Babel Increases Language Options for BrightSpeech TTS Engine

MONS, BELGIUM - Babel Technologies S.A, a developer of speech processing technologies, announced version 1.2 of BrightSpeech, its Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology. Babel has also announced the commercial availability of the Belgian Dutch language version of this synthetic speech engine. BrightSpeech is a TTS-system based on Unit Selection technology. The Windows-based solution is suited for integration of speech in telecommunication servers and multimedia-solutions like voice portals, IVR-systems, unified messaging (including e-mail reading), educational software and interactive kiosks. The software is now available in Dutch (B), French, German, Spanish, Swedish and US English. Babel is increasing development efforts to progressively cover all 18 languages it currently supports for its current and established TTS solution, Babil. The latest version of BrightSpeech now includes new functions to enable software developers to integrate speech much faster and more efficiently. These new functions include: a Voice Manager to personalize voices; the Equalizer and Speed Tag support now allows online control, and the Spelling mode (of considerable importance for the Rehabilitation and Educational sector). BrightSpeech Version 1.2 also features a new edition of the Natural Language Processor (NLP) for the current set of languages and supports larger dictionaries. Vincent Fontaine, CEO of Babel Technologies commented: "We have enjoyed extremely positive feedback from the international market on BrightSpeech's quality. The Belgian Dutch language addition now enables Babel to offer a more complete offering for local and international markets." Fontaine added: "This new version confirms the leadership position of this new approach towards synthetic speech for its naturalness and superb voice quality. Our development team placed a great deal of emphasis on the intonation-module, which has significantly improved the intelligibility and listening comfort of the speech output We invite everyone to visit our website and let this product speak for itself!" The full range of languages which BrightSpeech supports is as follows: US English, UK English, Spanish, German, French, Dutch (B&NL), Italian, Portuguese, (P & Br), Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Turkish, Czech and Arabic. BrightSpeech is fully compatible with the existing range of Babil TTS solutions and developers can easily migrate to this new technology. Babel Technologies will continue to develop and adapt BrightSpeech to deliver the same human voice quality for RISC-platforms, like StrongARM, SH3, SH4 en MIPS. Here, the software will mainly be used for applications in the automotive and mobile devices sector.