Nuance, ZTE Team Up on Portfolio of Voice-Enabled Devices
Nuance and ZTE announced a multiyear deal in which Nuance's voice capabilities will be integrated as part of a new portfolio of ZTE Android devices worldwide, including ZTE's New Car Mode App.
Car Mode integrates Nuance's voice capabilities that lets users speak without bringing additional manual-visual distractions into the car. Using Nuance's grade voice technology, ZTE's Car Mode application is embedded within the device to provide users with hands-free, eyes-free access to the phone functions that are used the most while driving, such as making phone calls, reading text messages, and accessing music, with no network or data connection required.
Users can engage Car Mode with a hands-free wake-up word, and the app is at their command to dial contacts and numbers, launch navigation apps, get the local weather, and play music on devices. Car Mode also announces incoming callers and reads incoming text messages aloud with Nuance's natural text to speech. Car Mode also features a "do not disturb" mode, where drivers can further minimize distractions by blocking all incoming calls and text messages until they arrive at their destination, with notifications available of those calls and text messages missed.
"Working closely with ZTE, Nuance will further humanize and simplify the way people interact with ZTE devices and applications through voice," said Michael Thompson, executive vice president and general manager of Nuance Mobile, in a statement. "The results of our collaboration will yield a new global portfolio of intelligent and intuitive Android devices and applications that keep people connected on the go and wherever life takes them."
ZTE's Car Mode application will be available preloaded on ZTE Android devices in 2013.