OSS, NETHERLANDS and GENEVA, SWITZERLAND -1 February 2010: The Real-Time Text Taskforce (R3TF) today announced the establishment of an independent, open forum and centre of excellence where engineers, experts, motivated individuals, companies and organisations can work together to advance the adoption of Real-Time Text (RTT), a character-by-character streaming technology that provides immediacy for text-based communications, similar to what the telephone service provides for voice.

Arnoud van Wijk, Director of the R3TF stated: “With mature standards in place, it is time to implement and use RTT so that everybody can use it to communicate with each other in a more direct conversational way using text, regardless if you are a person with a hearing or speech disability or able to use voice. I am also excited to see the many new services that are possible with RTT.”

As part of its Enabling Access Initiative, the Internet Society (ISOC) served as an incubator for the R3TF by providing coordination assistance, technical expertise and implementation support during the early stages of its development. The success and interest generated in the volunteer project led participants to develop the R3TF as an independent organisation.

Karen Rose, Director Access and Development Initiatives of ISOC said: “We’re extremely pleased that the Real Time Text Taskforce is building on the success of its work over the past few years to develop the foundation for these new services. Real Time Text is a wonderful example of the open Internet’s ability to provide a platform for new, innovative capabilities.”

Building on established Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards, Real Time Text provides character-by-character streaming, enabling an immediacy not available with other text-based services such as SMS and Instant Messaging. This is especially important for people with a hearing or speech impairment, replicating the abilities telephone service provides for voice communication. The Real Time Text feature can be included in a call together with other media, such as video and audio, to create Total Conversation and other services with enhanced usability. It can also be used in situations where voice may not be appropriate such as meetings or noisy environments. The R3TF will focus on:

*       Guiding and advising on implementations of Real-Time Text (RTT)
*       Promoting interoperability of different RTT systems and services, and
*       Expanding awareness of RTT among industry, organizations, end-users and governments.

For more information, see: http://RealTimeText.org

About Real Time Text Task Force (R3TF)
The Real-Time Text Taskforce (R3TF) is an open forum and centre of excellence where engineers, experts, motivated individuals, companies and organisations work together and educate each to advance the wide spread adoption of Real-Time Text (RTT). More information is available at http://RealTimeText.org

About Internet Society
The Internet Society (ISOC) is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 to provide leadership in Internet related standards, education, and policy. ISOC is the organizational home of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet’s premier technical standards body. With offices in Washington, D.C., and Geneva, Switzerland, it is dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of people throughout the world. For more information see http://InternetSociety.org

Media Contacts
Arnoud van Wijk
R3TF
arnoud@realtimetext.org

Greg Wood
Internet Society
wood@isoc.org
+1-703-439-2145