What is CapTel?

Sprint Captioned Telephone Services

How CapTel Works

CapTel phones work with a free Captioning Service to provide captions of everything your callers say.

You dial the other person's number, exactly the same way as with any other telephone. While you dial, the CapTel phone automatically connects to the captioning service. When the other party answers, you hear everything they say, just like a traditional call. At the same time, the captioning service transcribes everything they say into captions, which appear on the CapTel display window. You hear what you can, and read what you need to.

What Equipment & Services are Needed?

CapTel Telephone
A special telephone with various phones displayed designed to work with the captioning service to display captions during your telephone calls. The phone does not, all by itself, translate spoken words into captions. It can also be used as a traditional telephone, without the captions feature.

CapTel Captioning Service
The captioning service transcribes the caller's spoken words into written captions, using voice-recognition technology. The captioning service is free to users, its cost is covered by the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) funds as part of Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Attention California CapTel Customers: As of October 28, 2010, it is the responsibility of the CapTel user to inform the other party that there is a captionist on the call. State CapTel users now see a brief text-only message at the start of each call reminding them of their legal responsibility. This text message says, “California law requires you to inform the other person(s) that there is an operator on the call.” (This message is not displayed on the CapTel 800i phone.)

Sprint Wireless CapTel is an Internet-based Relay service. Although this service can be used for emergency calling, such emergency calling may not function the same as traditional 911/E911 services. By using Wireless CapTel for emergency calling, you agree that Sprint is not responsible for any damages resulting from errors, defects, malfunctions, interruptions or failures in accessing or attempting to access emergency services through Wireless CapTel; whether caused by the negligence of Sprint or otherwise. Other restrictions apply. For details, see www.sprint800.com/. Coverage not available everywhere. Sprint 4G network reaches 70 markets and counting, on select devices. Sprint 3G network (including roaming), reaches over 282 million people. See sprint.com for details. ©2011 Sprint. Sprint and logos are trademarks of Sprint. CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. Other registration marks are the property of their respective owners.