InternetSpeech and NFB Team to Bring Full Web Access to the Blind

LOUISVILLE, KY - The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and InternetSpeech, a producer of Web-access by phone, announced their partnership at the NFB convention (in Louisville from June 28- July 4), bringing full Web access to anyone anywhere using a phone. "People no longer need a computer to surf the Web or check e-mail," said Emdad Khan, president and CEO of InternetSpeech, Inc. "Blind people struggling with inaccessible Web sites, businesspeople away from their desks and seniors afraid to tackle computers can now use the phone to tap the resources of the Internet." The netECHO service provides unlimited Web browsing and e-mail correspondence for $9.95 a month and the cost of phone calls into the 408 area code. For $19.95 a month U.S. users get five hours of service a month and additional time at five cents a minute. Both programs have a one-time $20 set-up fee. "The NFB is partnering with InternetSpeech because many blind people do not have effective access to the Internet," said Marc Maurer, president of the 50,000-member blind consumer group. "This program will allow them to step onto the information superhighway for the first time."