I discovered Action on Hearing Loss’s TalkByText Service a year or so ago. It was a service which allowed you to access typetalk via a very simple looking website.
To me, it was a godsend. It meant that I could make typetalk relay calls via my laptop, my desktop computer, or even my smartphone. It ran entirely in web browsers, no matter what computer you had or what software you were running. It was also fantastic being able to copy and paste information from my computer to my relay chats, such as bank account numbers, customer reference numbers, and more.
No more having to rely on interpreters to make boring calls to my mobile provider or to my local GP, either.
I could also relegate my dusty old textphone to its rightful place – the attic. No more trying to negotiate the correct phone connection with my workplace’s IT department, or having to pull it out of a draw and plug it in when I needed to make an urgent call.
As of today, March 1st, that has ended. The charity can no longer afford to offer the service due to the maintenance costs involved.
The TalkByText website suggests lots of alternatives including Skype, Oovoo and Texbox.
The only one, as far as I can tell, which allows you to access relay operators, is Aupix’s TCPhone software.
The TCPhone software was originally intended for video relay use. When they found out about Action On Hearing Loss’s plans to withdraw web relay, they added web relay functionality to their own service.
It took me a while to figure out how to use the service, with a bit of help from Aupix, who reply to service enquiries really quickly and helpfully I’ve found. Here’s how it works.
Head to http://aupix.com/.
Sign up for an account. You’re given a unique phone number on the service and a login and password.
You then need to add credit to your account, from the “myAccount” pages on the site (http://www.aupix.com/my-account) by either using a Paypal account or selecting a credit/debit card option in the
checkout.
Once you’ve “topped up” your account, you can make calls to minicoms (calling the minicom number and area code) and to hearing people through BT by prefixing the number with 18001. Aupix users can also call each other with voice, video and text for free – similar to Skype. You can also receive calls from hearing people – but that’s more complicated. https://portal.aupix.com/webphone/?s=TCPhone
The software to use TCPhone works in your web browser, as a PC software package, or as mobile software.
I use the web browser software – but there’s a disturbing side effect – you have to have a typetalk conversation while looking at a video of yourself. Best resolved by putting a bit of tape over your computer’s webcam!
Another nice touch – before the start of each call, you see a statement of balance with how much estimated call time you have left. At the time of writing I have about 140mins of call time left.
The myAccount pages show monthly statements for individual calls and allows each user to set up any options they might want for the messaging service. The call costs seem reasonable – around the same as the normal cost of a call, although people on a forum I use reckon it costs about the same as TalkByText.
In summary:
– Create a TCPhone Text account here (http://www.aupix.com/tcphone/text)
– Download the software, see here for details
(http://www.aupix.com/tcphone-platforms)
– Add credit to your myAccount, login here (http://www.aupix.com/my-account)
– Make calls (prepend with 18001 for relay and always include the area code)
In terms of the software you need: you should install the TCPhone application for the device you purchase (there is only one version of the software and it is used for TCPhone, TCPhone Text and TCPhone Relay). So, the place you download from is as follows:
– iPhone, download TCPhone from the Apple App Store
– Android, download TCPhone from Google Play
– PC, download TCPhone for Windows from our web site
– Web Browser, visit our web site and go to:
https://portal.aupix.com/webphone/?s=TCPhone
Once you have a TCPhone Text account, this same username and password can be used on any of the devices supported – iPhone, Android, PC and Web Browser.
What I most liked about Aupix’s service was their willingness to respond quickly to my queries. With their help I was up and running in no time at all.
So that’s Aupix TCPhone. It seems to be the best available replacement for TalkByText Web Edition. But the Limping Chicken readership might be able to suggest alternatives!
Perhaps Hyperterminal is better? Maybe you have your own particular hack for accessing relay services via your computer. Or perhaps you prefer to kick it old school with your trusty textphone. Tell us about it in the comments!
William Mager is a Contributing Editor for Limping Chicken. He is also an award-winning director for film and TV, who made his first film aged 14 when he “set fire to a model Audi Quattro and was subsequently banned from the school film club for excessive pyromania.” He’s made short films, dramas and mini-series, and works for the BBC. Find out all about his work at his personal website, read his blog, and if you’re on Twitter, follow him here.
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Andy
March 1, 2013
A little story… the software was developed by the RNID technical team under Guido Gybels. I had a small part in it when I helped out with a Beta test of the final release. It worked extremely well, which is more than you can say for my Internet connection, which did not! In return for my help I got a free copy and I used it as much as possible.
The problem was that it was limited at that time to PC’s and laptops when actually the RNID really wanted it on mobiles. It transpired that although the team contacted all the major mobile phone providers they were just not interested in working with RNID to help deaf people.
Just imagine the money they could have made if it had been available to all deaf people, any time anywhere. But the telco’s just would not play ball and the technology remained obscure and limited. Such a shame really because if it had taken off as a regular App. then it would have provided a good income for RNID. So there you go, luck of the draw. And incidentally the telco’s are STILL not interested in working on a deaf telephone solution.
Also in the telephone category … BT is shortly to announce its plans for Next Generation Text Relay. It is supposed to be a technical marvel and will solve all our problems at a stroke. Now where have I heard that before ….
wmager
March 1, 2013
Hi Andy
I remember Guido well. I made a tech special for See Hear many years ago which demonstrated their then proprietary textphone technology for mobile. Such a shame it was never taken up, I’d kill for an integrated textphone solution that worked as part of iOS or Android.
Next Generation sounds interesting – hopefully more usable than TCPhone or TalkbyText!
innocentsofoppression
March 1, 2013
For Apple Mac users, try MacWise – http://www.macwise.com. Although it’s an American-developed software, it works here. I have not tried it yet as it needs an USB modem, but I do know a few Deaf people use it and they say it works perfectly, even with Text Relay. I must get round to it soon as my eyesore Minicom Pro 8000 LVD makes my home office look like it’s stuck in the 80s time warp!
wmager
March 1, 2013
I read about that – but buying a USB modem is a bit 1980s isn’t it? For me it has to be wifi or nothing! Thanks though, interesting suggestion.
ian crimond
March 1, 2013
I have been a user of textrelay for almost 13 years now and I still fail to understand people’s criticisims of the service. I have never had any problems using it and the operators are excellent.
To be sure everone I telephone knows right away its me, because there are no other users of this service in my backyard of lincolnshire.
BUT having said all that, there is one major issue with Textrelay( not their fault). When you try to enter the 18002 prefix into any web site’s contact form telephone box, the form will be rejected simply because the idiots who run web sites have never heard of textrelay, despite it having been around for well over 15 years.
These web operators also discriminate against deaf people by failing to make reasonable alternative adjustments to their web sites for deaf people.
the vast majority of all uk web sites are in breach of sec 3 and section 20 of the Equality Act.
For legal reasons i am unable to discuss the matter further for reasons which im sure you can work out for yourself.
kind regards deaf access research group
JK
March 1, 2013
Since October 2011, I have used MyFriend software to make Text Relay phone calls on my Windows laptop over broadband internet.
Aupix helped develop MyFriend, which operates in a similar way to TCPhone, with similar costs for phone calls, and free calls to other MyFriend users.
However, no video appears during Text Relay chats, where the conversation appears in two columns of text.
http://www.myfriendcentral.com/
wmager
March 1, 2013
Excellent, thanks JK!
barakta
March 1, 2013
Thanks for this really helpful article and review, Aupix is on my “to install & play with” list although I have a Minicom 6000P at work and home now so it is much cheaper and in some ways simpler to use those with TextRelay rebate at 60% off than pay TalkByText/Aupix rates for calls. I’ll be interested to see how it works though and this blogpost has saved me a load of work – maybe this weekend’s TODO.
I did try TalkByTextWeb in late 2008 when I started my current job but it was an unmitigated disaster because it kept crashing in very annoying ways where it would just hang so whatever I typed stopped being transmitted to TextRelay and the hearie I was calling would have the TextRelay op saying “err nothing’s happening”. So it was clearly the deafie to TalkByText end which was failing somehow. Because 1-2 in every 3 calls failed in this way for me (at home and at work) I was quite rightly not allowed to use this as a phone solution at work (and didn’t want to). I don’t know why I seemed to have these issues as Deaf-UK-Tech people didn’t seem to report the same and other deafies I know definitely used it.
I couldn’t get RNID to give me a quote for the TalkByText software for business rates easily and was understandably told I wasn’t allowed to use the home client for work. My manager at the time was crap and because she didn’t understand telecoms refused to help me work with RNID to do a business rates quote for TalkByText and it seemed that it was mostly a multiple user setup whereas I wanted a single user set up. In some ways I regret not just purchasing the home version myself and at least trying it.
I ended up going the BT analogue phoneline + screenphone route then switched to a Minicom 6000P because the screenphone memory is pathetic and I need documentation of my calls. I hit the issue that cos I speak well people don’t understand why I struggle with voice carry over.
I’ll post back letting you know how I get on with Aupix.
barakta
March 1, 2013
As for the Next Generation Text Relay, my understanding is that the edict has come from OfCom themselves who are dictating the minimum standards that it must have and it is likely most telecoms companies will buy into BT’s service as it is a *requirement* that they offer this enhanced service. I am on see hear talking about it a bit in episode 28.
My understanding from talking to a deaf civil servant friend of mine is that the level of mandate OfCom is using is serious, it’s “do or else” basically. Telecoms companies (anyone who provides any phone service in voice I presume) will be required to
1) Buy into BT relay service
OR
2) Provide their own meeting a strict minimum set of standards.
(2) Is unlikely due to the high set up costs of the service. The details of what the mandate level is are in the footnotes to http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2011/07/28/ofcom-plans-to-upgrade-telecoms-services-for-disabled-people/
I see googling for OfCom + Next Generation Text Relay brings up a lot of OfCom and other articles about it. I believe the service will be required to have the following features:
1) Remove the prefix on incoming calls so there will be a “normal” looking telephone number for us to receive calls on. We will still need to use a prefix for outgoing calls.
This will help all those stupid webforms, places which won’t allow 1800x to be dialed, stop hearies being scared of unknown number weirdness (there’s so many phone scams now, I can’t blame them) and so on. I think deafies can handle a prefix.
2) Allow parallel access to the audio of the call AND relayed captions of what is being said.
This is useful for hard of hearing people who wish to supplement hearing tone of voice, what they can hear with the captioned effect. It will also give me a better idea of whether the operator is relaying correctly as there are times I wonder what is going on and if it’s the hearie being stupid and needing a thwap or the operator missing information. Also just being able to tell if hearie is angry or happy or sad will be useful info for me. I might even use voice carry over for some calls if this is done well.
3) Allow interrupts much easier so less of this Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah GA Whitter whitter whitter GA business.
This means we can interrupt people who are talking nonsense without mashing everything.
4) Access to the relay service via the Internet and a multitude of devices such as smartphones, tablets etc.
I wonder how much will be done here and whether BT will make smartphone apps and OS specific apps (will they cover linux which I use at home? Is a windows box a small sacrifice to make for this?) as well as a web system. Will third parties be able to make apps which interface into this like Aupix have done? How would third parties manage to make money/cover costs of development? Remove the TextRelay rebate like aupix has done now?
14 months till Next Generation Text Relay is due to go live. Does anyone here know of ongoing consultation excercises with OfCom/BT? I’m tempted to email and say I am keen to help and be involved.
David Myers
March 4, 2013
Hi
I do think that one should not disparage the use of USB modems if this operates at 300 baud as used by TextDirect – we are forced to use this till all that is changed next year where hopefully we can use more modern technology . Up to now we have no information of what will be provided then and that is a very annoying thing!
David Myers
Des
April 2, 2013
By making calls using the aupix and talk by text platforms cost more just in case you may not be aware of. In the current market, the tariffs for making calls are very competitive across telephone/mobile companies and unfortunately, we still face consequences because the costs for using aupix and talk by text are outside the mainstream tariff packages, like it or not. For your information, by my choices I have all-inclusive package in which one price cover telephone line, calls 7 days a week and broadband, so there must be some reasons that I would be obliged to pay more…. in contrast with my hearing counterparts?
radio im internet oldies
May 27, 2013
That’s like Houston Texas being without a Country station. They also apparently believe that their customers who like a particular song they hear on the radio, are likely to purchase that song, which could add to downloads from i – Tunes. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Duke Red Matter (Part One; CBS, 1956)’Abbott Stables’s Duke Red is a thoroughbred destroyed over a serious injury in an accident, and Dollar (Bob Bailey)’asked to
review a $65,000 insurance claim on the horse’smells trouble when the stable’s business manager is
dismissed after filing the claim, and its veterinarian may
have destroyed the horse a little too swiftly.
Andy not Mr Palmer but another one
May 27, 2013
Definition of idiot : Trying to sell music on a deaf blog.
Steven
May 28, 2013
In most cases they are, but when it comes to updates, patches,
etc to the mmorpgs. Then came the ultra-popular Arkham games,
that place you, like never before, into Batman’s shoes as he skulks around and knocks hoodlums heads together (literaly). Well, you can have that same chess engine on your Android mobile phone, courtesy of Droid – Fish.