January Newsletter

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Sorenson Technical Support

You can receive help by using any of these ways to contact Sorenson Technical Support.

Hours:
M-F 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. MST
Weekends 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. MST

Web: sorenson.com/support

E-mail: support@sorenson.com

Videophone: 1-801-287-9403

Phone: 1-866-496-6111

TTY: 1-866-877-9826
M-F 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MST

SIPRelay

When you don't have access to your Sorenson videophone and you need to communicate on the go, use Sorenson IP Relay (SIPRelay)! Using a personal computer or a mobile device, you can contact anyone, anywhere with SIPRelay.

SIPRelay is a free service that enables deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to place text-based relay calls from their personal computer (PC) and/or mobile device to any standard telephone user in the U.S. and its territories. A Sorenson Communications Assistant (CA) contacts the standard telephone user and voices the text messages in real-time from the SIPRelay user. All you need to use SIPRelay is an Internet connection and a PC or mobile device enabled with AOL® Instant Messenger (AIM®).

SIPRelay works with any Internet connection when using a PC and is quick and easy to use. Simply send an instant message to "SIPRelay" using AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) or go to www.siprelay.com to place a call.


Messenger

Connecting YouJanuary 2012

  • Company Message

    Happy New Year for 2012

  • Interpreter Training Leads to Best Possible SVRS Experience

    Sorenson Communications provides its Video Interpreters (VIs) with ongoing training to ensure that customers receive the best-possible SVRS experience. As a company committed to the preservation of American Sign Language (ASL), Sorenson also provides ASL interpreters who work outside the company the opportunity to continue their education through Sorenson- sponsored workshops, raising the ASL interpreting standard overall. Watch the video to learn more about Sorenson Communications' professional interpreter development program.

  • A Global Community

    Angela, a Sorenson Communications VI located in New Orleans, loves learning about different cultures. When an opportunity presented itself to work at a deaf school in Nigeria, she didn't hesitate.

    Sorenson Communications interpreters provide the finest interpreting service for Sorenson customers. Outside of their Sorenson responsibilities, hundreds of Sorenson VIs also provide interpreting in their local deaf communities. Some VIs like Angela even provide interpreting services internationally.

    Angela met a Nigerian student who was going to school in New Orleans. The student's wife is deaf and works in the Abuja School for the Deaf, in Kuje, outside Abuja, Nigeria. She and Angela talked about the school and the deaf culture in Kuje. They also discussed Angela volunteering her educational and signing skills at the school. Having previously visited deaf schools in Mexico and in China, Angela decided to travel to Nigeria to volunteer her services at the deaf school. She wanted to take with her a special gift for the students from deaf people in the U.S. Angela coordinated with a deaf Christian congregation in New Orleans to create "friendship-bracelet" making kits. Children at the Abuja school are of both Christian and Muslim faiths. "These bracelets taught the kids a message that I did not realize was so important until I was there," says Angela. "Beads of different colors in the kits represented different concepts: black stands for mean and unfriendly; red - replace meanness with love; green stands for more growth every day; and yellow - hope for the future. The basic friendship message was, as individuals, we have the ability to choose and decide what kind of person we will be. Power to change the world around us comes partly from how we respond to life." (A group of students wear their bracelets in the photo with Angela below.)




    While at the Abuja School for the Deaf, Angela was impressed by the intelligence and amazed by the enthusiasm of the 400-plus Nigerian students. She was also saddened by the lack of resources, including sign language training for the hearing teachers and staff. No textbooks or other teaching tools were available, and children were given one composition notebook to last the entire year. Electricity was available only occasionally. Deaf teachers were few in number, and the hearing teachers who were able to sign had learned while on the job or by taking one class. So the quality of signing in the teaching was often substandard. Angela says, "One day I watched as a deaf teacher was brought into the classroom to explain everything the hearing teacher had just taught because the students were having trouble understanding the hearing teacher's signing. These students want so much to learn. They just need a few resources to help them." Angela's wish is that the school, its students and teachers could receive desperately needed supplies. "They are so grateful for anything!" she says. Angela's story is just one example of hundreds of activities Sorenson interpreters perform to give back to members of deaf communities, both at home and abroad.

    If you are interested in sending supplies to the Abuja School for the Deaf, please click here to see a list of needed items and the school's mailing address.



  • Around Town

    Sorenson Communications will be attending the following events through March 2012.

  • ntouch VP

    Note to Sorenson Customers

    If you already have a Sorenson VP-200 videophone, you do not need to apply for ntouch VP.

    Sorenson customers will receive ntouch VP when their area is selected for installation.

    Sorenson Communications provides VRS, IP Relay service and IP Captioned Telephone Service subject to the Federal Communications Commission's rules applicable to telecommunications relay service. In addition, Sorenson's provision of service, equipment and/or software applications is governed by user agreements available on Sorenson's website at http://www.sorensonvrs.com/license. If you choose Sorenson as your default provider, you can port your existing ten-digit number to Sorenson from another provider. If you do not already have a ten-digit number, Sorenson can provide you with one. If you later change your default VRS provider, you will be able to port your number to another provider. To properly route 911 calls to local emergency service providers, Sorenson must have your correct street address. You can update your address on your Sorenson videophone or by calling 800-659-4810 or by visiting http://www.sorensonvrs.com/moving. Sorenson will confirm receipt of this address information. For more information on the process of 10-digit numbers and the limitations and risks associated with using Sorenson's VRS or IP Relay services to place a 911 call, please visit Sorenson's website at: http://www.sorenson.com/disclaimer. For information on toll-free numbering, please visit Sorenson's website at: http://www.sorensonvrs.com/tollfree.

  • ntouch® trademarks used herein are property of Sorenson Communications.

    Correction: In the December 2011 VRS Messenger “Touching Lives” story, Richard Cohen was inadvertently identified as Robert Cohen. We regret the error.