Relay Services
Overview
Contributions by GoAmerica and Hands On
Filed by GoAmerica, Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the
Securities Act of 1933 and deemed filed pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: GoAmerica, Inc.
Commission File No.: 0-29359
What are
Telecommunications
Relay Services?
Telecommunications Relay Services
provide people who are deaf or hard of
hearing with access to the public telephone
network; making their use of the system
“functionally equivalent” to the way a hearing
person uses the telephone network.
Relay Services Overview
1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Modified Communications Act of 1934 to include a requirement that the
FCC ensure telecommunications relay services are available to people
who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired.
Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) fund was established to
reimburse service providers for their costs to provide such a service;
fund is administered by the National Exchange Carriers Association
(NECA).
Historically, contracts were awarded on a state-by-state basis; recent
Internet based services remove the barriers to state-by-state
competition and enables providers to offer services anywhere.
Types of Relay Services
1. Traditional Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) dial-up using a
TTY or other similar device
2. Captioned Telephone (Captel)
3. Internet Protocol Relay (IP Relay)
4. Speech-to-Speech Relay (STS)
5. Video Relay Service (VRS)
Relay Service Providers
Sorenson
Sprint
Nordia
MCI
Kansas State Relay
Hands On
Hamilton Relay
GoAmerica
CapTel
Communications
Access Center
AT&T
Video Relay
Service
Interstate
Speech-to-Speech
Internet
Relay
Interstate
CapTel
Interstate Relay
(Dial Up)
HOVRS.com
As of February 2006.
Before Relay: Dial-up TTY Only
Common “phone” interactions were challenging:
Deaf Person
Hearing Person
T
V
Making a doctor’s appointment
Ordering pizza
Calling the DMV
Making a dinner reservation
…
Text
Voice
Deaf Person
Hearing Person
Internet & Video Relay Span This Chasm
C
Communications Assistant (“CA") for
Internet Relay or Video Interpreter (“VI”)
for Video Relay
Technology
Technology + Live Person Translating the Call
T
V
Text
Voice
Visits www.i711.com,
types number to dial.
Receives request and
dials the phone number.
Process
Answers phone and
listens to intro. (opt.)
Reads spoken word as
text. Responds to
hearing person with text.
Types what is spoken by the
hearing party. Speaks what is
typed by the deaf caller.
Speaks directly to
deaf caller.
Internet Connection
Phone Connection
Deaf Person
Hearing Person
Communications
Assistant
Who
Conversation Flow:
Internet Relay
Internet Connection
Phone Connection
1
3
2
Web-enabled PC or
wireless device
Terminal and
voice phone
A voice phone
Equip.
Flow
Text Communication
Text and Voice
Voice Communication
Deaf Person
Hearing Person
Video
Interpreter
Who
Internet Connection
Phone Connection
Visits www.hovrs.com,
types number to dial.
Receives request and
dials the phone number.
Process
Answers phone and
listens to intro. (opt.)
Observes sign language
interpretation. Responds
to hearing person with
sign language.
Signs what is spoken by the
hearing party. Speaks what is
signed by the deaf caller.
Speaks directly to
deaf caller.
Internet Connection
Phone Connection
Conversation Flow:
Video Relay
Web-enabled PC or TV,
Web Cam or Videophone
Terminal with a video
and voice phone
A voice phone
Equip.
Flow
Sign Communication
Sign and Voice
Voice Communication
1
3
2
Internet Relay Usage Trends
Industry-wide, U. S. Market
Since 2002; 74%
compound annual
growth rate.
Video Relay Usage Trends
Industry-wide, U. S. Market
Since 2002; 155%
compound annual
growth rate.
Internet Relay Usage Geography
Video Relay Usage Geography
Deaf or Hard of Hearing Consumers
Free access to web site
Free call
Free long-distance
Interstate
Telecom.
Providers
(Nearly 900 nationwide)
Telecommunication
s Relay Service
Fund (FCC)
Relay
Companies
Contribution
Five Steps to Revenue
`
Call Reimbursement Process
Billed for
minutes used
Relay usage
minutes
Relay Users
Relay Web Sites
i711.com • AT&T • MCI • Sprint
HOVRS • Sorenson • Hamilton
Calls
1
1
1
1.
Participants include: Deaf or hard of hearing Relay Users, Relay Companies
and Interstate Telecommunications Providers.
Interstate
Telecom.
Providers
(Nearly 900 nationwide)
Telecommunication
s Relay Service
Fund (FCC)
Relay
Companies
Contribution
Five Steps to Revenue
`
Call Reimbursement Process
Billed for
minutes used
Relay usage
minutes
Relay Users
Relay Web Sites
i711.com • AT&T • MCI • Sprint
HOVRS • Sorenson • Hamilton
Calls
2
2. Interstate Telecommunications Providers make contributions into the
Telecommunications Relay Service Fund.
Interstate
Telecom.
Providers
(Nearly 900 nationwide)
Telecommunication
s Relay Service
Fund (FCC)
Relay
Companies
Contribution
Five Steps to Revenue
`
Call Reimbursement Process
Billed for
minutes used
Relay usage
minutes
Relay Users
Relay Web Sites
i711.com • AT&T • MCI • Sprint
HOVRS • Sorenson • Hamilton
Calls
3
3. Relay Users visit Relay Web Sites and make calls, using VRS or IP relay,
and generate relay usage minutes.
3
Interstate
Telecom.
Providers
(Nearly 900 nationwide)
Telecommunication
s Relay Service
Fund (FCC)
Relay
Companies
Contribution
Five Steps to Revenue
`
Call Reimbursement Process
Billed for
minutes used
Relay usage
minutes
Relay Users
Relay Web Sites
i711.com • AT&T • MCI • Sprint
HOVRS • Sorenson • Hamilton
Calls
4
4. Relay Companies bill the Telecommunications Relay Service Fund for the
costs to provide the relay usage minutes.
Interstate
Telecom.
Providers
(Nearly 900 nationwide)
Telecommunication
s Relay Service
Fund (FCC)
Relay
Companies
Contribution
Five Steps to Revenue
`
Call Reimbursement Process
Billed for
minutes used
Relay usage
minutes
Relay Users
Relay Web Sites
i711.com • AT&T • MCI • Sprint
HOVRS • Sorenson • Hamilton
Calls
5
5. The National Exchange Carriers Association (NECA) reimburses the Relay
Companies for the billed relay usage minutes from the fund.
Interstate
Telecom.
Providers
(Nearly 900 nationwide)
Telecommunication
s Relay Service
Fund (FCC)
Relay
Companies
Contribution
Five Steps to Revenue
`
Call Reimbursement Process
Billed for
minutes used
Relay usage
minutes
Relay Users
Relay Web Sites
i711.com • AT&T • MCI • Sprint
HOVRS • Sorenson • Hamilton
Calls
Current reimbursement rates are $6.64 per minute for VRS and $1.27 per minute
for Internet Relay.
Product Mix of Merged Company
Assuming shareholder approval of the GoAmerica – Hands On merger, at
closing, the company will have the following products and services in its
portfolio.
Merger Contributions
GoAmerica
Wireless relay and subscription services
Internet relay services
Wireless devices and prepaid services
Hands On
Video relay services
Community interpreting services
Excellent reputation for quality and innovation
Depth of experience in the Deaf market
Forward Looking and Non-Solicitation Statements
Forward Looking Statement:
The statements contained in this material that are not based on historical fact (particularly those concerning what we hope to achieve by
the merger with Hands On) are "forward-looking statements" that are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as
"may", "will", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue", or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of those terms. Such
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to those of GoAmerica including: (i) our limited
operating history; (ii) our ability to successfully manage our strategic alliance with EarthLink; (iii) our dependence on EarthLink to provide
billing, customer and technical support to certain of our subscribers; (iv) our ability to respond to the rapid technological change of the
wireless data industry and offer new services; (v) our dependence on wireless carrier networks; (vi) our ability to respond to increased
competition in the wireless data industry; (vii) our ability to integrate acquired businesses and technologies, including Hands On (if the
merger is closed); (viii) our ability to generate revenue growth; (ix) our ability to increase or maintain gross margins, profitability, liquidity
and capital resources; and (x) difficulties inherent in predicting the outcome of regulatory processes . Such risks and others are more fully
described in the Risk Factors set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our actual results could differ
materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. GoAmerica is not obligated to update and does
not undertake to update any of its forward looking statements made in this presentation. Each reference in this presentation to
“GoAmerica”, the “Company” or “We”, or any variation thereof, is a reference to GoAmerica, Inc. and its subsidiaries. “GoAmerica” and
“WyndTell” are registered trademarks of GoAmerica. “i711”, “i711.com”, and “Clear Mobile” are trademarks, and “Relay and Beyond” is a
service mark of GoAmerica. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Non Solicitation Statement:
GoAmerica, Inc. has to filed a Registration Statement on SEC Form S-4 in connection with the merger with Hands On and the parties
have mailed a Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to their shareholders containing information about the merger. INVESTORS AND
SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
CAREFULLY. THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT GOAMERICA, HANDS ON, THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders are able
to obtain free copies of these documents through the web site maintained by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at
http//www.sec.gov. In addition to the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, GoAmerica files annual,
quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and
copy any reports, statements and other information filed by GoAmerica at the SEC public reference facilities at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 or at the SEC’s other public reference facilities. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information
on public reference facilities. GoAmerica’s filings with the SEC also are available to the public at the web site maintained by the SEC at
http//www.sec.gov. GoAmerica, its directors, executive officers, and certain members of management and employees may be soliciting
proxies from GoAmerica’s shareholders to authorize the issuance of the shares of GoAmerica common stock issuable pursuant to the
merger agreement. A description of any interests that Hands On’s directors and executive officers, or that GoAmerica’s directors and
executive officers, have in the merger will be available in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. These materials do not constitute an offer of
any securities for sale.
End of presentation.