VIDA Software Releases Native C++ and Java Natural Interaction API's for Symbian OSTM

BARCELONA - Vida Software released Native C++ Natural Interaction API and the Java Natural Interaction API for Symbian OS™.

The new APIs enable advanced multimodal application development for Symbian OS. The APIs are available for all Symbian smartphones and are applicable to activities ranging from personal information management and corporate applications to gaming and entertainment.  VIDA's Natural Interaction technology allows the phone to recognize complex spoken instructions: ask the onboard computer of a 3D space game to scan for enemies using the radar, access your favorite mobile service by mentioning it, or download images or tones by asking for it by a singer's name or song title.

VIDA Software has been working in close co-operation with Symbian for several months to develop and market speech recognition solutions for Symbian OS licensees, corporate customers and mobile network operators.

The new Vida Natural Interaction APIs developed as part of the Symbian Catalyst Program, have already been tested in several trials by Vodafone and Amena. According to Jesús Mendez, Vodafone's devices and innovation director, "VIDA Software has proven to be a very innovative company with excellent ideas about how future mobile services must interact with the final user, improving the experience of this. Their work has fulfilled by far the expectations Vodafone Spain had for this technology."

Carlos Celaya, director of Auna Group's Innovation Center, said "the new VIDA Software APIs allow the development of Symbian OS applications which are easier for the end-user to access. VIDA's Natural Interaction technology allows us to maintain our position at the forefront of mobile application technology."

VIDA is also actively working with other mobile operators across Europe to provide similar enhancements to the user experience of mobile subscribers in other geographies. VIDA and Symbian continue to collaborate in developing and marketing wireless solutions for mobile operators and corporate customers globally.

VIDA will be displaying their Natural Interaction in the Symbian exhibition, hall 1, stand B11, at the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes from February 14-17, 2005.