Audio CD bills: getting information in the format you want

In 1992 BT was one of the first utilities to offer bills in Braille or large print. Alternatively customers could opt for talking bills, where an adviser read out the main points of a customer's bill. Later BT gave its customers even more choice by providing the information supplied on a floppy disc that could be read by screen reading software loaded onto a PC.

There were two shortcomings in all these accessible formats; it wasn't possible to include total bill information in them and advances in technology meant that floppy discs were becoming less popular. Ultimately PCs were being produced without a floppy disk drive at all because CDs were the storage method of choice.

BT has a continuing commitment to ensure that all customers have the opportunity to enjoy life-enhancing communications despite age, disability or other situations that could exclude them so it took these problems and worked with MPH Group to provide a bespoke solution. MPH is a company that provides specialist professional services to help organisations provide disabled customers with equal physical and intellectual access to goods, services and facilities. The CD contains three formats; an audio CD file, an MP3 file and a text file. The CD can be played on CD and DVD players and PCs and the text file is compatible with screen reading audio software loaded onto a pc.

Liz Williams, head of BT Consumer Affairs and Inclusion said, "BT is determined to meet all customers' needs as far as is practical and technically possible. The audio CD bill sounds like a simple concept but translation into voice of a combination of phone numbers, charges and words for vision – impaired customers was a significant challenge. This has been overcome and we have many delighted trialists who are looking forward to using this service."

Alan Matthews, managing director of MPH Group, said, "What to some could appear as one of the least entertaining CDs of all time is an extremely welcome way fore visually impaired people to gain access to the kinds  of information others take for granted. As a visually-impaired person I know only too well the benefit of being able to access detailed information in a range of formats simply and quickly."