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Accessibility

Access to information is important to people of all abilities. BlackBerry® smartphones, enable customers with and without disabilities to stay in touch with information, colleagues and friends while on the go.

Overview

Stay connected with the following features:

Google TalkBack –– Access core applications without relying on visual cues. The TalkBack Screen Reader provides audible output of the visual information displayed on your screen.

Magnification and Adjustable Font Size – Zoom in or zoom out to increase or decrease the display magnification. Personalize your font settings to small, medium, large or huge.

Text Features –  Personalize how text is displayed on your screen with high contrast text, colour inversion and colour correction options. 

Captions – Enjoy closed or open captioned multimedia content. Personalize your closed caption settings by adjusting character size, colour, opacity or font.

BlackBerry Messenger – No matter who you’re chatting with, BBM® is designed to quickly get your messages to where they’re going. With BBM, you’ll know when your message has been delivered and read. Easily switch your BBM text to a BBM® Voice or BBM® Video conversation.1

Alerts and Notifications – Customize alerts and notifications using tone, vibration and onscreen alerts. Know who is calling you without needing to look at the screen on your smartphone by assigning unique ringtones to your contacts.

BlackBerry Keyboard and Typing Options – Type more efficiently with contextual autocorrection, next-word prediction, and a personalized learning engine that gets to know the way you type.

Google Now – Perform a variety of actions and tasks with your voice. Use Google Now to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions.

1Data plan required. Check with your service provider for pricing details.

 

Hearing and Speech

BlackBerry Messenger – No matter who you’re talking to, BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) is designed to get your messages to where they’re going in no time. With BBM, you’ll know exactly when your message has been delivered and read1.

BBM™ Video – Use the front-facing camera for face-to-face video chat with BBM Video.1

Hearing aid compatibility – Certain models are rated for use with hearing aids.

View ratings

Learn about ratings for hearing aids (PDF)

Google Hangouts – Use Hangouts to send messages, make a voice call, start a video call or share photos.1

Text Messaging (SMS and MMS) – Communicate on the go with contacts who are using phones or other mobile devices that support SMS and/or MMS2.

Visual, Audible and Vibration Notifications – Receive notifications of incoming phone calls, text messages, emails and more by visual, audible and/or vibrating alerts.

Closed Captioning – Enjoy closed or open captioned multimedia content. Personalize your closed caption settings by adjusting character size, color, opacity or font.

Teletypewriter (TTY) Support – Connect your BlackBerry smartphone to a TTY device to make and receive calls from TTY devices.

1 Data plan required. Check with your service provider for pricing and details.
2 Check with your service provider for availability, roaming arrangements and service plans.

 

Vision

Google TalkBack – Access core applications without relying on visual cues. The TalkBack Screen Reader provides audible output of the visual information displayed on your screen.

BrailleBack – Connect a supported braille display via Bluetooth to navigate and interact with your device using the keys on the display. BrailleBack works with TalkBack to provide a combined speech and braille experience.

Magnification – Zoom in or zoom out to increase or decrease the display magnification.

Text Features – Personalize how text is displayed on your screen with high contrast text, colour inversion and colour correction options. 

Large Text and Adjustable Font Size – Personalize your font size settings to small, medium, large, or huge.

Google Now – Perform a variety of actions and tasks with your voice. Use Google Now to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions.

BlackBerry Keyboard – Type more efficiently with contextual auto-correction, next-word prediction, and a personalized learning engine that gets to know the way you type.

Customizable Display – Customize your display with adaptive brightness and colour adjust. 

Alerts and Notifications – Receive notifications of incoming calls, text messages, emails and more using tone, vibrate or on-screen alerts.

Key tone – Hear a confirming audio tone every time you press a key on your smartphone.

Event Sounds – Know when your smartphone battery is low or fully charged, and when physically connected to accessories without needing to look at your device screen through nonspeech audio alerts.

Assignable Ringtones – Know who is calling you or sending you an email without needing to look at the screen on your smartphone by assigning unique ringtones to your Contacts.

Speed dial – Add a number to your speed dial list to call your contacts with fewer keystrokes.

Built-In Speakerphone – Perfect for hands-free calls and convenient conference calls.

 

Mobility

BlackBerry Keyboard and Typing Options – Type more efficiently with contextual autocorrection, next-word prediction, and a personalized learning engine that gets to know the way you type. Your device gives you the option of using the touch screen keyboard or the slide-out touch keyboard with tactilely discernible keys.

Word Substitution – Replace specific text with preloaded text using Word Substitution to simplify typing and minimize the number of keystrokes required to write a message.

Google Now – Perform a variety of actions and tasks with your voice. Use Google Now to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions.

Nonslip surfaces – Hold your smartphone comfortably and with less effort.

Hands-free options – Use the integrated hands-free speakerphone, or connect your smartphone to a hands-free headset or Bluetooth headset.

Speed dial – Add a number to your speed dial list to call your contacts with fewer keystrokes.

Switch Access – Navigate screens on your device using external switches.

Alerts and notifications – Receive notifications of incoming calls, text messages, emails and more using tone, vibrate or on-screen alerts.

 

Cognitive

Google Now – Perform a variety of actions and tasks with your voice. Use Google Now to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions.

Alerts and notifications – Customize alerts and notifications using tone, vibration and onscreen alerts. 

BlackBerry Keyboard and Typing Options – Type more efficiently with contextual autocorrection, next-word prediction, and a personalized learning engine that gets to know the way you type.

Spellcheck – Automatically check the spelling of your text and email messages.

Assignable Ringtone – Know who is calling you or sending you an email without needing to look at the screen on your smartphone by assigning unique ringtones to your Contacts.

 

Speech

Push-delivery Technology – Text-based messages are delivered automatically to your smartphone and you can be notified as soon as they arrive.

Text Messaging (SMS and MMS) – Communicate on the go with contacts who are using phones or other mobile devices that support SMS and/or MMS1.

Instant Messaging – Take your instant messaging with you no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

Visual, Audible and Vibration Notifications – Receive notifications of incoming phone calls, text messages, emails and more in visual, audible and/or vibrating alerts.

1 Check with your service provider for availability, roaming arrangements and service plans. Certain features outlined herein require a minimum version of BlackBerry device software.

 

Learn more at support.google.com/accessibility/android

 

Learn more about BlackBerry 10 accessibility solutions:

Get the PDF 

To request a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) for BlackBerry software offerings or BlackBerry device software please contact accessibility@blackberry.com

BlackBerry Accessibility Developer Resources

BlackBerry Accessibility Developer Guide 

More Information

Alternative documentation formats will be provided upon request at no additional charge. Send request(s) to
accessibility@blackberry.com.