BlackBerry Smartphones have always had some great accessibility options, but today RIM has taken things one step further with the release of BlackBerry Screen Reader. The new app, available for the Curve 9350, 9360 and 9370, allows those with visual impairments to better make use of their BlackBerry with extended functions for native applications. 

Press Release

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 7, 2012) - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today launched BlackBerry(R) Screen Reader, a free software application that helps customers who are blind or visually impaired operate their BlackBerry(R) smartphone. BlackBerry Screen Reader provides an audible output based on visual information displayed on a BlackBerry smartphone.

"We are excited to introduce BlackBerry Screen Reader as part of our suite of accessibility solutions for BlackBerry smartphones," said Greg Fields, Senior Product Manager. "BlackBerry Screen Reader helps customers with visual impairments stay connected with the people and information that matter most to them, and is representative of RIM's continuing commitment to support customers with disabilities."

Key features of BlackBerry Screen Reader include:

• Support for core applications - Users can easily access core BlackBerry applications including email, calendar, phone calls and more.
• Speech settings - users can customize the text-to-speech settings (volume, pitch and speech rate) and preferences for punctuation, verbosity and password security.
• Keyboard shortcuts - Users can set speech and audio preferences quickly and easily through (physical) keyboard shortcuts
• Accessible documentation - User Guide available in accessible HTML through a desktop web browser.

BlackBerry Screen Reader is available now as a free download from www.blackberry.com/screenreader for the BlackBerry(R) Curve(TM) 9350, 9360 and 9370 smartphones. The application is available in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.