Speech Technology eWeekly - September 01, 2004

Q & A

Michael Bergelson, CEO, Audium

Audium's Mike Bergelson explains why VoiceXML has become the proven "lingua franca" of speech deployments.

Speech Technology News

ART Advanced Recognition Technologies Directors Name Yakov Shulman as Acting CEO

ATLANTA - The appointment follows the announcement that after 12 years of service to ART, CEO Eran Aharonson will leave the company to pursue other business interests.

Envox Worldwide Supports ScanSoft SpeechPAKs

Envox has expanded its strategic relationship with ScanSoft to include support for ScanSoft SpeechPAKs.

Brooktrout Supports Microsoft Speech Server with Its Telephony Interface Manager

NEW YORK - Brooktrout Technology, Inc announced its Telephony Interface Manager (TIM) for Microsoft Speech Server. Brooktrout is collaborating with Intervoice to integrate the Intervoice Omvia® Voice Framework on Brooktrout™s TR1000 speech platform.

Customer Satisfaction Across Industries to be Gauged with Survey Application from Intervoice

Intervoice announced the increased applicability of one of its packaged voice applications to gauge customer satisfaction across several vertical markets.

Telix AG Selects ScanSoft and varetis to Power Directory Assistance Service

GHENT, Belgium & PEABODY, Mass. - Telix AG announced that ScanSoft, Inc. and varetis have worked together to deliver automated directory assistance to the German telecommunications company.

Kirusa Introduces Multimodal Messaging with the Kirusa Voice SMS Application

EDISON, N.J. - Kirusa Voice SMS (KV.SMSSM) application allows mobile users to reply to SMS text messages by voice, to send an SMS message by voice, and to receive SMS messages with voice content, on all mobile devices, and on all wireless networks, enhancing the reach of SMS messaging to a wider population of mobile users.

CPT International Introduces Voice Harbor for Outsourced Voice Application Hosting

ATLANTA - CPT International announced the availability of its Voice Harbor outsourced hosting solution for voice application developers, technology providers and their customers.

VoiceXML Forum Launches Platform Certification Program

NEW YORK - The VoiceXML Forum announced the availability of the VoiceXML Platform Certification Program.

VoiceObjects Teams with SAP to Enable Voice Applications

BOSTON - VoiceObjects to provide its Voice Application Management System (VAMS) VoiceObjects Factory for SAP NetWeaver(TM) to integrate voice solutions into a multi-channel communication strategy.

Vocantas & Cogsdale Team to Provide Telephony & Customer Service Management for Utilities and Municipalities

Vocantas and Cogsdale have entered into an OEM agreement.

Automation Alley Selects Clarity Technologies As 'Technology Company of the Year'

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Automation Alley announced that Clarity Technologies was selected as Automation Alley's "2004 Technology Company of the Year."

SandCherry Resells Metaphor Solutions' Packaged Speech IVR Applications

WELLESLEY, Mass. and BOULDER, Colo. - Metaphor Solutions and SandCherry, Inc. announced a partnership allowing SandCherry to resell Metaphor's suite of packaged speech applications.

Avaya and IBM Collaborate To Deliver New Speech-Enabled Self-Service Solutions

NEW YORK - Avaya and IBM announced they will jointly deliver speech-enabled self-service solutions that allow the deployment of customized speech applications throughout a business.

Eicon Networks Announces Support for Envox 6 Communications Development Platform

MONTREAL - Eicon Networks Corporation announced that it has integrated the Diva Server product line with the Envox 6 Communications Development Platform from Envox Worldwide.

Targex Chooses Loquendo Technology

Targex selected Loquendo's text-to-speech to speech-enable their vehicle-tracking product "Eagle Eye Embedded AVL Unit."

Pronexus Announces Support for Vail Systems SIP Telephony Interface Manager (TIM)

NEW YORK - VBSALT lets developers build software-only VoIP speech applications for Microsoft Speech Server 2004.

Frost & Sullivan Names ScanSoft Leader in Asia Pacific Speech Recognition Market for Second Year

PEABODY, Mass., and SYDNEY, Australia - Frost & Sullivan, an industry research firm, has recognized ScanSoft, Inc. as the market leader in the Asia Pacific speech recognition technology software market.

Pronexus Introduces VeoConnect& for Microsoft Speech Server 2004

Pronexus announced the release of VeoConnect, its speech-enabled auto attendant for Microsoft Speech Server 2004.

VoiceObjects to Open Its Voice Application Server Architecture to the Global Voice Industry

COLOGNE, Germany and BOSTON - XML Development Kit will enable organizations to run any voice or DTMF application on a voice application server.

Envox Worldwide Announces CT ADE Upgrade Program

NEW YORK - Envox Worldwide and ScanSoft announced the introduction of an upgrade program for current users of the Intel® NetMerge™ Computer Telephony Application Development Environment (CT ADE).

Countrywide Chooses Solutions From NMS Communications and Nuance for Call Center Applications

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - Countrywide(R) Financial announced that it has chosen the NMS Open Access(TM) platform from NMS Communications and Nuance's speech recognition technology for its call center applications.

New Technology from Sensory Allows English Lessons on Handheld Devices

HONG KONG - Sensory Inc. announced its new patent-applied-for English language training technology that is implemented on chips.

MERA Unveils Session Controller Solution for VoIP Networks

TORONTO - MERA Systems, Inc. announced the availability of its new session controller architecture.

Aculab and Pulse Form Alliance to Support Microsoft Speech Server 2004

NEW YORK - Following on from the launch of Microsoft Speech Server 2004, Aculab and Pulse have announced a strategic partnership to ensure the delivery of a telephony interface manager for Aculab's hardware and Microsoft Speech Server (MSS).

S1 Enterprise Voice Powered by Edify Enhances Speech-based Customer Interactions

ATLANTA - The product is part of the recent release of S1 Enterprise 3.0, the integrated multi-channel solution that addresses the front-office of banks and insurers.

Lyrix Enterprise Voice Portal Service Improves Communication for the Mobile Professional

BOSTON - Using speech and the IMAP4 protocol, Lyrix provides hands-free access to existing corporate email stores.

Speech-Driven Volkswagen Owners Manual Wins Innovation Prize at AutoMechanika 2004

AutoMechanika in Frankfurt awarded one of its four Innovation Prizes to the new Vokswagen speech-enabled Multimodal Owners Manual. The application was developed for Volkswagen by the Berlin-based voice application company, 8hertz Technologies GmbH (8hertz).

Edify Introduces Licensed Speech Application for Banking Institutions

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Edify Corporation introduced Edify Voice Banking, a fully-licensed software application that enables banking establishments to automate customer interactions and provide access to account, branch, and other financial information through speech-enabled self-service.

Frost & Sullivan Honors ScanSoft's SpeechWorks Division with Market Leadership Award

PEABODY, Mass. - ScanSoft, Inc. announced that industry research firm Frost & Sullivan has selected the SpeechWorks Division of ScanSoft for the "2004 Speech Technologies Market Leadership Award."

MacSpeech Applauds (and Clarifies) IBM Open Source Speech Recognition Announcement

SALEM, N.H. - Macintosh Speech Recognition authority MacSpeech announced that they applaud IBM for releasing some of its speech recognition software to the open source community, and wanted Macintosh users to know what this announcement might mean to them.

Nortel Networks Announces Key Customers and New Solutions

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Nortel Networks announced new communications solutions and key customers who are adopting the networking solutions that enable multimedia applications to be shared across an enterprise.

Nortel Networks Brings New Voice to Web Pages

NEW YORK - Nortel Networks announced its Web-Centric Self-Service (WCSS) solution designed to redefine how enterprises and service providers deliver secure, self-service voice applications through Web pages for their customers.

PrairieComm Partners with ART To Incorporate smARTspeak onto FronTier 3G Platform

RPrairieComm has partnered with ART Advanced Recognition Technologies to enable integration of the smARTspeak product line into its FronTier 3G reference phone platforms.

Telefónica Móviles España Selects Comverse MMSC For Higher Capacity

WOODBURY, N.Y. - Telefónica Móviles España announced that it has selected the Comverse Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC) to be deployed side-by-side with a third party MMSC to support high-volume personal and application-based multimedia messaging in Spain.

Voxeo and Paraxip Technologies Announce Partnership to Offer Standards-Based IVR and Call Control

NEW YORK - With this new partnership Paraxip's SIP gateway software will be bundled with Voxeo's VoiceCenter Turnkey IVR servers.

Citco Mutual Selects LogicTree to Voice Automate Fund Services Help Line

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - LogicTree will provide voice automation for Citco Mutual's Shareholder Servicing and Transfer Agency division.

Vocalocity Partners with NeoSpeech for Integrated Text-to-Speech Offering

NEW YORK - NeoSpeech and Vocalocity announced a strategic partnership to deliver integrated solutions to system manufacturers, system integrators, and service providers.

Nuance Vocalizer 4.0 Brings New Capabilities to Enterprise and Telco Voice Automation Solutions

MENLO PARK, Calif. - Nuance announced Nuance Vocalizer 4.0, the company's newest text-to-speech (TTS) software.

Phonetic Systems Releases Voice Search Engine 5.8

NEW YORK - Phonetic Systems announced an upgrade to its patented speech recognition technology which is the core foundation of its Enterprise, Call Center and Carrier speech applications.

Eicon Networks launches Diva Server Analog Range of Telephony Adapters

MONTREAL - Eicon Networks Corporation announced the launch of the new Diva Server Analog range of telephony adapter and media processing products.

City of Montreal Uses BCE Elix

MONTREAL - The city of Montreal and BCE Elix announced the launch of telephone applications that provide Montrealers with an enhanced 87-ACCES automated telephone service system.

Metaphor Solutions Announces Speech Application Development Tools

WELLESLEY, Mass. - Metaphor Solutions announced the first release of its Metaphor Conversation Manager (MCM).

Vicorp Announces Launch of xMP Narrator Graphical Design Tool

NEW YORK - Vicorp announces xMP Narrator, a GUI-based design tool that enables Voice User Interface (VUI) Designers to create speech applications with speech interfaces that are modelled around 'natural conversations' between two people.

Cingular Launches New Software for Blind and Low-Vision Customers

ATLANTA - Cingular Wireless announced the launch of TALKSTM, a speech-enabled application designed to address the needs of blind and low-vision mobile device users.

Honda Enhances Speech-Recognition System

From Motor Trend - Honda Motor Co., with help from partner IBM Corp., is preparing to introduce an improved speech-recognition system that will allow drivers to get voice navigation guidance without having to manually punch in any information or take their eyes off the road to read a computer screen.

Oddcast Selects NeoSpeech TTS; Adds US English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean

NeoSpeech and Oddcast announced that NeoSpeech's VoiceText Text-to-Speech engine has been integrated with Oddcast's VHost technology.

Azita Martin Joins TuVox as Vice President of Marketing

LOS ALTOS, Calif. - TuVox announced that it has named Azita Martin to the position of vice president of marketing.

ZyDoc Offers Hurricane Disaster Transcription Support

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. - ZyDoc announced free emergency transcription and medical record support for healthcare workers and organizations affected by the Frances hurricane disaster.

POST CTI Bolsters Technical and Customer Support Teams

POST CTI announced three new appointments at its UK offices in Harrogate and Sandhurst.

World Wide Web Consortium Issues SSML 1.0 as a W3C Recommendation

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has published the Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML)1.0 as a W3C Recommendation.

Eicon Announces System Software and Toolkit for Diva Telephony Adapters

Eicon Networks announced the availability of new releases of Diva Server System Software Suite and Diva Server Software Development Kit (SDK).

SVOX and Kirusa Partner to Deliver Multimodal Solutions

NEW YORK - Kirusa and SVOX announced a partnership to bring to market Kirusa Multimodal Solution integrated with SVOX Text-to-Speech Software.

Speech Technology Industry Recognizes 2004's Outstanding Achievements

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The speech technology industry recognized 2004's outstanding achievements by companies and individuals at the annual SpeechTEK Conference and Exposition, held last week at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Vail Systems Releases SIP Telephony Interface Manager for Microsoft Speech Server 2004

Designed to Microsoft specifications, the Vail SIP TIM connects Microsoft Speech Server 2004 to SIP-based IP telephony networks.

SER Announces New Release of Its Outbound Call Management System, CPS 8.0

DULLES, Va. - SER Solutions, Inc. announced the newest version of its outbound call management solution, Call Processing System™, CPS 8.0.

voice robots Chooses teliSpeech, telisma's Speech Recognition Software for Its Voice Portal Platform

PARIS and HEIDELBERG - voice robots and telisma announce the conclusion of a worldwide retailer agreement.

Audium Launches New Products, Expands Capabilities

Audium announces the general availability of Audium Studio, Audium Call Services, and Audium SDK, along with an upgrade to its Audium Builder product.

Empirix Launches Solution to Help Contact Centers with Cisco ICM Components

Empirix's OneSight for Contact Centers combines automated voice transaction monitoring with new OneSight Telephony Monitors that allow organizations to collect customer experience and system metrics from all elements of a Cisco ICM environment.

Voxpilot Passes VoiceXML Forum Certification Tests

DUBLIN - Voxpilot's Open Media Platform, which supports industry standards such as SS7, SIP, MRCP, SSML and VoiceXML, has now been independently certified for its conformance to the W3C VoiceXML 2.0 Recommendation.

ScanSoft Expands Portfolio of Text-to-Speech Software for Embedded Applications with RealSpeak Solo 4.0

NEW YORK - ScanSoft, Inc. announced the availability of RealSpeak™ Solo 4.0, the latest offering in its portfolio of text-to-speech solutions optimized for embedded and desktop applications.

SandCherry Introduces Voice4 Solutions Platform and Solutions

Voice4 platform solutions combine SandCherry's VoiceXML browser and SoftServer platform with speech technology components from vendors.

Audium Teams with IBM to Integrate Voice Products and Enhance Compatibility

NEW YORK - Audium announced that it has signed a teaming agreement with IBM to integrate IBM WebSphere voice products with Audium's product line and further certify compatibility on IBM hardware and software.

Loquendo and NMS Communications Certify Interoperability Under NMS Universal Speech Access

NMS Communications announced that Loquendo's Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) software based on the Media Resource Control Protocol (MRCP) 1.0 protocol has been certified by NMS as compliant with the NMS Universal Speech Access interface.

Alliant Energy Enhances Customer Service Portfolio With Edify's Speech Automation Capabilities

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Alliant Energy announced that it has deployed Edify Corporation's speech-enabled software to provide Alliant Energy a self-service offering for its growing customer base in the heartland of America.

W3C OKs Speech Standard For Mobile Devices

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has published the Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) 1.0.

Sporn Group Selects Brooktrout and Vocomo for IVR Solution to Administer Nursing Contractors

The Sporn Group announced that it is using Vocomos VoiceXML system which runs on Brooktrout's TR1000 voice platform, in its Nurse Administration Management Environment System (NAMES).

Lyrix Announces the Latest Version of Its Enterprise Voice Portal Service

In this latest 4.6 release, Lyrix provides voice-controlled access to existing corporate email stores via the industry standard Internet Message Access Protocol Version 4 (IMAP4) protocol.

GM Voices Identifies the Top 100 Voices

GM Voices created the TOP 100 Voice Brands Web site to make it easy to judge the best voice brands.

Bank of America Deploys Apptera's Voice Locator Application

NEW YORK - Bank of America announced that it has deployed the Apptera™ voice-automated, Spanish-based branch and ATM locator application.

Vail Systems Provides Portal For Annual SpeechTEK and OPUS Research Speech Solutions CHALLENGE II

NEW YORK - Vail Systems announced that the company hosted the SpeechTEK and OPUS Research Speech Solutions CHALLENGE Portal on its SIP-based VoiceXML and SALT hosting platform.

Syntellect Announces Vista 5.0

PHOENIX - Syntellect Inc. announced the release of the next version of its flagship product Vista in the fourth quarter of 2004.

Nuasis Names Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Product Management

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - Nuasis™ Corporation announces that Joseph McFadden has been promoted to vice president of Corporate Marketing and Product Management and is the newest addition to the Nuasis Executive Management Team.

Angel.com Releases Site Builder 2005 to More Than 2,000 Customers

MCLEAN, Va. - Angel.com released Site Builder 2005, the next generation of the company's patented product for the creation, deployment and maintenance of IVR applications.

Voxpilot and Kirusa to Showcase Kirusa Voice SMS Multimodal Application

NEW YORK - Kirusa and Voxpilot will demonstrate the patent pending Kirusa Voice SMS (KV.SMSSM) multimodal application, deployed on Voxpilot's fully VoiceXML 2.0 compliant Open Media Platform, in Voxpilot's Booth #210 at this year's SpeechTEK Conference in New York.

Wizzard Software Announces Canadian Patent Application Filing for Talking Pill Bottle

PITTSBURGH - Wizzard Software Corp. announced it has filed a patent application through its MedivoxRx Technologies, Inc. division with the Canadian Patent and Trademark Office.

Telstra Acquires UK Operations of PSINet Europe

LONDON - Telstra Europe Limited (Telstra) announced the acquisition of the UK businesses of PSINet Europe. PSINet UK was previously controlled by the Israel Corporation Limited.

Unveil Technologies Announces Version 2.0 of its Voice Self Service Application

Unveil Conversation Manager is voice application software that enables call centers to deploy software-based virtual agents that automate, assist, analyze and route customer service calls.

Avaya Announces New Communications Applications that Utilize Automated Speech

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Avaya Inc. announced new releases of its unified communication and contact center solutions: Avaya Unified Communication Center, Avaya Interactive Response, and Avaya Speech Applications Builder.

ScanSoft Fires Dragon NaturallySpeaking Out to System Integrators

From eChannel Line - ScanSoft Inc. is moving its Dragon NaturallySpeaking solution from the desktop to the server, and will be depending on system integrators to package up the solution for key verticals such as healthcare.

Eicon Networks Announces Support for Nuance Voice Platform 3.0 and Nuance 8.5

Eicon Networks announced the availability of an Audio Provider software module for Nuance Voice Platform 3.0 and Nuance 8.5.

Voxeo and Voice Architects Announce Voice User Interface Design, Analysis and Tuning Services

NEW YORK - Voxeo Corporation and Voice Architects announced at the SpeechTEK 2004 conference a partnership to deliver a suite of Voice User Interface (VUI) services to Voxeo's enterprise IVR customers and Evolution IVR developers.

Loquendo Releases VoxNauta Lite 6.0 Software Speech Platform

VoxNauta Lite 6.0 is a multi-lingual open solution for building customized voice service and improving communication through voice access to information.

One Voice Network Deploys MVTS Session Controller to Provide Voice Services to the Developing Countries

TORONTO - One Voice Network announced that it has deployed MERA Systems, Inc.'s MVTS Session Controller for delivery VoIP wholesale termination as well as prepaid voicemail and value-added services to consumers in the developing world.

Global IP Sound Announces Embedded VoiceEngine

SAN FRANCISCO - Global IP Sound (GIPS) has extended its VoiceEngine(TM) family of products with the Embedded VoiceEngine(TM), a software plug-in designed to handle voice-related tasks for Voice over IP (VoIP).

Sonum Technologies Releases Natural Language Processor

Sonum Technologies announced the release of its Natural Language Processor (NLP).

Pronexus and Vail Systems Offer Developers "A SIP of Speech"

Pronexus and Vail Systems announced the availability of 'A SIP of Speech.'

CarBot Selects Acapela to Integrate In-car Aftermarket Entertainment System

CarBot has chosen Acapela text-to-speech to voice enable its in-car computer.

Aumtech and Paraxip Technologies to Jointly Deliver IVR Solutions in the Hybrid Network

NEW YORK - Aumtech, Inc. and Paraxip Technologies announced that they have entered a strategic agreement to co-market and jointly deliver IVR Solutions to service providers and enterprise customers worldwide.

The Disability Rights Commission Selects Readspeaker and rVoice

The U.K. Disability Rights Commission has selected ReadSpeaker with rVoice from Rhetorical for accessibility to its Web site.

Angel.com Launches Enterprise Voice Sites, the Next Generation of Speech and IVR Solutions

MCLEAN, Va. - Angel.com released Enterprise Voice Sites, the company's new product suite of packaged IVR applications.

Continental Airlines Selects Voxify's Automated Agents

Continental Airlines is using Voxify's Automated Agents to manage flight reconfirmation calls and deliver excellent customer service.

ScanSoft Partners with Alloys International to Extend Reach into Australian Enterprises

From ComputerWorld - ScanSoft, Inc. has signed a partner agreement with Alloys International. Alloys International will distribute ScanSoft's range of productivity applications including ScanSoft® PaperPort®, OmniPage® and PDF Converter®, to its customers including system integrators, VARs, resellers and retailers.

AVST Offers New IP Integration for the Mitel 3300 ICP PBX

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. - Applied Voice & Speech Technologies, Inc. (AVST) announced a new IP-based integration between the AVST CallXpress® unified communications solution and the Mitel® 3300 Integrated Communications Platform (ICP) PBX.

Canadian Service Provider Selects Vicorp VoiceXML Platform

NEW YORK - Bell Canada announced that it will be deploying the Vicorp xMP Application Development Platform within its Next Generation IP network.

CYGCOM and UXComm Announce the Launch of the SpeechWatch Console Beta for the Microsoft Speech Server Environment

CYGCOM Integrated Technologies Inc. announced with its development partner UXComm, Inc., the launch of the SpeechWatchTM Console Beta Program.

ScanSoft Achieves Global Market Leadership in Speech Recognition Market Based on Shipments in 2003

Gartner has recognized ScanSoft as the global market share leader in speech recognition deployments for 2003, in its recent report, titled, "Market Share: Speech Recognition Telephony Software, Worldwide 2003."

Vocomo Previews New Voice-over-IP Interactive Voice Response Product

NEW YORK - VocomoVoice® Response for VoIP is a standards-based Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platform that does not require specialized hardware.

Wyndham Selects Voxify Automated Agents to Help Roll Out Automated Services

Wyndham International has selected Automated Agents by Voxify to greet guests, help locate hotels, book reservations, or update their loyalty program information.

New York's MTA Selects Loquendo for Newest Train Cars

MTA Long Island Rail Road and MTA Metro-North Railroad selected Loquendo's embedded text-to-speech technology.