AT&T's iPhone 3G Is Now Suited for Users with Hearing Disabilities

US mobile users with hearing disabilities have now the chance to buy an iPhone 3G and get the best out of it, as AT&T has just announced the availability of its Text Accessibility Plan (also known as TAP) for Apple's new handset.

For $50 per month, users will get the following:

- unlimited nationwide text (SMS ) messages;

- unlimited data (including email and Web browsing);

- Visual Voicemail;

- a $0.40 fee per minute for voice calls.

In addition, for users who also want access to corporate email, AT&T offers a $65 monthly plan that includes the above-mentioned features as well as support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync.

"We are thrilled to extend our Text Accessibility Plans to iPhone 3G customers so they can truly experience all of the speed and functionality of this powerful new device. With TAP for iPhone 3G, customers can use the intuitive Multi-Touch touch screen to tap out their communications and stay connected while on the go," declares Susan Mazrui, Director, Federal Regulatory, AT&T.

Since they're targeted at users "who are deaf, hard of hearing, have a speech disability and/or hearing loss", the iPhone 3G Text Accessibility Plans require an eligibility form to be completed. Thus, people with disabilities must download the form from AT&T's NCCD (National Center for Customers with Disabilities) Web page, found at this address.

Of course, both the $50 and $65 Text Accessibility Plans are only available after an AT&T contract agreement for two years is signed and an iPhone 3G is activated.

Released in the US by AT&T on July 11, iPhone 3G is available for prices starting at $199 (the 8GB version) or 16GB (the 16GB version). The new iPhone was released at the same date in other 20 countries and, in only three days, more than 1 million units were sold.