Vodacom recently launched the Bellen A100 handset, a phone aimed at hearing impaired mobile users and the latest device in the company’s Specific Needs range that includes the Nokia N86 8MP visually impaired edition.

 

The Bellen A100 provides users with the ability to make and take phone calls by employing bone conductor technology. When placed on facial bones close to the ear, the bone conduction feature sends sound waves through the facial bones to the inner ear in a safe and efficient manner enabling clear communication.

 

It also boasts an SOS button, desktop charger as well as a flashlight and can easily be integrated with any hearing aid which supports the telecoil function, which sends the sound directly from the user’s phone to the hearing aid. Like the company’s ZTE S306, this device is also suitable for the elderly and people who find it difficult to use standard cellphones with small buttons.

 

“We are pleased that we are currently playing a leading role in the delivery of telecommunications solutions for people with specific needs. In addition to the range of speaking phones for the blind, we recently launched the Zooms phone for the partially sighted and now we are launching the Bellen A100 for the hard of hearing. We’re looking forward to launching more solutions to address other categories of people with specific needs,” said Shameel Joosub, managing director of Vodacom South Africa.

 

“The launch of the Bellen A100 is in line with our commitment to being a caring company. Not only are we committed to launching products and services that are aimed at improving the lives of people with specific needs, we also invest in improving their lives through investments in the Vodacom Foundation. Since the launch of the Vodacom Foundation in 1999, the company has invested more than R500-million in sustainable projects that help alleviate social deprivation. In particular, our support has resulted in more than 8 000 cataract operations being performed on elderly people since 2004,” Joosub stated.

 

The Bellen A100 mobile phone is available nationwide from Vodashops, Vodacom4U stores and Vodacom Direct as of Friday, 3 December 2010. For more information about Vodacom’s Special Needs phones and services, call 12580 (free from a Vodacom cellphone), or 082 12580 from any other phone. Alternatively users may send an SMS to 12580 (free SMS) or an email to 12580@vodacom.co.za.