Speech Technology eWeekly - October 01, 2003

Features

Datamonitor Report Claims Hosted Call Centers on the Rise

Independent market analyst predicts that hosted call center solutions will be appealing to small businesses.

Speech Technology Industry Names Top Performers for 2003

Speech Solutions Awards were presented last night at the SpeechTEK Gala and Awards Ceremony sponsored by ScanSoft and Partners.

Distributed Speech Revenues Predicted by Zelos Group to be $1.1 Billion by 2008

Zelos Group report shows service providers are capturing a growing share of interactive voice response (IVR) equipment and software market.

Q & A

Linda Drake, President, National Verbatim Reporters Association

As president of the National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA), oversees the United States' authority for voice writing. NVRA members document the official record of congressional hearings, court proceedings, administrative hearings, depositions, conferences and similar events and proceedings. Drake discusses how using state-of-the-art voice and stenographic methods, NVRA reporters maintain the highest standards of speed and accuracy in the field of court reporting.

Travis White, Vice President of Marketing & Product Management, Datria

Datria is helping to revolutionize the way tickets are managed in the field. Gone are the days of laborious hand-written tickets. Applications like Ticket Management 2.0 allows technicians to talk directly to their enterprise systems, making for a faster, more accurate update. Fresh off the announcement of Ticket Management 2.0, Travis White of Datria visited with STM NewsBlast to discuss the benefits deploying such an application can bring to field technicians.

Paul Ricci, CEO, ScanSoft

Paul Ricci joined ScanSoft as CEO in September 2000 and has led it through several transitions. He was recently named a Top Ten Leader in Speech by Speech Technology Magazine. Find out what Ricci and ScanSoft have in store fresh off their acquisition of SpeechWorks.

Jack Greene, Executive Director, New Business Resources

"It is not what you know that will hurt your chances of success, it is what you don't know." That's what New Business Resources (NBR) executive director Jack Greene preaches to his clients and why he believes using consultants to assist with important decisions is a good idea. Greene spoke with STM NewsBlast about the impact independent industry professionals can have on a companies success.

Peter Monaco, Vice President of Application Engineering, Nuance Communications

Peter Monaco has been involved in Nuance's shifting focus toward the Nuance Voice Platform. He believes packaged applications can help broaden the speech market, cutting deployment time in half and significantly reduce development complexity and risk. Monaco visits with the readers of NewsBlast to discuss these and other pertinent issues.

Speech Technology News

NMS Communications and uReach Technologies Selected by Bell Canada

HOLMDEL, NJ and FRAMINGHAM, MA - Joint solution organizes and directs calls between multiple devices through one virtual telephone number.

Fonix Technology Deployed by Meridian

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Meridian licenses Fonix speech technology for Midwestern 511 road traffic information service.

Babel Releases Arabic Language Version of BrightSpeech

MONS, BELGIUM - "Salma" brings BrightSpeech into the international Arabic world marketplace.

Nexidia to Enable Audio Search for Yahoo! NetRoadshow

ATLANTA, GA - Yahoo! NetRoadshow will use Nexidia's phonetic technology to allow users to locate, index and access specific passages within presentations.

Philips and Optimal Systems Secure Major Order

VIENNA, AUSTRIA and BERLIN, GERMANY - Order includes the installation of Philips SpeechMagic speech recognition in nine convalescent clinics will assist with generating of reports.

Nuance Teams with WorkForce Technologies

MENLO PARK, CA - WorkForce Technologies' human resources, government, education and healthcare speech solutions to be available on the Nuance Voice Platform™.

Sensory Releases Speech Recognition SDK for Linux

SANTA CLARA, CA - Fluent Speech Software now available on Linux platform to custom tune speech recognition applications.

Tell-Eureka Introduces LevelOne Virtual CSR Version 2.0

NEW YORK, NY - Now based on the XML Processing Definition Language (XPDL), this version supports the Web services architecture using the Microsoft .NET Framework.

Richard J. Geruson Appointed CEO of Voice Signal Technologies

WOBURN, MA - Former senior vice president for Nokia takes over day-to-day operations.

ScanSoft Releases OpenSpeech Recognizer 2.0

PEABODY, MA - Updated version provides memory and CPU savings and support for application vocabularies containing millions of words.

Convera and Nexidia Partner to Deliver Integrated Audio Search

VIENNA, VA and ATLANTA, GA - Partnership offers high-performance audio and video phonetic search for regulatory compliance, security and knowledge management.

TalkToMePCLaunches New Web Site

www.talktomepc.com is the dedicated distribution site for VoiceBox Voice - Low Vision, which allows users to fetch information from their PC or the Internet using only voice requests.

iVoice IVR Integrated with Intel's Voice Boards

MATAWAN, NJ - Solution incorporates iVoice's Application Generator with Intel's Dialogic D/82JCT-U and D/42JCT-U voice boards.

Nortel Networks Unveils Converged Networking Solutions

ATLANTA, GA - Solutions tailored toward small- to medium-sized companies, extending support for enterprise branch offices.

Time iCR Selects Audium 3

NEW YORK, NY - Canadian service bureau choses Audium 3 as standard environment for VoiceXML.

HeyAnita Announces Rapid Message Service

Wireless messaging solution works across carrier networks and handset models and is offered to wireless carriers as either a fully-hosted or in-network solution.

VoxSurf launches VxOne Platform

Voicemail and messaging platform enables telcos to expand and upgrade while targeting specific user groups.

NMS Communications IVR Platforms Selected by Telogic

FRAMINGHAM, MA - Thailand operator deploys system on 12 million subscriber network.

Convergys Selected by Fifth Third Bancorp

CINCINNATI, OH - Convergys to provide human resources services, including the integration of advanced speech recognition.

Vialto Releases E2GO 2003 for Microsoft Exchange 2003

CUPERTINO, CA - Application allows mobile employees to listen and respond to e-mail and appointments using any phone.

Atos Origin Teams with Kirusa

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - Partnership created to deliver multimodal solutions in Western Europe.

ScanSoft Releases Speechify 3.0

PEABODY, MA - New product features "Speechify Jill," increasing the number of voices offered by ScanSoft to 36.

Leading Vendors of Speech Recognition Telephony Software Identified

EGHAM, ENGLAND - Nuance, SpeechWorks and ScanSoft led the way in 2002 with 71.7 percent of ports market share according to a Gartner report.

Telelogue Receives Listing Database Pre-Processing Patent

ISELIN, NJ - "System and Method for Pre-Processing Information used by an Automated Attendant" patent has been allowed for issuance upon processing of the applicable patent issuance fees.

VoiceXML Forum Launches Platform Certification Program

NEW YORK, NY - Vocalocity, VoiceGenie and Voxpilot join pilot program; testing begins later this month.

Novauris Announces Evaluation Program

NEW YORK, NY and CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - Demonstration system opens up wider evaluation of technology for spoken access to extremely large databases.

Vocent and TARGUSinfo Announce Partnership

NEW YORK, NY - Agreement provides Vocent with TARGUSinfo's real-time technology.

Genesys Announces Siebel Validation

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Integration of Gplus Adapter 6.5.1 with Siebel eBusiness applications extends alliance between companies.

Genesys Introduces Managed Services Suite

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Suite is designed to be delivered by telecommunications companies, service providers and systems integrators.

TuVox announces Team TuVox Partner Program

LOS ALTOS, CA - Program intended for systems integrators, value added resellers, technology platform providers, application service providers and outsourcers of IVR, speech and contact center solutions

Vocollect and RedPrairie Form Strategic Integration and Reseller Agreement

WAUKESHA, WI and PITTSBURGH, PA - RedPrairie will integrate and resell Vocollect's "hands-free, eyes-free(tm)" Talkman® solution with RedPrairie's DLx® Warehouse and DLx Labor supply chain execution solutions.

Fonix Announces Next Generation DECtalk

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Version 5.0 of Fonix DECtalk text-to-speech (TTS) technology released for embedded applications.

ScanSoft Establishes Dedicated Professional Services Team for DA Solutions

SAN DIEGO, CA - Company introduces SpeechPAK 1.0 for Directory Assistance and introduces new suite of speech optimization services.

ZyDoc Integrates Software into Toshiba Solutions

HAUPPAUGE, NY - Automated Medical Documentation Solutions bundle will soon be available on Toshiba server and tablet PC.

SAIC Launches New Generation Navigation Service

DAYTON, OH - Voice-enabled navigation system provides drivers turn-by-turn directions with real-time traffic conditions, incorporating technology from Webraska Mobile Technologies and Telelogue Inc.

Metaphor Solutions Announces Strategic Relationship with Microsoft

WELLESLEY, MA - Metaphor's packaged speech Interactive Voice Response (IVR) applications will now work with the Microsoft Speech Server.

Babel's Text-to-Speech Integrated into ALVA Mobile Phone Organizer

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - Wireless device is used by visually impaired individuals to make phone calls, send SMS messages, look up information and take notes using Braille with speech.

Babel TTS Deployed at Belgian Supermarket

MONS, BELGIUM - BrightSpeech Text-to-Speech engine used in PC DIGISPOT for public announcement systems.

ScanSoft Announces Winners of Annual Best Practices Competition

SAN DIEGO, CA - Aetna and Centerlink recognized for Best Practices and Most Innovative Speech Solutions at ScanSoft's Annual Speech Conference Conversations.

Fonix Joins Oracle PartnerNetwork as a Member Partner

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Fonix teams with Oracle to deliver joint distributed speech solutions.

Edify Selected by Landstar Systems

SANTA CLARA, CA - Phase one implementation of its voice and speech enhanced standards-based platform completed by Edify.

iVoice Appoints The Support Network UK Approved Reseller

MATAWAN, NJ - Selling Speech Enabled Auto Attendant and IVR into SME and contact center market will be Support Network's focus.

Telelogue's Automated Directory Assistance (DA) Bundled with Z-Tel Services

ISELIN, NJ - Personal Voice Assistant™ (PVA) feature to include automated Voice Directory Assistance™ (VDA) to all business and residential customers.

Convergys Names Three Executives

CINCINNATI, OH - Jean-Hervé Jenn, Francois Lancon and Raul A. Rodriguez will head billing and customer care initiatives globally.

iVoice Partners With White Radio

MWhite Radio, a distributor of Avaya products for the Canadian Dealer Community, will market and sell the iVoice suite of speech telephony applications.

Phonetic Systems Solution Deployed by Bank of New York

BILLERICA, MA - Phonetic Business Continuity CoordinatorTM to provide ability to maintain services during emergencies that threaten connectivity such as power outages, technical failures, or any other type natural or manmade disaster.

Datria Releases Datria Ticket Management 2.0 Broadband Edition

Latest version of voice-enabled field workforce application improves productivity of cable, satellite and telecommunications field personnel.

MAP Telecom and Voxpilot Partner

MONACO and DUBLIN, IRELAND - With the addition of Voxpilot's VoiceXML platform, MAP Telecom can implement W3C standards into its solutions.

Voxware and RedPrairie Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement

WAUKESHA, WI and PRINCETON, NJ - Under the agreement, RedPrairie has the right to resell and deliver Voxware product VoiceLogistics to its customers.

Loquendo Technology Selected by LogicJunction

Artificial Intelligence software company added to Loquendo's customer portfolio.

Elix Integrates CCXML to Elix IVS

MONTREAL, CANADA - Call control functionality, such as call routing capabilities, now offered with Elix IVS.

HTI Voice Solutions and Nuance Deliver Solution to Valero

MENLO PARK, CA and MARLBOROUGH, MA - Valero Energy Corporation will utilize a Natural Language Credit Card Account Management Application on the Nuance Voice Platformä.

TuVox Appoints John Kirst Vice President of Business Development

LOS ALTOS, CA - With more than 20 years of call center technology, enterprise software and sales and marketing experience, Kirst will be responsible for TuVox' business partnership strategy and development.

Pronexus Releases VBVoice 5.1

OTTAWA, CANADA - Telephony development environment will perform on the Microsoft .NET platform, Visual Studio 2003.

Convergys/Audium Selected as People's Choice

Voters at SpeechTEK choose the team of Convergys and Audium as their favorite deployed speech application during the inaugural Speech Solutions CHALLENGE.

Gartner Report Shows Speech Recognition Market Positioned for Growth

EGAHM, ENGLAND - "Speech Recognition Telephony Software: Worldwide 2002-2007" report includes prediction of increase in worldwide speech recognition telephony software revenue for first time since 2000.

Genesys and Microsoft Business Solutions Partner

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -Genesys Call Center Suite and Microsoft Business Solutions CRM integrated to provide deployable and manageable customer service solutions.

Maxxar Forms Strategic Partnership with XP Systems

Alliance provides users of new XP2 system with voice recognition solutions.

Persay Releases Persay Vocal Password 3.0 and Persay FreeSpeech 3.0

Biometric voice authentication solutions geared toward financial services, telecom and security applications.

IMS Releases Upgrade of IMS CharacterGenerator Studio

Automated voice-to-animation tool-Xtra will enables users to incorporate talking animated characters as part of presentations or applications created using Macromedia Director MX.

Loquendo Announces Integration with Oracle

TURIN, ITALY - Voice Gateway certified for use with the Oracle9i Application Server Wireless and Collaboration Suite offering.

Convergys Integrates Audium Software into Open Hosting Environment

CINCINNATI, OH and NEW YORK, NY - Audium 3 VoiceXML software tools will be available for Convergys clients operating advanced speech recognition applications on Convergys' outsourced SpeechPort platform.

LumenVox Selected by ATA Retail Services

SAN DIEGO, CA and FREMONT, CA - Wholesale distributor to use automated merchandise ordering and shipment system to service more than 800 field merchandising personnel.

Sound Advantage Takes New Name

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA - Now Applied Voice and Speech Technologies Inc, restructured company also acquires CallXpress® voicemail and prepares for launch of Seneca™.