Mailing Address
Technical Support
4192 South Riverboat
Road, Suite 100
Salt Lake City, UT 84123
TECHNOLOGY
Away From Your VP? Use 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 personal computer 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.
COMPANY
MESSAGE
Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications President and CEO, and
Ron Burdett, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations
Get Connected
In this newsletter you will see several references to Sorenson Communications' new Get Connected page. Visit this page and learn more about what it means to select Sorenson Communications as your default provider. Visit www.sorensonvrs.com/connect.
Sorenson Communications and DeafNation Discuss Functionally-Equivalent Real Numbers and Enhanced 911
In early December, Sorenson Communications joined DeafNation, a leader in video content, news coverage, social networking and special events for the greater deaf and hard-of-hearing community, to answer questions submitted to DeafNation's blog by individuals about the recent FCC order, real numbers, and Enhanced 911. View the video and find more answers to questions by visiting www.deafnation.com.
DeafNation CEO Joel Barrish shares with Ron Burdett, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations, questions submitted by DeafNation bloggers.
With Sorenson, you not only get E911, you also enjoy Sorenson Gold Services
Pre-Dec. 31, 2008, 911 disclaimer
Because all VRS calls are sent over an Internet connection, you must keep in mind that using a Sorenson videophone to place an emergency 911 call is subject to certain limitations and risks, particularly in comparison to 911 calls made using a voice telephone. For example, you may not be able to place a 911 call with a Sorenson videophone if an Internet connection failure or a power outage occurs, or if your Broadband or ISP service has been terminated. For a full description of these limitations and risks, please visit Sorenson’s Web site at: www.sorenson.com/disclaimer.
Get Connected Contact Cards
Sorenson Communications is in the process of assigning real numbers. If you have not already received one, you will get one soon. With Sorenson Communications, you can choose a local 10-digit or Direct VP number—or both!
After you get your real number, it's possible that not everyone will know you have a new number. Sorenson has a process set up for callers to be notified of your new number. This procedure is similar to the way callers are notified when hearing people change their telephone numbers.
You can also let family, friends, and business associates know about your new numbers by giving out Sorenson Get Connected Contact Cards. You can print them out or download them by visiting www.sorensonvrs.com/contactcards
New Videophone Booths Installed at Gallaudet University
On Dec. 5, Sorenson Communications held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the installation of five new videophone booths in Gallaudet University's Student Academic Center. Gallaudet Provost Stephen Weiner welcomed students, faculty, and staff in attendance and acknowledged Gallaudet's long-standing partnership with Sorenson Communications.
"Thank you very much for these beautiful, wonderful phone booths that we will benefit from for many years," said Weiner. "It has been a wonderful pleasure for us to work with Sorenson Communications."
Pat Nola, President and CEO of Sorenson Communications, said the booths will continue to support the campus community's current and future communication needs.
The ribbon-cutting provided Sorenson Communications executives with the opportunity to explain the recent FCC order requiring all VRS providers to offer real telephone numbers and Enhanced 911 (E911), both services the FCC considers "functionally-equivalent" to the way hearing callers place calls.
Five deaf Utah students from Skyline High School, in Salt Lake City, attended the event. The students were in Washington, DC attending the Congressional Youth Washington Seminar, presented by the Close Up Foundation in conjunction with Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah). The week-long visit by the deaf students, their teacher, and two sign language interpreters was sponsored by Sorenson Communications.
Sorenson Communications President and CEO Pat Nola, pictured in front of the new videophone booths at Gallaudet, expresses Sorenson Communications' commitment to providing high-quality VRS for Gallaudet students, faculty, and staff.
Pictured L to R: Jon Mitchiner, Director of Gallaudet University's ITS Department, Gallaudet University Provost Stephen Weiner, Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications President and CEO, Ron Burdett, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Community Relations, John Edington, Sorenson Communications Mid-Atlantic Outreach/Trainer Manger, and Dave Johnson, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Sales
Sorenson Communications President and CEO Pat Nola visits with deaf students from Skyline High School, in Salt Lake City, who attended the Gallaudet ribbon-cutting.
Sorenson Communications Opens SIPRelay Call Center in Price, Utah
On Oct. 1, Sorenson Communications opened its newly completed Sorenson IP Relay (SIPRelay) Call Center, located in Price, Utah. Sorenson Communications executives and Price Mayor Joe Piccolo and local county commissioners attended the event.
SIPRelay is a free service that enables deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, located anywhere in the country, to quickly and easily communicate with hearing phone users from any PC or mobile device.
The new 9,500-square-foot SIPRelay Call Center was created in response to the increased demand for SIPRelay services and has been operating in a temporary Price facility since February.
The SIPRelay Call Center currently employs 70 individuals who work as part-time and full-time Communications Assistants (CAs) and support personnel. As demand for SIPRelay increases, the employee base will grow to more than 100 individuals, all of whom will receive initial and ongoing training.
Pat Nola, president and CEO of Sorenson Communications, announced, "The SIPRelay Call Center in Price and the Communications Assistants who work there will provide much-needed services to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals through out the nation.
Price residents and family and friends of Sorenson Communications team members attend the ribbon-cutting for the new Price SIPRelay Center.
Those who participated in the ribbon-cutting are (front row) L to R: Jason Dunn, Sorenson Communications Vice President of Operations, Beverly Draughon, Price SIPRelay Call Center Manager, Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications President and CEO, Barbara Piccolo and Price Mayor Joe Piccolo, Scott Sorensen, Sorenson Communications Chief Financial Officer, and Jim LaRose, Sorenson Communications IP Relay Director
Nick Tatton, Community Administrator for Price City and President of the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce (pictured far-right), presents Pat Nola with a plaque welcoming Sorenson Communications to Price, Utah.
Want SVRS Equipment?
Do you need SVRS equipment (videophone) for your home or office? Do you have DEAF family members or friends who still need to get SVRS equipment? Apply for FREE SVRS equipment today at www.sorensonvrs.com/apply!
Contacting Sorenson for Assistance and Questions
When you have questions about your videophone or Video Relay Service (VRS), who are you going to call? Here is a list of helpful numbers to call when you need assistance.
For any videophone-related problems, contact Sorenson Communications Technical Support at 801-287-9403 or go to www.sorensonvrs.com/support.
For questions about real numbers or Sorenson Communications products and services, contact a Customer Information Representative (CIR) at 800-659-4810 or send an e-mail to vrssales@sorenson.com.
Mike Maddix
Regulatory Affairs Manager
Sorenson Communications
On Feb. 17, 2009, all full-power television stations will stop broadcasting over-the-air analog television signals and will begin only broadcasting over-the-air digital television (DTV) signals.
Following are answers to important questions on the change to digital TV.
Will Sorenson VRS be affected by the DTV conversion?
No. You do not need to worry about your Sorenson VRS service. The DTV transition will not affect Sorenson videophones and their ability to display the highest-quality video on any television set. If you use your television only for Sorenson VRS—not for watching television programming—you will not need to change the way you are using the equipment.
Will I need to get a DTV converter box?
You only need to get a DTV converter box if you want to watch TV. (Remember, the change does not impact Sorenson VRS.) If you want to watch TV and you are currently watching an analog television that is not hooked up to pay television services (provided by a cable, satellite, or a telephone company), you will need to get a DTV converter box. If you have an older, non-digital TV that uses rabbit ears or an antenna to get reception (and do not pay a monthly fee), you will likely need to get a DTV converter box.
How can I continue to get free TV service?
You will not have to buy a new television to continue to get free television programming. All you have to do is buy a DTV converter box. You can get up to two $40 coupons to offset the cost to obtain a DTV converter box. To apply for a coupon see https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx. In addition, there are some excellent resources, including ASL videos the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has prepared, to help you to know more about this topic. They include:
Do you need SVRS equipment (videophone) for your home or office? Do you have DEAF family members or friends who still need to get SVRS equipment? Apply for FREE SVRS equipment today at 
