Sight

Featured Phone: Emporia Life plus

Key Features

Oversized large easy-to-use buttons
Very large screen
Unique programmable emergency function
Super loudspeaker
Powerful vibration
Orange backlight for hard of sight

Click here for more information on the emporia life plus handset

Checklist of features to look for in a phone

We do not offer mobiles specifically designed for visually impaired customers, but there are many phones with features that are easier for blind and partially sighted people to use, such as:

Large buttons to help you use the keypad.
Keypads with a raised dot on the number 5 to help you navigate the keypad without looking at it.
A back-lit keypad that makes the keypad easier to see.
Sound or touch feedback is available on some phones when you press the buttons.
Changing the font size and back lighting allows you to increase the size of the characters or improve the visual display.
Voice-activated dialling allows you to dial from your phone without using the keypad. Simply set up the phone to recognise your voice and you can dial your favourite number by speaking the name or number.
Wireless hands-free kits or Bluetooth headsets mean you don't have to search for your phone when it rings. It also avoids the need for wires. Some phones have a small button on the earpiece so you can answer the phone without even touching it, as long as it is nearby.
The camera and picture-messaging facility on many cameras has zoom functions that you can use as a magnifying glass so you can see things around you more clearly.
Personalised ringtones can help you identify who's calling. Consider using personalised ringtones for different contacts on your phone, say a specific ringtone for your son or husband and a different one for your boss.
Talk software. TALKS can be purchased from the National Council for the Blind (NCBI) in Ireland and can be loaded on to any Symbian 60 mobile phone. All functions are spoken using a synthetic voice loaded onto the phone.

Phones we recommed

iPhone

Sony Ericsson K660i

BlackBerry Curve

Price Plan information

We also recommend the following price plans that may suit your needs.

O2 Speak easy customers

For Pre pay customers O2 Experience + my 10 favourite O2 numbers you'll get free calls and texts to your 10 favourite O2 numbers. Just top up by €30 per month

More about O2 Experience

O2 Pay monthly customers

For post pay customers O2 Clear get Unlimited calls to O2 numbers and landlines

More about O2 Clear

For more information on other handsets, please visit our online shop