Sorenson Communications Partners with Intrado to Offer 911 Emergency Video Relay Service

From: Business Wire (press release), CA - Jul 5, 2006

Offering is the First Comprehensive Emergency VRS Solution for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 5, 2006--Sorenson Communications, the leader in services and technology for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, today announced a partnership with Intrado Inc., a global provider of integrated data and telecommunications solutions, to provide an emergency 911 video relay service solution. Sorenson Communications will utilize the Intrado(R) Private Call Center 9-1-1 solution with a customized application for Sorenson Video Relay Service(R) (VRS). The Intrado Private Call Center 9-1-1 provides technology that enables Sorenson VRS users to place immediate and reliable emergency calls into the 9-1-1 system. Deaf callers who wish to place an emergency call through Sorenson VRS can access the Intrado Private Call Center 9-1-1 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Sorenson VP-100 and VP-200 videophone users making 911 calls are immediately recognized by Sorenson VRS for prioritized handling.

The deaf community consistently raises the subject of emergency 911 services to government and industry leaders as an issue of public safety and a matter of great concern. Longtime deaf advocate Larry Fleischer commented, "I applaud Sorenson Communications for taking the lead in the industry and investing the necessary resources to make this offering possible. Other VRS providers should establish similar services, enabling anyone who needs immediate help in any emergency situation."

With the Intrado Private Call Center 9-1-1 solution, Sorenson's VRS 911 calls are quickly dispatched to the appropriate local emergency services, such as ambulances, police and fire stations. Sorenson VRS customers can communicate directly with a Sorenson video interpreter via American Sign Language (ASL) instead of dialing 9-1-1 through a text telephone (TTY). The interpreter relays the caller's location information, quickly identifying and transferring the call to the correct public safety answering point (PSAP).

"Intrado is pleased to be working with Sorenson Communications to support the specialized emergency calling needs of its customers," said Stephen Meer, Intrado's chief technology officer and co-founder. "Together we are providing the deaf and hard-of-hearing community with reliable emergency calling service."

"Sorenson Communications is proud to be the first VRS provider to offer a secure and reliable 911 solution for our customers," said Pat Nola, Sorenson Communications' president and CEO. "With Intrado Private Call Center 9-1-1, we are ensuring improved support for routing and managing emergency calls. The deaf community has the right to have access to emergency services through VRS, and with our important current advances we will also be able to provide ongoing improvements in the future."

Sorenson Communications and Intrado are making immediate and reliable 911 emergency services available to the 28 million deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans through Sorenson VRS -- the preferred means of communication using ASL. Sorenson Communications is also one of the only providers to offer customers a static videophone number, rather than a dynamic IP Relay address, which changes and is difficult to track on emergency calls.

About Sorenson Communications

Sorenson Communications(TM) (www.sorenson.com) is a provider of industry-leading communication offerings including Sorenson Video Relay Service(R) (VRS), the company's line of videophones, Sorenson IP Relay(TM) (siprelay) and Sorenson Video Remote Interpreting(TM) (VRI). Sorenson VRS (www.sorensonvrs.com) enables deaf callers to conduct video relay conversations with hearing friends, business colleagues and family members through a qualified American Sign Language interpreter. The company's Sorenson VP-100 is the first consumer-based broadband videophone appliance specifically designed for deaf individuals. Sorenson IP Relay (www.siprelay.com) allows deaf and hard-of-hearing users to place instant text-based relay calls from a PC or mobile device to any telephone user. Sorenson Video Remote Interpreting(TM) (www.sorensonvri.com) is a fee-based video interpreting service ideal for use in situations where an interpreter cannot be physically present to interpret between hearing and deaf individuals who are at the same location.

Contacts
Sorenson Communications, Salt Lake City
Lisa Harrison Tate, 801-913-9748 (Press)
ltate@sorenson.com

© Business Wire 2006