The company, through its HomeFone brand, has begun marketing and selling an exciting new range of sophisticated, high tech and feature-rich phones through their Communications Stores in Montego Bay, New Kingston and Spanish Town.

The range includes instruments specially designed for visually and hearing impaired customers.  The instruments for the visually impaired feature larger-than-normal keys on the dial pad.  Keys also render digits in Braille with special speed dial buttons for the Police and emergency services.  Instruments for the hearing impaired allow for the attachment of hearing aides and extra loud volume controls.

Some sets in the new range of fixed line instruments also come with polyphonic ring tones and hands -free speakers.  The range of phones also includes high-end portable instruments which function so far from their base station as to render them virtually mobile, while allowing for as many as ten wireless extensions and privacy safeguards.

Evan Garricks, Cable & Wireless' Senior Vice President for Residential Services says the introduction of these handsets will add new dimensions to the fixed line market, and is in keeping with renewed consumer interest in the service and the current wave of advertising.

Cable & Wireless withdrew from the provision of fixed line handsets in June 2000 as part of a wider rationalization effort to enhance efficiencies in service delivery, streamline costs and create opportunities for retailers to enter this segment of the business, and in preparation for subsequent liberalization of the industry.

'The leading edge technology and the feature rich nature of the phones reinforces our commitment to pleasing all our customers, by helping to ensure that they are able to keep in touch with style and convenience', Garricks added.

The new handsets range in price from J$1200.00 to J$14,500.00. In due course, the units will also be sold through Cable & Wireless-affiliated Full Service Centres and Authorized Dealers.