Message Technologies Adds Microsoft Speech Server to Hosting Options; Partners with Pronexus

Message Technologies added Microsoft Speech Server (MSS) and a Speech Application Language Tags (SALT) specification. Microsoft's business model for MSS allows MTI to offer flexible hosting options that help small and midsize speech application developers grow their businesses. MTI provides a per-minute hosting rate of 5 cents per minute for low-volume requirements as well as volume discounts as capacity requirements increase. The addition of Microsoft Speech Server to MTI's hosting solutions introduces new opportunities for .NET developers. Without a new programming language to adopt, .NET developers can create and update voice and telephony applications within Microsoft Visual Studio. Pronexus Inc. and Message Technologies Inc. have reached a reseller and hosting agreement. Message Technologies, Inc. (MTI) will resell Pronexus' VBSALT ä and offer hosting services for development, testing and production of VBSALT applications, all as part of the company's new Microsoft Speech Server initiative. VBSALT, a Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool for MSS 2004 R2, combines a graphical design interface for call flow and call control with voice user interface (VUI) development - critical ingredients for speech application success. Through the offering, MTI will provide customers with both a hosted test bed and a hosted production environment for supporting the MSS 2004 R2 platform and VBSALT runtime for end-customer applications. In addition, training for the VBSALT development tool, will be available through MTI. Developing, testing, and deploying speech-enabled IVR applications using VBSALT and MTI's hosted environment offers several benefits, including:

·          Hosting eliminates the need for infrastructure set-up, configuration and installation of telephony hardware and VBSALT software, since MSS 2004 R2 and the RAD tool have been pre-integrated by MTI.

·          MTI's hosted MSS 2004 R2 environment provides developers with capacity expansion. In addition, VBSALT's architecture (which allows independent IVRs to run on one machine), enables developers to deploy, modify or shut down IVRs, with no impact to other applications.

·          VBSALT and MTI's hosting environment enable organizations to design, develop, and test your IVR speech application in a real-world environment before committing to full-fledged deployment.

  VBSALT will be fully available from MTI as of August 1.