Can my carrier get the Pro1?

[Gatorfan 1]

Hi:

 

I am really looking forward to getting the Pro1. It will have more keys than the Blackberry Priv, which is what I have now. As a blind person, having real arrow keys again will really help with navigation. However, my issue is having to buy the phone outright. Does anyone know if F(X)tec will reach out to either US or European carriers so that custoomers could pay for the phone through installments? Thanks.

 

Leslie Fairall

 

[EskeRahn 5,460]

Interesting idea, that this could help people with impaired vision. I for one never thought of that obvious idea - silly me.

I have not heard mentioned that there should be plans of it sold through carriers though.

But It might be worth investigating if you are liable for some subside for it, as an aiding device.

[Craig 1,435]

If you're blind I'll buy you one.

[Erik 1,487]

Hi:

 

I am really looking forward to getting the Pro1. It will have more keys than the Blackberry Priv, which is what I have now. As a blind person, having real arrow keys again will really help with navigation. However, my issue is having to buy the phone outright. Does anyone know if F(X)tec will reach out to either US or European carriers so that custoomers could pay for the phone through installments? Thanks.

 

Leslie Fairall

 

Thanks for your comment. The keyboard of the Pro1 makes it a very appealing device for users with limited accessibility. Our challenge at the moment is to make carriers offer our device, which is highly unlikely as a new entrant. Historically new phone manufactures can take between 3-5 years to enter carrier retailers, grow enough demand and allow for an appealing deal with the network itself.

 

Meanwhile, we're looking at other options such as finance through our website or partners.

[_DW_ 628]

If you’re blind I’ll buy you one.

 

That is an extremely generous offer I salute you ?

[_DW_ 628]

You would actually be a good tester for the device maybe fxtec will extend the beta ;)

[Gatorfan 1]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post. I was unaware of the length of time it would take to have carriers offer a new device. I believe there is a market for the Pro1 with blind people. Unfortunately so many blind people have gone over to the iPhone since its screen reader talked right out of the box. However, there are still a lot of blind people who would love a high-end phone with a physical keyboard. Since F(xTec is in Europe, that may be a good place to start. I am aware of agencies for the blind there who might like to see the phone.

 

Leslie Fairall

mailto:fairall@shellworld.net

[mdh 11]

Hello all, I'm a bit late to this topic, came across it while doing a search on the Pro1 since I am visually impaired/blind as well. The Pro1 caught my attention because of the qwerty keyboard. I loved the Nokia E63 and E7 that I had for several years, running the Nuance Talks screen reader software on the symbian platform, but with the demise of Symbian and that platform, I eventually went to an iPhone. While nice, I don't really like the phone being a complete touch screen. As a blind person, we like to be able to focus the control of the screen, meaning using keyboard commands, using hot keys, etc... I am (giving examples of using a laptop and the JAWS screen reader software)

 

Anyway, I came across the Pro1 and it caught my attention! I'd like one, but since there are no US carriers that offer this phone, I am hesitant to spend $700 without getting to see one at a store first and take it for a test drive with the Android talkback screen reader. So I'm curious to know if the initial thread starter that mentioned they were blind has had an opportunity to evaluate the phone, and if so, I'd enjoy hearing the feedback.

 

I did send FX TEC an email and told them that the market for a phone like they are selling definately has value to the blind community as we rely on touch and being able to control the phone with a keyboard would be a great advantage. I'd be willing to test a phone for FX TEC and provide feedback from a person with a vision impairment.

 

-Mark

[VaZso 1,998]

1 hour ago, mdh said:

Hello all, I'm a bit late to this topic, came across it while doing a search on the Pro1 since I am visually impaired/blind as well. The Pro1 caught my attention because of the qwerty keyboard.

I really like its keyboard as I feel it is much more convenient than touch keyboards because you feel it and it does not consume part of the screen.

As a blind person, I think a hardware keyboard is really a must-have feature.
I don't know the accessibility features of Android and possible reader solutions, I hope it is also solved on Android systems.

Pro1's basic QWERTY keyboard does not have a standard layout, but a bit modified one as they tried to build a more ergonomic button placement (so some of the non-letter buttons were moved to the other side). However, I have bought a Pro1 with QWERTZ keyboard which is basically a standard QWERTZ one, so non-letter buttons were not moved but basically it has some German characters and Z/Y interchanged (it is only available in the EU).
However, it is only about the text written on buttons, but the layout itself can be customized for example by an application called Finqwertz which places appropriate file/information for the system.
Also, Pro1's QWERTY and QWERTZ keyboards are electronically the same, only prints are different and in software, you can choose which layout you have, the system will assign appropriate characters then - so, if keyboard printouts are not really interesting, you can even have a customized layout by using a similar method like Finqwertz has.

I think the most problematic part of using a Pro1 in the USA is the support of service providers (I mean the lack of support).
While it supports appropriate bands of standard radio communication in the USA, they will not allow it to use the network.
I have read in other thread(s) that people had success on connecting the network on LTE bands with the help of a MULE device and if I read well, service providers are moving towards these networks... however, you may notice a lower coverage because of less bands it is allowed to work with.

I think the best would be if you could find somebody here who has a Pro1 near you to see the phone in your hands and maybe to have some experience of service provider(s) near you.

[EskeRahn 5,460]

3 hours ago, VaZso said:

I think the best would be if you could find somebody here who has a Pro1 near you to see the phone in your hands and maybe to have some experience of service provider(s) near you.

 

5 hours ago, mdh said:

I am hesitant to spend $700 without getting to see one at a store first and take it for a test drive with the Android talkback screen reader

 

Before all this corona/covid stuff we had a thread with people that got a Pro1 and was willing to help others to get a chance of a hands on.

A few scores replied, some in the US, so with a little luck some are close to you. Check this thread:

https://community.fxtec.com/topic/2738-help-show-your-pro1-to-others-close-by/

And on the network thing as I understand it, it is complex with some carriers and easy with others. There are other threads on that, but I hope some US reader can kick in with the relevant links here. If I recall right it was @Craig that started that thread.

[Craig 1,435]

Not I.  But both AT&T and T-Mobile (and their MVNOs) are no issues whatsoever with Pro¹.   Verizon is possible but complicated as not officially supported.  Nobody's really tried Sprint.

[Hook 3,020]

The relevant threads @EskeRahn is referring to are these:

 

 

As @Craig said, the upshot is that AT&T and T-Mobile are pretty easy if they have good coverage where you are.  Verizon id very tricky-- involves having to have a mule phone (a phone that Verizon has approved for VoLTE) and then transferring the SIM.  Often works very smoothly at first if you follow the instructions in the Verizon thread, but hads broken down for several, usually affecting being able to send SMS.  You cannot use CDMA with Verizon (which is why you need a SIM that has been enabled with VoLTE). I had the SMS problem, then somehow got it back and things worked fine for 3 moths and then SMS stopped working again.  Luckily, AT&T works well where I am so I just switched rather than keep fighting with Verizon.  YMMV.  Again, while it did work, it was great.

[mdh 11]

1 hour ago, Craig said:

Not I.  But both AT&T and T-Mobile (and their MVNOs) are no issues whatsoever with Pro¹.   Verizon is possible but complicated as not officially supported.  Nobody's really tried Sprint.

Sprint doesn't really matter as they got bought by T-Mobile and from what I have read, T-Mobile will transition those customers over to the T-Mobile network and shut down Sprint's CDMA network in time.

 

I currently have Verizon but would switch back to T-Mobile if need be, but it sounds like there have been people out there who have gotten the Pro1 running on the Verizon 4G LTE network.

 

I  sent the folks at FX TEC an email asking some questions in regards to a person with a vision impairment and the use of the Pro1, but haven't heard back yet. So if anyone from FX TEC is reading this, hope you got my email and will get back to me.

 

thanks,

-Mark

[Hook 3,020]

56 minutes ago, mdh said:

I currently have Verizon but would switch back to T-Mobile if need be, but it sounds like there have been people out there who have gotten the Pro1 running on the Verizon 4G LTE network.

Yes, several of us have.  The question is for how long.  For a number of us, it doesn't last.  But if you are on their network with a phone that has VoLTE provisioned already, you already have the mule, so you might as well try and just see how it goes.  T-Mobile can be the backup plan.

 

[EskeRahn 5,460]

4 hours ago, mdh said:

I  sent the folks at FX TEC an email asking some questions in regards to a person with a vision impairment and the use of the Pro1, but haven't heard back yet. So if anyone from FX TEC is reading this, hope you got my email and will get back to me.

Let me try to add a mention of @Erik, hopefully he can help, or can find someone that can 😇

[mdh 11]

I decided to respond to this topic as this is where I first joined the Pro 1 community. As mentioned previously, I have a vision impairment and require a screen reader to use items such as my computer, cell phone, and so on.

I finally decided to take the plunge and I placed an order for an FX TEC Pro 1 the other day as I'll need a new phone soon since Verizon will be shutting down it's 3G network at some point and I'll need to get a 4G LTE capable phone. So instead of settling for another overpriced iPhone or a run of the mill Android phone, I decided to get what I wanted, and that was the Pro 1. I do have a friend who is an engineer at Verizon and told me he'd help me get the phone running on the VZW network here in the USA.

I miss having buttons and after my Nokia E62 and then an E7 (which flips open similar to the Pro 1), I've had an iPhone for the last few years, and while the screen reader is nice, the iPhone is to locked down and I truly hate Apple products for this reason. But as said, hopefully I get my Pro 1 in a reasonable time frame and I'm hoping to provide feedback of the Pro 1 on the forums here from someone like myself who is blind/has a vision impairment and requires assistive technology.

I didn't notice on the forums if there was anyone else using the Talks app with the Pro 1 or not, but if so, I'd love to hear your feedback, and if not, I'll be happy to provide mine once I receive the phone and get a chance to begin playing and exploring it using the Talks screen reader.