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IP Relay in Canada - user guide

Important

Skype for Business Online operated by 21Vianet in China will be retired on October 1, 2023. If you haven't upgraded your Skype for Business Online users yet, they will be automatically scheduled for an assisted upgrade. If you want to upgrade your organization to Teams yourself, we strongly recommend that you begin planning your upgrade path today. Remember that a successful upgrade aligns technical and user readiness, so be sure to leverage our upgrade guidance as you navigate your journey to Teams.

Skype for Business Online, excluding the service operated by 21Vianet in China, was retired on July 31, 2021.

Description of the IP Message Relay service from Microsoft:

Scenario A

If a hearing- or voice-impaired person wishes to contact a nonimpaired individual, they "chat" via a special web-based client to an agent called a Call Taker.

The Call Taker then communicates with the hearing- or voice-impaired person via the chat session and contacts the nonimpaired person through the telephone network anywhere in Canada or the United States, as required.

Scenario B

If a nonimpaired person wishes to talk to a registered hearing- or voice-impaired user, they call the toll-free number as provided by Microsoft.

The Call Taker then communicates with the nonimpaired person and contacts the hearing- or voice-impaired person via chat and communicates back and forth.

Should the hearing- or voice-impaired person are not online in the chat program, if an email address is available the Call Taker sends an email to the hearing- or voice-impaired person, if requested by the caller.

Scenario C

If an hearing- or voice-impaired person requires emergency assistance, they might select the appropriate button: 911 – Police / 911 – Fire / 911 – Ambulance.

This will send an emergency notification to the Northern IP Relay operators, who will then access the 911 account designed for this purpose. Once the Call Taker has confirmed his or her address, they'll contact the appropriate PSAP and stay on the line for as long as required.

How to place a Text chat to Voice call

https://aka.ms/IPRelay

To initiate a text to voice call, go to the above URL and sign in with your IP Message Relay Username and Password.

Once logged in, you'll see instructions displayed on the left side of your screen.

How to make a Text to Voice call:

  1. In the lower-right corner of screen, select Chat.
  2. Select the IPRelay user.
  3. In the bottom of the new box that pops up, type your message.

How to receive a Voice to Text call:

  • Voice users need to know your IP Message Relay Username in order to place a voice to text call.
  • Voice users can call (866) 660-8613 to connect with an IP Message Relay operator.
  • You must be logged in to the IP Message Relay portal to receive calls or chats.

How to place a 911 call:

If you experience an emergency, you may select the appropriate emergency button located at the bottom of your screen.

Emergency buttons.

The IP Message Relay Operator will contact 911, confirm your address, and translate with various emergency centers until he or she's no longer required, and the appropriate department has been dispatched to your location.

Warning

Please do not test this service, as the appropriate agency will be contacted and possibly dispatched even if you indicate it is simply a test, and you may be charged a false dispatch fee from the emergency agency.

Customer Support:

Contact Special Projects at specialprojects@northern911.com or (705) 222-1733.

Important

Northern911 manages the IP relay service on behalf of Microsoft.

IP Relay in Canada - sign up