Jerusalem - An Israeli telecommunications firm has developed a telephone to help deaf people who can lip-read, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot reported on Tuesday.

A flashing light signals incoming calls. The device's owner can lip-read the conversation, in real time, on an animated face that pops up on an attached screen, the newspaper said.

The device and software took four years and millions of dollars to put together.

It will be available soon in stores at a cost of $200 (about R1 500). - Sapa-AFP