i711.com user and MBA candidate at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. "It lets me quickly and easily customize how I call people, so I don’t have to type in special instructions every time. I think this feature—and a great user interface—will make i711.com extremely popular."

Relay and Beyond
Building on the relay functionality and enhanced calling tools, i711.com also includes customizable content features, available for free to registered users. These features include:

- Exclusive Content. i711.com users receive exclusive, weekly columns by noted deaf authors. Topics include deaf culture, technology and employment issues for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

- News Headlines. Users can choose to display headlines from popular community news sources such as USA-L News, 4HearingLoss.com, and others, as well as headlines from traditional news sources.

- InSight Open Captioned Movie Information. i711.com automatically provides users with a list of nearby open captioned films, courtesy of InSight Cinema Open Captioned films.

"I’ve been using i711.com for about two months, and it’s been exciting to watch i711.com evolve into the service announced today," said Sam Feibelman, project manager at a textile company in Mobile, Alabama, and an i711.com beta tester. "It’s the first service I’ve seen that makes relay calling quick and convenient, and also gives me community information I can use. I like i711.com because it gives me a lot more than just relay."

Service Availability
i711.com is available now by visiting www.i711.com. Calls can be placed 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and all domestic relay calls are free. Registration for i711.com is optional and also free. Registered users receive access to the enhanced calling tools, as well as the custom content.

About Telecommunications Relay
Established by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and paid for from a dedicated federal government fund, telecommunication relay services facilitate communication between deaf callers and hearing recipients through an operator. Internet relay calls, completed using a web-enabled computer, typically proceed as follows:

1. Deaf callers visit the relay service’s web site, type in the phone number they want to call, and click on a button to start the call.

2. They are connected to a relay operator through a conversation window that displays both the deaf caller’s and the operator’s text. This window is similar to an instant messaging conversation window.

3. The operator then dials the requested phone number.

4. The call proceeds, with the operator acting as an intermediary between the two parties, alternately speaking what the deaf person types, and typing into the conversation window what the hearing person speaks.

About GoAmerica
GoAmerica provides a wide range of wireless, relay and prepaid communications services, customized for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired. The Company's vision is to improve the quality of life of its customers by being their premier provider of innovative communication services. For more information on the Company or its services, visit www.goamerica.com or contact GoAmerica directly at TTY 201-527-1520, voice 201-996-1717 or via Internet relay by visiting www.i711.com.

By Joe Karp, GoAmerica Communications, Inc.
jkarp@goamerica.com