OnStar Licenses Nuance's Market-Leading Speech Recognition Software forVirtual Advisor
TROY, Mich., and MENLO PARK, Calif., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- OnStar, a subsidiary of General Motors (NYSE: GM), and Nuance (Nasdaq: NUAN), the leader in voice interface software, today announced that OnStar has licensed Nuance's speech recognition software to be used in the OnStar Virtual Advisor.
Nuance's software is integrated into the OnStar Virtual Advisor platform that will deliver in-vehicle, hands-free, voice-activated access to a collection of Internet-based information and content services including e-mail, stock quotes, sports reports, news and weather. The Virtual Advisor can also be customized, allowing subscribers to personalize their in-vehicle experience. General Magic (Nasdaq: GMGC) -- a member of Nuance's Voice Web ASP Program -- is developing and hosting the services for the new voice-driven OnStar Virtual Advisor.
"We believe that services like OnStar represent the 'next big thing' for consumer technology and an exciting new direction for Nuance," said Ronald Croen, president and CEO of Nuance. "We've made groundbreaking enhancements to our wireless and hands-free recognition capabilities, enabling exceptionally high accuracy in noisy environments such as automobiles. We believe that this is a significant step in bringing the power of the Voice Web to drivers everywhere."
"Nuance is a great partner in supporting our new Virtual Advisor service," said Chet Huber, president of OnStar. "They have superb core technology, a leadership position in the voice recognition industry, and continue to demonstrate their expertise in helping us optimize the hands-free performance of the OnStar system. As we expand the Virtual Advisor product suite, we will continue to leverage advanced speech technology to better meet the needs of our subscribers in a safe and secure manner."
About OnStar
OnStar is the industry-leading in-vehicle communications and information service that combines Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology and wireless communication to link the driver and vehicle with the OnStar Center, where advisors are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to offer real-time, personalized help. OnStar is offered as standard equipment or part of an option package, on 32 General Motors vehicles including all sport utilities and minivans and selected luxury and midsize sedans from Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC, Oldsmobile and Saab. OnStar is equipped on one million vehicles and will be on four million vehicles by 2003.
About Nuance
Nuance develops markets and supports a voice interface software platform that makes the information and services of enterprises, telecommunications networks and the Internet accessible from any telephone. Every day, millions of people interact with Nuance systems at blue-chip companies like American Airlines, Charles Schwab, The Home Shopping Network, Lloyds TSB, Sears and United Parcel Service. Nuance is also driving the creation of the Voice Web and delivering software for V-Commerce (voice-enabled e-commerce) services and applications. Nuance is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., with global sales offices and partners supporting solutions in multiple languages around the world. For more information about Nuance, visit www.nuance.com or call 888-NUANCE-8.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, for example, those relating to the growth of voice-enabled services in the automobile industry, the expansion of our Voice Advisor Product suite and our ability to meet subscriber needs. There is no assurance that the results contemplated by any forward-looking statements will be realized. The following factors, risks and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in this press release's forward-looking statements: growth in voice-enabled services in the automobile industry and the use of these applications by consumers and businesses could not occur as expected; prospective customers may not adopt or purchase Nuance products or current customers may not fully deploy Nuance products that incorporate voice-enabled services in the automobile industry; Nuance software products incorporating voice-enabled services may not achieve widespread acceptance; and other factors described in Nuance's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Nuance's prospectus dated Sept. 26, 2000. Nuance does not undertake to update any oral or written forward-looking statements that may be made by or on behalf of Nuance.
NOTE: Nuance is a registered trademark or trademark of Nuance Communications, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
SOURCE Nuance Communications, Inc.
CO: Nuance Communications, Inc.; OnStar Communications; General Magic; General Motors
ST: California, Michigan
IN: AUT STW TLS
SU: LIC PDT
01/17/2001 06:00 EST prnewswire.com |
