SandCherry Offers Web Services Interfaces

BOULDER, CO - Building on its SoftServer 2.3 platform designed for the mass deployment of enhanced services, SandCherry Inc. announced SoftServer Version 2.4 which adds Java and Web Services APIs to increase the accessibility of speech for Web applications and offer more robust multimodal application support. SandCherry's SoftServer solution allows service providers and enterprises to mass-deploy next-generation services such as voice dialing, voice-enabled customer service applications and multimodality by leveraging a distributed, open, software-based platform as an alternative to expensive, cumbersome and rigid hardware-centric or vertically integrated software solutions. Expanding the reach of the SoftServer 2.3 platform, version 2.4 extends these capabilities - previously available to VXML users - by offering Java APIs that service resource requests directly from Java and XML applications. "While the SoftServer 2.3 platform provides ideal support for the VXML community, there are more than 3.5 million developers in the Microsoft Developers Network and more than 2.5 million Java developers worldwide that don't all prefer VXML," noted Dale Hartzell, SandCherry marketing vice president. "To foster speech solutions on a mass scale, we are empowering the larger community of Web application developers to extend their applications to mobile users by giving them direct access to a variety of resources." Support for Java and XML Users To bring speech to Java and XML applications on a variety of Service Delivery platforms, the SoftServer 2.4 solution incorporates the Java Advanced Intelligent Network (JAIN) API and a Java Speech API (JSAPI). The JAIN API extends call and media routing control to external service platforms, while the JSAPI provides direct media control for functions such as speech recognition control, prompt playing, and text-to-speech output. Service Delivery platforms that can utilize these APIs include SS7/C7 AIN platforms, messaging platforms, conference bridges, IVR systems and other application platforms. Broader Multimodal Applications Creating more robust support for multimodal applications, the SoftServer 2.4 platform supports optional Multimodal Gateway™ software. Multimodal devices and platforms can interact with the SoftServer platform using a SOAP-based Web Services interface to access SALT, VXML, speech recognition, TTS and prompting resources controlled by the system. Additional SoftServer 2.4 Benefits ·Lower-cost Deployment: Leverages existing components and software rather than requiring a completely new hardware system. ·Faster Service Rollout: Simplifies application component plug-and-play. ·Carrier-class Performance: Easily configured for large, high-availability carrier applications or small enterprise applications. ·Single-platform Solution: Supports multiple applications on a single platform. ·Full-service Support: Supports a range of IVR and voice-enabled services in addition to more robust multimodal support. ·Future Adaptability: Scalable and flexible to adopt future hardware and software components that will offer additional service enhancements.