Downloadable software that can read emails and Word documents aloud from mobile devices has been launched by the Irish company Magnetic Time.

The ‘MT1’ -- which has not been developed specifically for vision-impaired users but will definitely benefit them -- can be installed onto Personal Digital Assistants (P.D.A.s), some mobile phones and M.P.3 players, at a cost of 23 pounds (approximately 2,000 rupees). It is compatible with e-mail programmes Outlook and Outlook Express and operating systems Windows 2000 and Windows XP. However, while it can read emails aloud, including 'from,' 'to' and 'subject' lines, it is unable to read symbols or web addresses.

The company is set to release a version of MT1 compatible with Apple Macintosh computers, the 'MT Mac', and will translate the tool into several languages including French, Belgium Dutch and Swedish.

More details can be accessed online at www.magnetictime.com