Sprint today announced the availability of Wireless CapTel by Sprint powered by Raketu, an application on select Android phones that improves device accessibility for the hard-of-hearing.

CapTel allows users to read conversations with real-time word-for-word captions on their wireless phones. Users can place a call in the same way they would when using a traditional phone – by dialing the number directly on the device. The application then connects callers directly to the CapTel service when the phone is dialed. When the receiving party answers, callers can listen to what the other person is saying and also read captions on the phone’s display screen.

The application can be downloaded on select Android 2.2 or higher devices from the Android Market for free.

Wireless CapTel calls are automatically routed through a captioning service. Users give friends, family and other contacts their specialized Wireless CapTel phone number to receive captions on every call.

Sprint also recently announced the Relay ID pack, a bundle of applications, links, tips, icons and widgets aimed at those with hearing loss. The bundle includes voice mail transcripts, visual and vibrating alerts and readable captions, which come packed in a single download.