Sorenson is telling the FCC to please not cut rates or VRS will never be the same.

That’s because Sorenson is creating this mess.

While crying to the FCC not to cut rates and at the same time, behind the FCC’s back, Sorenson is giving away iPad’s, laptops [...] link ]]> The deaf community and the FCC are confused.

Sorenson is telling the FCC to please not cut rates or VRS will never be the same.

That’s because Sorenson is creating this mess.

While crying to the FCC not to cut rates and at the same time, behind the FCC’s back, Sorenson is giving away iPad’s, laptops and TV’s to consumers in an attempt to port them back. This has nothing to do with functional equivalence, but a pure attempt to steal customers from other providers. The other providers have no choice but to try to do those things to keep their customers. This giveaway is costing Sorenson money and at the same time, they’re telling the FCC not to cut rates–this is in effect using public money to subsidize the free equipment they’re throwing away at customers. Does this make sense?

The whole thing is insane–this has nothing to do with VRS as a service. Dr. Z hopes the FCC is listening. Public money for VRS needs to focus on VRS as a service–certified interpreters, quick answer time and interoperability should be the focus, not free stuff.

Thanks for listening.

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclaimer: Dr. Z is currently the Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach at CSDVRS, LLC.

For us deaf people, we can’t leave videomail on Sorenson devices if we use a non-Sorenson device. All the [...] link ]]> When hearing people call other hearing people and they can’t answer right away, it goes to their voice mail. It doesn’t matter if its AT&T, Sprint or Verizon. Anyone can leave voicemail.

For us deaf people, we can’t leave videomail on Sorenson devices if we use a non-Sorenson device. All the other providers except Sorenson can leave messages without problems. Sorenson is preventing us all from being equal with hearing people or making us second class citizens. This is not functionally equivalent. All ZVRS phones and software can receive and leave messages without problems, but we can’t leave messages on Sorenson devices.

The FCC has received complaints on this and let us hope they’re listening and doing something to make Sorenson do so.

Thanks for listening.

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclaimer: Dr. Z is currently the Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach at CSDVRS, LLC.

People ask Dr. Z as to which devices the Z5 runs on…

Here’s the list…

Z5 Mobile - iPad - iPhone (4S or newer) - iPod (models with a front-facing camera)

Z5 Desktop - any Mac with front facing camera on monitor or [...] link ]]> Everyone is amazed at the new Z5 products…only 1 or 2 clicks are needed to make a call.

People ask Dr. Z as to which devices the Z5 runs on…

Here’s the list…

Z5 Mobile
- iPad
- iPhone (4S or newer)
- iPod (models with a front-facing camera)

Z5 Desktop
- any Mac with front facing camera on monitor or webcam, including laptops (MacBooks)
- any PC with front facing camera on monitor or webcam, including laptops

Download and off you go…so easy so simple!

Our Android version won’t be ready for a few months—but you can download Z4 for the Android.

Remember–you can use the same phone book for all your devices—no need to re enter or restyle your phone book…do it once…and all’s taken care of!

Try Z5, you will like it!

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

Providers and consumers have been knocking on the FCC’s door to present their cases and mitigate any effect the new orders and processes may have on VRS as a service as we know it. This [...] link ]]> The FCC is going to issue some orders and some new processes related to VRS any day soon.

Providers and consumers have been knocking on the FCC’s door to present their cases and mitigate any effect the new orders and processes may have on VRS as a service as we know it. This is like a ping pong game, with people looking at the ball going back and forth–VRS reform is going to happen, like it or not. The last thing we want to happen is to have it change VRS as we know and appreciate it.

Bottom line–the rules must dictate what is best for the consumer. What does this mean?

–freedom of choice of devices, without getting stuck with a device that one cannot use or communicate with other devices
–freedom of choice of software, with address books being portable (able to move) from one provider to another
–freedom of obstruction–without worrying if a call gets blocked, gets a black screen (full interoperability)
–freedom to make a call anywhere, anytime
–freedom of being tied to a remote control unit
–freedom of choice of providers, picking the provider that provides the best features and interpreters

This is ZVRS’s position-meaning you can go into a store and get the device you want and go ahead and make a call with a provider that has the best interpreters and features, so easy, so simple. Why go through the hassle of having a provider set it up for you and have them control what features and what you want on your device. This is a free country–we are FREE people, we should do what we want, not what others tell us what we should do!

Heres a link to the FCC’s postings–read on–(link)

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclaimer: Dr. Z is currently the Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach at CSDVRS, LLC.

Try Z5, you will like it!

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: [...] link ]]>
Everyone is amazed at the new Z5 products…only 1 or 2 clicks are needed to make a call.

Try Z5, you will like it!

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

It is available now!

Dr. Z has worked closely with the team developing and putting together the product.  They carefully identified user behavior and needs and put that into the product!  The best products out there always take user needs into [...] link ]]> The best video communication software for VRS and point-to-point–Z5 Desktop for Mac and PC!

It is available now!

Dr. Z has worked closely with the team developing and putting together the product.  They carefully identified user behavior and needs and put that into the product!  The best products out there always take user needs into account and that is what the team at ZVRS did. There is a video of how the Z5 Desktop and Z5 Mobile were developed by a team of deaf developers. (link to video).

The Z5 Desktop is a beautiful piece of design and engineering.

Take a look at the Z5 Desktop web page to learn more (link).

To enjoy a video related to the Z5 Desktop, click (Z5 Desktop Tutorial)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

Dr. Z usually travels from time to time–sometimes for business and sometimes for pleasure.

There are several apps that Dr. Z finds very useful in traveling–here’s a list:

      TripAdvisor                      [...] link ]]> The best video communication software for VRS and point-to-point–Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad!

Dr. Z usually travels from time to time–sometimes for business and sometimes for pleasure.

There are several apps that Dr. Z finds very useful in traveling–here’s a list:

      TripAdvisor                          Kayak                                      Booking.com                       iExit                                   Z5 Mobile

TripAdvisor-Dr. Z thinks this is the best app when you are going to a new place and want to know what sights are best and suggested hotels as a starting point. On a trip to Seattle last fall, TripAdvisor mentioned a little-known park that offered a great view of Mt. Rainier. This park was not mentioned in any of the pamphlets or guidebooks. Most of the comments in TripAdvisor are given by people like us, not travel professionals.

Kayak-this is a great app for checking fares and hotel prices. It helps you plan a trip and you can estimate costs so you can save for the trip. It also has a itinerary feature where you can send emails of the reservation confirmation to Kayak and they will put everything together form you!

Booking.com-this is an app to reserve hotels and bed and breakfasts. It is very reliable and you know what you will want. It has a nice ratings system and is more useful for travel overseas than in the United States. Anything with a rating of 8.0 or more usually is a good bed and a good room. Between 7.0 and 8.0 is ok–do not take anything below 7.0!

iExit This is a fantastic app when you are driving in the United States on an interstate. You want to pull off for a McDonalds or some gas–it lists all the restaurants, gas stations and hotels and MORE for every exit on an interstate. It is very easy to use and is reliable. I think it is underrated–try it–its a great app!

Z5 Mobile Of course, this is the best video communication app. Dr. Z uses it with a 4G connection on the road and it works beautifully. Need I say more? Leave the Z5 Mobile on all the time and use it to make VRS calls, point to point, FaceTime and send text messages from just one contact list!

For more information on the Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad, click this link.

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Try Z5 Mobile, you will LOVE it, just like Dr. Z!

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

It can work with FaceTime on your iPhone or iPad!

You do not have to go into FaceTime on your iPhone to make a FaceTime call.

Go into the Z5 app and click the Contacts icon.

It will bring up all your contacts [...] link ]]> The best video communication software for VRS and point-to-point–Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad!

It can work with FaceTime on your iPhone or iPad!

You do not have to go into FaceTime on your iPhone to make a FaceTime call.

Go into the Z5 app and click the Contacts icon.

It will bring up all your contacts from your iPhone.

All the contacts will have the FaceTime and Text Message button in addition to the green Z5 call icon.

If the contact has FaceTime or Text Message enabled on their iPad or iPhone, all you need is to press the “FaceTime” or “Text Message” button!

If the contact does not have FaceTime or Text Message enabled on their iPad or iPhone-it will not work.

If you want to make a VRS or point-to-point call to your contact, press the green video icon.

All in one place—no need to jump all over the iPhone or iPad to get in touch!

Leave the Z5 Mobile on all the time and use it to make VRS calls, point to point, FaceTime and send text messages from just one contact list!

For more information on the Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad, click this link.

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Try Z5 Mobile, you will LOVE it, just like Dr. Z!

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

It is called Spotlight. It is not an app, but it is part of your iPad!

What is Spotlight? It is a built-in search engine for your iPad, like [...] link ]]> Dr. Z swears by his iPad for video communication and uses his iPad and his iPhone for a lot of things during the day.

It is called Spotlight. It is not an app, but it is part of your iPad!

What is Spotlight? It is a built-in search engine for your iPad, like Google search for your iPad.

How do you get it? Simple–click the home button (the button on the bottom of your iPad)–click it slowly, twice (or maybe 3 times), until you see the image below:

Enter anything you want to look for–your friend’s name, a hotel you want to stay in, an email you want to find.

You will get a list of the results of your search. If it is an email, the email will show up in your list. If it is a hotel and it is not on your device, click “Search Web”, it will then do a Google or Yahoo search and you will see the results on your iPad!

Try it, you will love it!

Also, do not forget to download the NEW Z5 Mobile app for video communication (you can’t use paper for this) (link.) You can make video calls with Z5 on your 4G/4G LTE connection!

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Try Z5 Mobile, you will LOVE it, just like Dr. Z!

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development