Accessibility: performance 2007/08
We said:
We would reduce the level of preventable exclusion by at least a third by 2010.
We would introduce three significant products with features that reduce exclusion by March 2008.
We have:
Introduced three significant products with features that reduce exclusion
Over the past three years since we set our target to introduce three significant products to reduce exclusion, we have piloted a wide range of inclusive products in various operating companies. We believe they have the potential to significantly reduce exclusion:
- Talks (text-to-speech software for blind people)
- Accessible Blackberry® from Vodafone (enabling deaf people to communicate in real time)
- Vodafone Simply (an easy-to-understand price plan with accessible handset).
These products have been rolled out in several markets with varying degrees of commercial success. Talks is available in Australia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa and the UK. The related service, Mobile Speak, is used by some 6,000 customers in Spain. We have launched the Accessible Blackberry® from Vodafone in Spain, with more than 4,000 handsets sold in 2007/08. Vodafone Simply was introduced in 2005, and is still available in some markets. However, this product has been withdrawn from three markets due to lack of consumer take-up (see reducing preventable exclusion).
These products, together with others we are piloting, are helping us work toward our target to reduce preventable exclusion by at least a third by 2010. We will assess our performance against this target through an audit to be carried out in January 2011.
Established a 'centre of excellence' in Spain to develop products that reduce exclusion
We will use our experience of developing social products in Spain over several years to roll out products to new markets. Vodafone Spain has already established a range of successful inclusive products, including the Accessible Blackberry® from Vodafone, Talks and tele-assistance services for the elderly and those with special healthcare needs. Vodafone Spain is also well-placed to lead on this issue because there are several strong special needs organisations operating in Spain, including ONCE, FIAPAS, CNSE and the Spanish Red Cross, and accessibility is high on the national political agenda.
Vodafone Spain will help guide our strategy on inclusive product development initiatives and stakeholder engagement in other markets. Other operating companies will also be able to draw on Spain's experience in marketing and promotion of inclusive products.
Introduced a service enabling visually-impaired people to easily find their location
Our new 'pedestrian GPS' service, introduced in Spain in 2007/08, enables people who are blind or visually impaired to find their location quickly and easily through software on their mobile phone. We also launched a similar service in the Czech Republic, where customers can call our helpline to find out where they are. Operators identify a caller’s location using GPS and provide telephone directory services and help callers find their nearest transport links. More than 400 people – including 250 regular callers – have so far used the service in the Czech Republic, run in partnership with the charity Czech Blind United. Vodafone Czech Republic and the Vodafone Czech Republic Foundation received a prestigious Bona award from Czech charity, the VIA Foundation, for the service.
Introduced special tariffs to tackle accessibility
We have introduced accessibility tariffs in seven markets. For instance, Vodafone Italy offers a dedicated price plan for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. The tariff includes 100 free SMS text messages a day to Vodafone Italy mobiles, 9-cent text messages to other mobiles and up to 500 minutes of videocalls a day to Vodafone Italy phones paying only the call setup fee (€0.19). Customers can apply by completing a medical certificate online or at any Vodafone outlet. Tariffs to improve accessibility have been launched in Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Portugal, Spain and the UK. They include cut-price bills for people registered as deaf or disabled.
Launched the Emporia handset for elderly customers in Spain
Vodafone Spain launched 'Emporia Life', a new mobile with features for the elderly. These include a large screen and display, oversized and easy-to-use buttons, and a high volume loudspeaker and ring. It has a powerful vibration alert to ensure the owner knows when someone is calling, an orange backlight for visually impaired people, and is compatible with digital hearing aid devices.
For additional security the phone has a unique emergency button. This large red button located on the back of the phone can be programmed to call up to five previously designated numbers for help. This may be a relative, neighbour, doctor or anyone the owner wants to contact in an emergency situation. It can also be programmed to send out a pre-written text to other mobile phones asking for assistance.
We will:
- Reduce the level of preventable exclusion by at least a third by 2010.
- Conduct a learning and performance audit of Vodafone Spain social products and produce a best practice tool-kit for other markets
