Relay UK
There has been a national text relay service in UK since 1991 enabling textphone users to contact hearing people over the telephone. BT has been running an improved service, known as Next Generation Text Service NGTS, which, as of November 2019 is called Relay UK.
With Relay UK you will still be able to make calls using your textphone but it will give you more ways to make a call so you don’t need to rely on a textphone. If you would like to be able to make calls via your computer or on the move, using a PC, laptop, various tablets and other mobile devices you will be able to do so with a specially designed and newly improved app.
How to get Relay UK
The app is free to download from the Google play store, the Apple app store and the Relay UK website.
How it works
When you make a call, if you currently use your voice to speak but read the reply in text, Relay UK allows you to do so without having to change between voice and text. All you need to do is use an internet connected device, such as a tablet, smartphone or laptop, with the app installed and you will be able to speak and read at the same time, which will help the flow of the conversation.
If you are fed up with having to give out the 18002 prefix to any hearing person who wishes to call you, Relay UK will give you the ability to link your standard telephone number to a specific Relay UK TextNumber. A TextNumber is just like an alternative phone number and can be given to friends and family and companies, so they can call you using this number without the need to use the 18002 prefix
More information about the service is available from the Relay UK website
Image courtesy of British Telecommunications plc.
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