Speech Technology eWeekly - March 01, 2004

Q & A

Peter Vescuso, Vice President of Market Development, Brooktrout Technology

In a Q&A with the editors of NewsBlast, Peter Vescuso, Vice President of Market Development, Brooktrout Technology, discusses the outlook for the future of speech technology, how recent deployments have enhanced customer service and partnerships.

Ted Cwiok, Convergys

Ted Cwiok of Convergys talks about the growth, power and potential of speech technology in our lives.

Dave Nuckols, Director of Microsoft Strategic Alliance, ScanSoft

Speech Technology Magazine's interview with ScanSoft's Dave Nuckols, Director, Microsoft Strategic Alliance.

Joshua Adelson, Director of Market Development, Brooktrout

Brooktrout Technology recently released a new offering to their VoiceProcessing Platform Series, TR 1000. Josh Adelson, director of marketdevelopment, discusses the impact of this new telephony board configuration on speech applications.

Katherine Owens, Senior Director of Marketing, NMS Communications

Katherine Owens, Senior Director of Marketing at NMS Communications, talks about the future of speech technology and the role that NMS Communications will play in it.

Speech Technology News

Voxify's Automated Agent Takes Calls for DreamWorks' Theater Reporting System

Voxify delivers speech-automated agents for DreamWorks to reduce call center costs and improve operational efficiency.

VoiceWise Launches SmartPBX

VoiceWise Technologies announced the general availability release of VoiceWise SmartPBX.

UCLA Offers E-mail Notification to Facilitate Commercial Use of Research Discoveries

LOS ANGELES - Company officials have a new way to tap into technology developed by UCLA's cadre of researchers.

U.S. District Court of Alaska Deploys Speech Enabled IVR by iVoice

MATAWAN, NJ - The IVR is designed to give callers information such as party names, attorney names and the judge assigned for the case.

Chaffard Joins Telisma

PARIS - François Chaffard joins Telisma as pre-sales engineer.

Voicebrook Expands Management Team

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. - Speech recognition executive joins Voicebrook management team as vice president of marketing.

NeoSpeech Announces Software Developer's Kit for Microsoft Windows Mobile and Windows CE

SAN FRANCISCO - NeoSpeech SDK brings text-to-speech to compact devices.

OnStar Selects IBM to Provide Interactive Speech Technologies

ARMONK, NY - General Motors' OnStar subsidiary has selected IBM to provide interactive speech technologies for its next-generation voice-recognition applications.

Phonetic Releases Packaged Operator Services Application on Microsoft Speech Server 2004

PhoneticOperator and Phonetic Receptionist deliver to organizations of any size.

British Airlines Automates Holiday Requests

UNITED KINGDOM - British Airlines has created a new customer service platform using a speech solution provided by Rhetorical and Claritas.

Audium Names Scott Ganson Vice President of Sales

NEW YORK - Audium announces the addition of Scott Ganson as vice president of sales.

Oklahoma Gas & Electric Utilizes Genesys Technology

SAN FRANCISCO - Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E) reaped cost savings and improved customer service with Genesys call center solutions.

Rockwell FirstPoint Contact and Unveil Technologies Partner on Conversational Speech Self-Service

Rockwell FirstPoint Contact and Unveil Technologies announced a strategic marketing and distribution agreement to resell and support Unveil's speech self-service application, the Conversation Manager.

LumenVox and Vocomo to Market Speech Recognition Product for Phone Automation in Small to Medium Businesses

SAN DIEGO and CUPERTINO, Calif. - Metaphor Solutions to offer packaged applications for new offering.

Convergys Adds TuVox CVR Applications to its SpeechPort Platform

LOS ALTOS, CA - The joint integration is designed for Convergys and TuVox clients to have their speech applications managed by Convergys on an outsourced basis.

Eicon Introduces Products and Enhancements to the Diva Server Product Family

SAN FRANCISCO - Eicon introduces new hardware and software for fax, voice and unified messaging applications.

Sprint Launches CapTel(SM) Relay Service for Hard of Hearing Community

From TMCnet.com, Copyright 2004
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Sprint launched the CapTel(SM) Relay Service, an assistive technology aimed at easing communications for the more than 24 million Americans who are hard of hearing, have experiences hearing loss later in life or deaf individuals with good vocalization skills.

ScanSoft Announces Executive Appointments

PEABODY, Mass. - ScanSoft announces several changes to the management team and organization to further streamline the organization, increasing focus on high-growth opportunities.

Cepstral Releases New Global Voices

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Company expands capabilities and reach with addition of new voices in four additional languages.

TuVox and Softel Partner to Provide VXML and SALT Enabled Packaged Speech Applications

LOS ALTOS, Calif. - TuVox and SOFTEL announced that the two companies have engaged in a partnership to develop and deliver packaged conversational speech applications.

Voice-Controlled Voice Mail Service in Poland Features Telisma's Technology

PARIS - PTK Centertel launched voice message and e-mail consulting service.

Professor Hawking Selects NeoSpeech

FREMONT, Calif. - NeoSpeech announced that Professor Stephen Hawking, scientist, professor and author, has selected NeoSpeech's text-to-speech product, VoiceText, as his new voice. Hawking's motor neuron illness, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, has deprived him of the ability to speak, making his computer with voice synthesizer essential for communication.

Vodafone Spain Utilizes Nuance and Ydilo Team

LONDON & MENLO PARK, Calif. - Vodafone Spain to Improve Customer Service Using Voice Automation from Nuance; Nuance Teams with Ydilo to Voice-Enable Vodafone Spain's Call Centers.

TuVox to Deliver Speech Solutions on Microsoft Speech Server Platform

LOS ALTOS, Calif. - TuVox CVR applications to support SALT and VXML.

GN Netcom Introduces Digital Headset Amplifier

NASHUA, N.H. - GN Netcom introduces a digital powered headset system - DSP powered amplifier for the enterprise and contact center market.

GM Voices Provides Voice Prompt Vocabularies for Microsoft Speech Server 2004

ATLANTA - GM Voices produced thousands of pre-recorded voice prompts for Microsoft Speech development tools.

LumenVox and Vocalocity Announce Partnership

SAN DIEGO and ATLANTA - LumenVox and Vocalocity announced their strategic OEM and channel partnership.

Voice Architects Supports Microsoft Speech Server 2004 Developers

PORTLAND, Ore. - Voice Architects supports Microsoft Speech Server 2004 developers with high impact, low cost VUI services, VUI design, mentoring, testing and tuning services for MSS speech applications.

Brooktrout and Vocomo Deliver Integrated IVR Solution to Clinical Automation

SAN FRANCISCO - Phone Automation Helps Medical Researchers Screen Potential Subjects

Metaphor Solutions Announces Immediate Availability of 20 Packaged Speech IVR Applications for Microsoft Speech Server 2004

WELLESLEY, Mass. - Metaphor Solutions announced the immediate availability of 20 packaged applications for Microsoft Speech Server 2004 designed to break the cost barrier for deploying automated customer service by phone using speech recognition.

PIKA Technologies API Integrated to BrightSpeech

OTTAWA, CANADA - Babel integrated PIKA Technologies' flexible API, PIKA MonteCarlo, to its BrightSpeech TTS speech engine.

Syntellect Selected by Suncoast Credit Union

PHOENIX - Syntellect was selected to provide Suncoast with a fully speech-enabled member services solution.

VoiceObjects and T-Com Cooperate to Provide a Managed Voice Portal Service

COLOGNE, Germany - Ready-to-use, tailored voice portals available as a managed service for telephone-based customer contact.

Telephonetics Launches New Version of ContactPortal with an Intelligent Messaging System

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD - Telephonetics' latest version of ContactPortal allows an organization to route calls to the desired destination - by spoken voice.

Enterprise Adoption of Speech-Enabled Applications to Get a Boost from Intervoice and Brooktrout Strategic Alliance

SAN FRANCISCO - New Intervoice and Brooktrout alliance increases flexibility of Intervoice platform.

Apptera Deploys Packaged Speech Application

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Mobile voice-enabled locator provides precise branch, ATM locations for callers nationwide.

GeckoSystems Certifies Accoustic Magic's Voice Tracker Array Microphone for Voice Control of Mobile Robots

GeckoSystems.certified the Accoustic Magic Voice Tracker Array Microphone for on-board use with its CareBot Mobile Service Robots. The Voice Tracker enables voice control at ranges of 15 feet, with a field view of 180 degrees.

Nuance Voice Platform 3.0 Simplifies the Design, Deployment and Maintenance of Voice Automation Solutions

MENLO PARK, Calif. - Nuance announced the availability of Nuance Voice Platform(TM) 3.0.

Voice Signal Technologies Appoints Former Ericsson Executive Jan Pantzar as Vice President of Sales

WOBURN, Mass. - Industry veteran Pantzar expected to expand worldwide sales and drive growth.

Convergys Announces New Knowledge Creation Center

CINCINNATI - Center mines voice of the customer feedback to improve efficiencies and effectiveness.

VoiceObjects Appoints Vice President of Sales and Launches Operations in North America

COLOGNE, Germany - The German vendor of Voice Application Management System recruits high-tech veteran Troy Kamphuis.

Nortel Networks Introduces New Wireless Solutions for Converged Business Communications

ORLANDO, FL - Nortel Networks* [NYSE/TSX: NT] announced a new set of wireless local area network (WLAN) solutions.

Brooktrout Supports SALT Industry Standard for Delivering Speech-Enabled Telephony and Multi-Modal Applications

SAN FRANCISCO - Brooktrout Technology Inc. announced its relationship with Microsoft to expand the enterprise speech market.

VoiceXML Forum Endorses Release of VoiceXML 2.0 Recommendation; Readies Platform Certification Program

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Vendors encouraged to submit products for certification now.

Voxware Appoints Vice President of Delivery Services

PRINCETON, N.J. - Supply chain solutions expert Donald Noble joins executive team.

MacSpeech Files Taxes for TurboTax 2003

SALEM, NH - iListen version 1.6.4 is recommended in order to use all the commands in this ScriptPak.

Intervoice Enhances Capabilities of Speech-Enabled Retirement Services Application for Diversified Investment Advisors

DALLAS - Retirement services industry further increases customer service levels and decreases call volumes with Intervoice solution.

Intervoice Announces Release of Omvia Voice Framework and Voice Express Packaged Applications to Support Microsoft Speech Server 2004

SAN FRANCISCO - Intervoice experience in telephony platforms and solutions aids Microsoft to prepare speech technology for mainstream adoption.

Cool C Announces the Addition of a New Text Component to their Cool C Interactive Speech Software

PLANTATION, Fla. - Cool C releases Cool C Read Writer™ as a component for their interactive speech software.

ART and Clarity Team Up

TROY, Mich. and ATLANTA - New cooperation agreement makes Clarity Technologies Inc.'s CVC® and ART's smARTspeak solutions available together.

Voice.Trust Announces its New Voice-Portal Strategy

MUNICH, Germany - Carrying the success from enterprise applications, such as automated password reset and two-factor authentication, to large end-user Voice-Portals, where the Voice.Trust server acts as a general secure authentication gateway, the Voice.Trust Server protects services or transactions from unauthorized access or manipulation.

Convergys Receives Frost & Sullivan Award

PALO ALTO, Calif. and CINCINNATI - Convergys Receives Frost & Sullivan's 2003 Market Leadership Award in Contact Center Outsourcing Industry.

Empirix Launches Call Quality Assurance Service for Voice Over IP

WALTHAM, Mass. - Voice WatchSM hosted monitoring service adds on module that ensures end-to-end call clarity.

Nuance Named Leader in Worldwide Market Share According to Preliminary Analyst Firm Report on Speech Recognition Software Market

MENLO PARK, Calif. - Nuance announced that Gartner has named the company the worldwide speech software market share leader, based on port shipments in 2003.

Syntellect Announces Availability of Standard Personas

PHOENIX - Research shows that, whether it is intended or not, callers attribute personality traits to the speech systems they use. Using the right persona may improve caller comfort levels, enhance customer satisfaction and reinforce a company's image and brand.

Brooktrout Launches Direct Sales and Support Office in Japan

NEEDHAM, MA - Brooktrout Technology announced the opening of Brooktrout Japan™, its sales and support office in Japan.

Metaphor Solutions Announces Immediate Availability of 20 Packaged Speech IVR Applications for Microsoft Speech Server 2004

WELLESLEY, Mass. - Metaphor Solutions announced the availability of 20 packaged applications.

NetByTel, Vocalocity and ScanSoft Team up on First Hosted Commercial SALT Deployments

BOCA RATON, Fla., ATLANTA, Ga. and PEABODY, Mass. - Key Bank, Mailboxes, Etc. and Shell benefiting from market leaders' dedication to open standards for speech recognition.

IBM Announces New Speech Technology and Middleware around Conversational Access

SAN FRANCISCO - New offerings aim to help developers extend business processes by

Sparkasse Vest Deploys First MPS 500 in Central Europe

FRANKFURT, Germany - Sparkasse Vest Recklinghausen has deployed a next generation IVR solution from Nortel Networks.

Sakrament Launches Sakrament Personal Voice Master 1.0

MINSK, BELARUS - Application enables users to hear any text-based information in their own voices on the basis of Sakrament TTS Engine.

Apptera Supports Microsoft Speech Server 2004

SAN FRANCISCO - Alliance with Microsoft allows Apptera to deliver SALT-based packaged speech applications for financial services.

BMW Selects Peiker's CVC EnabledBluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit

Clarity Technologies' CVC voice communications software technology embedded in Peiker's Bluetooth hands-free system will be available to more consumers in the United States in the soon-to-be released automobiles for the Mini Cooper.

Definity Health Deploys TuVox CVR

LOS ALTOS, Calif. - Definity Health's members and providers gain faster access to customized services with state-of-the-art automated speech recognition.

ScanSoft's Directory Assistance Solutions Team to Develop Carrier-Grade Hosted Service for Corporate and National Directory Inquiries

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM and GHENT, BELGIUM -ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT) announced a partnership with Hosted Telephony Solutions Ltd. (HTS), to develop a speech-enabled Directory Assistance (DA) application powered by SpeechWorks® solutions from ScanSoft.

Rhetorical Adds Bilingual German Voices Portfolio

EDINBURGH, Scotland - Rhetorical created new voices for the German market capable of switching between German and English.

New Babson Program Transforms Scientists into Business Leaders

WELLESLEY, Mass. - Babson executive education will premier a new executive education program to turn scientists and managers into business leaders.

Alliance Systems Announces Addition of VoiceXML Speech Servers

PLANO, Texas - Alliance Systems introduced new speech servers for developing and deploying VoiceXML-based speech solutions.

Calence Launches New IP Contact Center Practice

TEMPE, Ariz. - Firm earns Cisco Systems' IPCC advanced technology provider status.

Aculab Media Processing Technology to Support Microsoft Speech Server 2004

MILTON KEYES, UK - In support of choice and providing enterprises with the most cost effective speech platform, Aculab has announced support for Microsoft Speech Server.

Place your Bets with VeCommerce and Aculab

Milton Keynes, UK - Four of the United Kingdom's leading betting agents have put their money on a speech recognition application from VeCommerce, powered by Aculab's media processing resource cards.

Nuance Releases New VoiceXML Engine/Development Environment

From CommWeb - the Telecom Pipeline, Copyright 2004
Nuance says the key to Voice Platform 3.0 is its Nuance Application Environment, which is comprised of two components: Nuance V-Builder and Nuance V-Server.

Zelos Group Names Nuance Speech Software Leader in Global Telecommunications Market

MENLO PARK, Calif. - Company answers telecommunications carrier demand for voice automation solutions.

Microsoft Sets Speech Server Pricing

By Joris Evers, IDG News Service, Copyright 2004
Microsoft has detailed pricing and licensing for its Speech Server 2004 products, the company's first speech recognition server offerings.

Nuance Applauds World Wide Web Consortium's Advancement of VoiceXML 2.0

MENLO PARK, Calif. - Nuance announced its support of the world wide web consortium's decision to advance VoiceXML 2.0 to W3C recommendation.

VocaLabs Announces VocaLabs-Professional

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Vocal Laboratories announces VocaLabs-Professional, or VocalPro, a research tool designed for ongoing usability and satisfaction testing.

Pronexus introduces Turnkey Speech Applications for Microsoft Speech Server 2004

OTTAWA, Canada and SAN FRANCISCO - VeoSuite delivers the value of speech with packaged business processes for a variety of industries. The first product, VeoBill, accelerates receivables with speech-enabled bill payment.

TuVox and Verascape Establish Alliance

LOS ALTOS, Calif. - Partnership leverages best of breed speech application and VXML platform technologies to deliver packaged solutions.

Brooktrout and Vocomo Deliver Integrated IVR Solution to Clinical Automation

SAN FRANCISCO - Phone automation helps medical researchers screen potential subjects.

Microsoft Ramps Channel, Slides Speech Server Beta Process to a Close

By Mark Riehl eChannelLine Daily News Copyright 2004Bill Gates, Microsoft's chairman and chief software architect, will officially announce the release of its Speech Server at the combined AVIOS~SpeechTEK Spring 2004, VSLive! San Francisco 2004 and Microsoft Mobile Developers Conference 2004 events on March 24.

Eicon's Diva Server Family Paves the Way for IP Migration

SAN FRANCISCO - New software will extend reach of telephony applications into the pure IP environment.

ScanSoft's Directory Assistance Solutions Team to Develop Carrier-Grade Hosted Service for Corporate and National Directory Inquiries

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM and GHENT, BELGIUM -ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT) announced a partnership with Hosted Telephony Solutions Ltd. (HTS), to develop a speech-enabled Directory Assistance (DA) application powered by SpeechWorks® solutions from ScanSoft.

NMS Communications Signs OEM Agreement with Nuance

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - Speech software licenses now available with NMS Open Access, HearSay offerings; network and enterprise application developers to benefit.

Xerox Sells ScanSoft Stake for $80 Million

From The Kansas City Star, AP, Copyright 2004Investment firm Warburg Pincus LLC has agreed to buy Xerox Corp.'s minority stake in ScanSoft Inc., a maker of speech and imaging software, for $80 million, the companies said Friday.

Datria Appoints William Goodison

ENGLEWOOD, CO - Goodison held numerous management positions prior to joining Datria.

Brooktrout to Acquire SnowShore Networks

NEEDHAM, Mass. - Acquisition of next generation voice over IP media processing technology will enhance Brooktrout's leadership.

Aspect Communications Unveils Aspect Customer Self-Service Version 7.0

SAN FRANCISCO - Latest IVR version to deliver rapid application deployment, compatibility with latest speech technology and improved self-service experience across Web and voice.

VoxSurf Teams with Nuance to Deliver Next Generation Voicemail and Advanced Messaging Solutions

ATLANTA, Ga. and LONDON, UK - Telecom operators to benefit long-term from VoxSurf Alliance.

Brooktrout Announces Host-Based Media Early Access Program

NEEDHAM, Mass. - Brooktrout Technology announced an early access program for a controlled release of its new host-based media processing product.

VoiceObjects and Net Mobile Realize Infotainment Voice Portal for T-Mobile

COLOGNE and DUSSELDORF, Germany - T-Mobile launches voice-driven infotainment portal for cell phone users in Germany.

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Unveil Technologies Join Forces to Deliver Self Service Solutions to Call Centers

WALTHAM, Mass. - Collaboration focuses on helping organizations re-think their customer self service strategies to improve service quality and reduce costs.

U.S. Xpress Implements Service and Operations with Genesys Call Center Software

SAN FRANCISCO - Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories Inc., announced that U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc. installed Genesys call center software.

Voicebrook announces availability of VoiceOver& Enterprise 2.0

Product enhancements to the company's flagship product attempts to accelerate the use of speech recognition in creating medical documentation.

Cool Conversations Introduces Talking Computers to Education

New Interactive Speech Software Makes It Possible for Kids to Talk to Their Personal Computers

Connexor Announces Licensing Agreement with FAST; Reuters Deploys FAST Content Monitoring Solution

EContent, Copyright 2004
Connexor has signed a licensing agreement with Fast Search & Transfer, a developer of enterprise search and real-time alerting technologies. Under this agreement FAST has licensed Machinese components for multiple languages for use in its new enterprise search platform, FAST ESPT.

The French National Railways Company Chooses Prosodie and Telisma for Voice Portal

PARIS - The French National Railways Company launches its 3635 voice portal.

Syntellect Helps Customers Streamline Development of Speech-Enabled Applications with VistaGen XML Edition

PHOENIX - VistaGen XML edition incorporates Audium software into latest release.

Lincoln U.S. and Ford France Select Peiker's CVC Enabled Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit

Award winning CVC technology supplied by Clarity Technologies.

BBNT Solutions Acquisition Finalized

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - BBNT becomes independent; Company will continue to grow its core business and expand with new market opportunities.

Syntellect Helps Customers Streamline Development of Speech-Enabled Applications with VistaGen XML Edition

PHOENIX - VistaGen XML edition incorporates Audium software into latest release.

Pronexus to Introduce New Speech Tools

OTTAWA, Canada - Pronexus will introduce new speech-enabled tools and solutions for Microsoft speech server at AVIOS~SpeechTEK.

MacSpeech Releases ScriptPak for Safari 1.2

SALEM, N.H. - ScriptPak adds voice commands for controlling virtually every aspect of Safari.

Industry Reports Affirm Nortel Networks' Leadership in Delivering Converged Solutions for Enterprises

ORLANDO, Fla. - Dell'Oro Gropu and Insight Research ranked Nortel Networks no.1 in global IP lines shipped for 2003.