Phone

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Sean Belanger reached into his pocket to show his audience a glimpse of the future.

It was January 2007. The leader of a fledgling telecommunications company run by and for deaf people, he was making a speech to the local deaf community. An interpreter at his side repeated his words in sign language.

The CEO took his BlackBerry out of his pocket and hoisted it in the air. He promised to bring a luxury to the deaf that hearing folks take for granted -- the ability to make a phone call wherever, whenever.