Which cell phone in Canada have hearing aid compatibities?

Beside microphone volume, and sound clarity, radio frequency interference from the cellular phone with hearing aids is a huge obstacle for hearing aid users.

Some cell phone create a magnetic field that can be coupled with a telecoil-equipped hearing aid while some other fails. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) has mandated that cell phones have to test for hearing aid compatibilities and report microphone ( M ) rating and the telecoil coupling ( T or t - coil ) rating. The scale for hearing aid compatibility ranges from one to four providing four possibilities: shaky ( M1 or T1 ), fair ( M2 or T2 ), good ( M3 or T3 ), and excellent ( M4 or T4 ). Canada does not have this regulation.

In preparation to get myself a new cellular phone, to replace the one that I lost, I asked telus, who still carries my contract, for a list of dealer who have workable demo. So I can go and test them with my hearing aids before spenting money. The link of dealer that the representative sent me was not accompanied with information of which dealers have workable demo. I went to dealers and they have dummy phone only. As a person with hearing impairment, I have difficulty phoning the dealers one by one to ask if they have workable demo. Plus, I am not allowed to "test" the phone without actually buying the phone, which is very inconsiderate.

I did some internet research and find that both motorola krzr and BlackBerry(r) Pearl(tm) Flip 8230 smartphone have hearing aid compatibility (HAC) of M3, which is great.

However, the dealer was unheard of this terminology.

Due to the bad experience with cell phones, I was not willing to commit more of my money before having trials on them. Therefore, I chose Motorola krzr, which is a "pay and talk" phone on sale. However, I would like to make use of the text-based communication (email, messaging) which is offered by BlackBerry(r) Pearl(tm) Flip 8230, and are much more useful for me, if I can have trial on them first before being committed for another 3-year contract.

Oh, there are some links I found from my internet research.

Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Page on how to buy hearing aid compatible phone

http://widhh.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-buy-hearing-aid-compatible.html

Motorola's page on HEARING AID COMPATIBILITY

http://direct.motorola.com/ens/accessibility/Hearingaid.html

Experience No Interference by Using Hearing Aid Compatible Cell Phones

http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/experience-no-interference-by-using-hearing-aid-compatible-cell-phones-514101.html

Hearing loss group complains to FCC about iPhone:
They want Apple to make it usable for those with hearing aids

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9037999

iPhone and M3/M4 hearing-aid compatibility?

http://theappleblog.com/2007/02/26/iphone-and-m3m4-hearing-aid-compatibility/

I strongly suggest that Telus mobility put a summary page on their web site about hearing aid compatibility (HAC) on their line of phone. Since they are one of the two CDMA providers in Canada, hearing-aid users turn to CDMS providers for their portable communication needs. (Yes, GSM providers are rule out, because of the interference of the phones with hearing aids). Please be considerate for hearing aids user. They are a growing consumer population and willing to spend money on accessories to make their phone works for them. People who posted on the above website have buy bluetooth device, conducing neckloops, captioning service, and visual voicemail. By introducing hearing aid compatible phone and making their informationeasier to find, the business of Telus or Bell business will expand despite the depression.