Virginia-based RAZ Mobility released a 3G mobile phone for people with disabilities

Vienna, Va.-based RAZ Mobility recently released the Lucia phone, an unlocked 3G mobile phone designed to assist people who are blind, have low vision or are hard of hearing.

The #accessible Lucia mobile phone for individuals with impaired vision is now available! Features such as tactile buttons & Voice guide address the unique needs of people who are #blind, low vision or hard of hearing.#accessibility #AssistiveTech https://t.co/urtSqAciU2 pic.twitter.com/WmnfNnzz33

— RAZ Mobility (@RazMobility) May 22, 2019

Launched in 2015, the startup provides mobile assistive tech for people with disabilities. RAZ Mobility said in a news release that someone who is completely blind can fully and effectively access the Lucia phone. The device also features tactile buttons in different colors and shapes, a large, high contrast display with enlarged text, an audio amplification button, an ergonomic design and an SOS button. Lucia also has a voice guide available in 12 languages, including English and Spanish.

“These features offer individuals with vision loss the ability to access every function of the phone with unparalleled ease. Lucia is perfect for seniors, such as blind veterans, and others who want accessibility combined with simplicity,” Robert Felgar, CEO of RAZ Mobility said in a statement.

RAZ Mobility partnered with the Swiss Lucia phone manufacturer to offer this solution to customers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The company reported that the Lucia phone has been tested and confirmed to work on U.S. mobile providers such as AT&T and T-Mobile, and is compatible with some Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) networks including, Cricket Wireless, Red Pocket Mobile, Straight Talk and Metro by T-Mobile. The unlocked 3G Lucia phone is already available for purchase but the company said it will be releasing an unlocked 4G Lucia phone in the future.

“As a provider of advanced mobile assistive technology we realized that there was no easy-to-use mobile phone available for individuals who are blind or low vision. In its 2018 report to Congress on accessibility, the Federal Communications Commission similarly concluded that there has been ‘little, if any, progress’ with respect to the ‘accessibility of non-smartphones.’ The Lucia phone is designed to fill this gap.”  Nermin Selimic, COO at RAZ Mobility said in the news release. “In addition to consumers, many mobile providers worldwide have expressed interest in offering an accessible basic mobile phone to their customers.”

RAZ Mobility sells directly to customers but is targeting the Department of Veterans Affairs, state government agencies, wireless providers and nonprofit organizations for sales of Lucia.

This editorial article is a part of Technical.ly's Accessibility month of our editorial calendar.