Relay Texas Features

Voice Carry-Over (VCO) to TTY
The relay agent will type what VCO user say to the TTY user you are calling. The text that the TTY user types will go directly to your TTY or Voice Carry-Over phone. The use of "GA" is not needed for this type of call.

Voice Carry-Over (VCO) to Voice Carry-Over (VCO)
The relay agent will serve as the "ears" for both parties and types what you say and what your called party says. The use of "GA" is not needed for this type of call.

Hearing Carry-Over (HCO) to TTY
Hearing Carry-Over users can listen while the relay agent is reading the TTY users typed message. The Hearing Carry-Over user types his/her conversation directly to the TTY user.

Hearing Carry-Over (HCO) to Hearing Carry-Over (HCO)
Hearing Carry-Over users can contact other Hearing Carry-Over users through Relay Texas. The relay agent will voice to both parties what is typed on each user's TTY.

One-Line Answering Machine Retrieval (AMR)
One-Line answering machine retrieval allows Relay Texas users who have an answering machine in both TTY and voice to ask the agent to retrieve the voice portion of any message from the answering machine

Speech-to-Speech Voice Carry Over (VCO)
Relay Texas allows deaf and hard-of-hearing users to use their voice directly when calling through this feature. If the other hearing party does not understand Speech-to-Speech VCO user's voice, the relay agent will revoice the message after he/she is done speaking. Then the relay agent will type the voice user's dialogue to the Speech-to-Speech VCO user. A TTY is required for this call type.

900 Calls
900 calls require special billing and authorization since some people block such calls from being made from their phone. Relay users wishing to make a 900 must first call a 900 relay number to determine if their phone is blocked from making such calls. If a connection is made, the call will be handled like a regular relay call. Note: There is no charge to call the 900 relay number - 1-900-230-2303. However, there will be charges, directly to the caller, for any subsequent 900 calls made.

Spanish Translation
Relay Texas provides Spanish translation relay agents. The service will provide Spanish to Spanish as well as to Spanish to English translations. To directly connect to a Spanish Relay Agent, Relay users should dial 1-800-662-4954. Or, both hearing users and Relay users can dial 711 and indicate they need a Spanish interpreter. Dialing 711 first takes longer to connect to a Spanish interpreter than dialing direct to the Spanish Relay number.

International Calls
You may place and receive calls to and from anywhere in the world through Relay Texas. Calls originating from a country outside the U.S. can access Relay Texas by calling 1-605-224-1837.

Reduced Typing Speed
Relay users with impaired vision use special equipment and prefer slower typing speeds to read messages. During the call the agent sets the outgoing typing speed to 15 words per minute. Users can request an increase or decrease in the typing speed in 5 word increments.

Last Updated: 03/24/04