Technology
RNID has developed TalkByText Web Edition as a convenient way for people who are deaf or speech-impaired to make textphone calls from a web browser, such as Firefox, Safari, Opera or Internet Explorer, either on a laptop or desktop computer or on a mobile. It is not as rich in features as TalkByText Business Edition, which can do incoming calls.
You can make text calls to textphones and voice telephones.
If your call is answered by a textphone (such as a Minicom), you can type directly to each other.
The letters appear on your screen almost immediately as the other person types them.
If instead the call is answered by voice phone, then a Text Relay operator automatically joins the call to relay the conversation between text and voice.
For those occasions when you don't need a full interactive text conversation, the TalkByText Web Edition site also lets you send SMS text messages. If there is a reply, the SMS message will be sent to your registered mobile phone.
TalkByText Web Edition does not enable you to use your web browser to receive text calls and you cannot make voice-carry-over (VCO) or hearing-carry-over (HCO) calls using the service.
At present you should not try to use TalkByText Web Edition to make 999 and 112 calls to the emergency services. However, we do plan to support emergency calls in the future.
Despite these limitations, the widespread availability of the web enables you to keep in touch by text from many more places than before, without you needing to carry equipment around.
To use the TalkByText Web Edition service, you need:
Most Internet connections are suitable, including:
Corporate networks apply usage or firewall policies that might prevent the service from working. For the workplace, TalkByText Business Edition is usually a better and more appropriate solution.
RNID TalkByText Web Edition is being successfully used with a wide range of Internet browsers, including:
No TalkByText Web Edition Does not allow you to receive calls. TalkByText Business Edition does support incoming calls.
Yes all calls will use Text Relay if required, allowing you to call a voice phone.
No you should not type 18001; the software will do this for you.
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Both the username and password are case sensitive. JohnSmith and johnsmith are different.
If it still doesn't work you can contact technology@rnid.org.uk
TalkByText Web Edition allows you to send SMS (text messages) and we add your number so replies go to your mobile. If you do not have access to a mobile number if you email us at technology@rnid.org.uk with your required username and a valid voice or textphone number and we will set up an account for you.
If you forget your password email technology@rnid.org.uk with your username and registered phone number.
Back to top of pageYes, TalkByText Web Edition is developed and tested on Firefox. We try to make it work on other web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, as well.
Yes, the security certificate will be updated at some point, but it is safe to use the service now.
The main part of the website uses secure communications. The text of your calls is not encrypted and so you should generally only regard these as being as secure as email.
TalkByText Web Edition will only send messages of up to 160 characters and will not send anything over this length. We are aware the interface needs to change to help you and are working on this at the moment.
Yes, you should click to display all items on the page.
To change the default font sizes for page elements in Safari use the EDIT dropdown menu, and choose PREFERENCES. Then in the dialog choose APPEARANCE. You should now see options allowing you to edit the default fonts. Changing the FIXED-WIDTH font settings will change the font in the TalkByText text-entry field.
Back to top of pageThe service was developed in-house and paid for by RNID's Technology department.
Email any comments or feedback to technology@rnid.org.uk
TalkByText Web Edition should work on any system that supports HTML and Javascript in the browser.