Active Voice Announces OEM Agreement With SpeechWorks
PR Newswire - February 07, 2000 06:15
Active Voice's True Unified Messaging Solution to Incorporate SpeechWorks' Over-the-Phone Speech Technology
SEATTLE, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Active Voice Corporation (Nasdaq: ACVC), a global provider of unified messaging and computer telephony software solutions, and SpeechWorks International, Inc., a global provider of conversational speech recognition solutions for e-business, today announced an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agreement. Under terms of the agreement, Active Voice will use SpeechWorks as the speech recognition component of Unity(tm)-its true unified messaging solution for the enterprise business market.
"As true unified messaging, Unity sits directly on top of the rich information stored in Exchange-the enterprise directory, personal contacts, appointments, schedules, to-do lists, and so on," states Kevin Chestnut, Active Voice chief technology officer and vice president of advanced products and technology. "Using speech to access this information is easier and faster than pressing telephone buttons-especially for mobile users. Combining Unity with the exceptional performance and accuracy of SpeechWorks' speech recognition solution will further empower Unity users to manage messages and calls anytime, anywhere."
"We are excited to partner with Active Voice and offer SpeechWorks on the Unity platform," remarks Stuart R. Patterson, SpeechWorks chief executive officer. "The relationship is a natural one-as both companies provide innovative, award-winning technologies-that make it easy to do business with people in the next room, or around the world. SpeechWorks puts callers in control of their voice mail and other messaging applications. They will be able to speak their request and Unity will process it automatically. Active Voice's global strategic partnerships, which represent nearly 30 percent of the PBX market, will allow the ease of 'speech' to reach users of these messaging applications worldwide."
Benefits Customers Will Enjoy
The integration of Unity's true unified messaging solution with SpeechWorks' speech recognition engine will empower customers with greater control over their messages. A friendly, speech-enabled automated attendant will make it easier for people to get information from self-service applications. Users will have the added option of using natural, spoken language (that Unity recognizes) to access their voice, fax, and e-mail messages, and navigate corporate directories. With Unity's new international localizations, customers will be able to say "forward this message," or "diese Nachricht weiterleiten," or "transferer ce message." The integration will also allow enterprise customers and partners to receive the latest speech recognition technology, at a competitive price point, to ensure that their products are the most advanced.
About Unity's True Unified Messaging
Unity, which recently won Computer Telephony magazine's "Unified Messaging Shootout" and received Windows NT magazine's "Best of Show" award for Microsoft Exchange Conference '99, is a Windows NT(R)-based communications solution that delivers voice mail, unified messaging, an automated attendant, and a fax server in a truly unified environment. Unity gives users the power to access and manage all their messages-voice, fax, and e-mail-through a touchtone telephone, a desktop PC, or over the Internet.
Unity's true unified architecture fits seamlessly into an organization's existing data network, significantly lowering an organization's total cost of ownership. Unity stores e-mail, voice mail, and faxes in a Microsoft Exchange(R) server. A single message store simplifies administration and eliminates synchronization problems caused by disparate directories. In addition, Unity's single LDAP directory services means administrators only need to maintain one address book for all message types, and can make adds, moves, and changes just once for all media types. This translates into increased messaging control and greater customer satisfaction. For more information on Unity please visit: www.activevoice.com/products/unity/index.html.
About Active Voice
Founded in 1983, the Seattle-based Active Voice has offices in Australia, Canada, China, France, Sweden, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. With more than 85,000 systems installed in virtually every kind of business in over 60 countries, Active Voice develops technology that helps businesses communicate better. Active Voice solutions are sold through a global network of independent telecommunications dealers, telephone equipment manufacturers, and computer resellers. More information about Active Voice and its products is available at the company's Web site, www.activevoice.com.
About SpeechWorks International, Inc.
SpeechWorks International is the creator of SpeechSite(TM), the first solution to bring the Web model of self-service to the phone, enabling corporations to greet callers, route their calls and respond to requests 24 hours a day, seven days a week. SpeechSite runs on the company's multi-language solution, SpeechWorks(R) 6. SpeechWorks 6 is based on award- winning technology that sets a new standard in speech-enabled e-business with unprecedented recognition accuracy and ease of deployment. SpeechWorks' customer base comprises over ten of the Fortune 100, including BellSouth, Continental Airlines, E-TRADE, Guardian, Hewlett-Packard, McKesson HBOC, NEXTLINK/FedEx and United Airlines among many others. With headquarters in Boston and with offices worldwide, SpeechWorks is a privately held corporation with financing from venture capital firms, Intel Corp. (through the Intel64 Fund), and SAP. The company's solutions incorporate several patented technologies, and are based on research originally conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. SpeechWorks Here(TM) is a mark of industry excellence. To experience the power of SpeechWorks, call toll-free: 888-SAY-DEMO. For additional information, call 617-428-4444 or visit www.speechworks.com.
Web Site: www.activevoice.com
Today's News on the Net-PR Newswire on the Internet with Hyperlinks to your home page.
URL: prnewswire.com
NOTE: Brand and product names in this document are trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Public Relations, Monica Drake, 206-441-4700, ext. 1154, or pr@activevoice.com; or Investor Relations, Amy Thomas, 206-441-4700, ext. 1197, or ir@activevoice.com.
SOURCE Active Voice Corporation
/CONTACT: Monica Drake, Public Relations, 206-441-4700, ext. 1154, or
pr@activevoice.com, or Amy Thomas, Investor Relations, 206-441-4700,
ext. 1197, or ir@activevoice.com, both of Active Voice Corporation/
/Web site: speechworks.com
/Web site: activevoice.com
marketwatch.newsalert.com
Looks like more sharp business agreements.
Jack |
