106 Text Emergency Call, commonly known as simply 106,[1] is the Australian national emergency telephone number to be used in life-threatening or time critical situations[2] for those with a speech and / or hearing impairment who use telecommunications device for the deaf (textphone or teletypewriter (TTY)).[1][3][4] It is run by the emergency telephone operator for the National Relay Service (NRS);[1] formerly the Australian Communications Exchange (ACE), a non-profit organisation that provided the relay services component[5] for the NRS.[6] 106 can only be used by people with a TTY / textphone, or a computer with terminal software (TTY imitation software) and a modem. 106 calls are given priority over other calls handled by the National Relay Service.[1][2] 106 is a free-to-call number.[1][3]