Nuance Unveils Text-to-Speech Software
Company Adds Nuance Vocalizer to Its Industry-Leading Speech Recognition And Voice Authentication Product Set
MENLO PARK, Calif., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuance (Nasdaq: NUAN), the leader in voice interface software, today launched Nuance Vocalizer -- a line of advanced text-to-speech (TTS) software products that convert text-based information into audio for access over the telephone. Vocalizer brings a human-sounding voice to a wide range of applications such as e-mail reading, voice dialing, stock quotes, driving directions, order management and customer support. In addition to launching Vocalizer, Nuance also announced a text-to-speech development lab based in the United Kingdom.
"Our customers are demanding a single source of supply for speech recognition, TTS and voice authentication software. With the addition of Vocalizer, Nuance can provide the integrated and best-of-breed speech technologies they require," said Ronald Croen, president and CEO of Nuance. "High-quality TTS is essential to enabling access to information on the Voice Web, and our investment in a state-of-the-art development facility will help ensure we continue to meet the needs of the market."
Nuance Vocalizer: Natural-sounding and cost-efficient
Vocalizer is designed to deliver a natural sounding voice that is easily understood by callers. It accomplishes this while using a fraction of the hardware, both in terms of processing power and memory, of competitive TTS offerings. As a result, Vocalizer may provide carriers and enterprises high user satisfaction with significant system cost savings.
Moreover, Vocalizer will be integrated with the Nuance 7.0 speech recognition engine and Nuance Verifier(TM) 2.0 voice authentication software, and will use Nuance's unique distributed architecture to provide the most robust, accurate, scalable and complete speech solution in the industry. This architecture will enable the system to load balance between servers, maximizing CPU utilization and performance, while minimizing downtime.
Vocalizer will offer flexible deployment options and easy integration with Nuance partner telephony platforms. Vocalizer will be available in both male and female voices to meet the needs of a variety of applications. To support Nuance's global partners and customers, the product will be available in a number of languages, including North American and U.K. English, Dutch, French, Italian, German, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish. Vocalizer will also offer support for Windows NT and Solaris.
The Nuance Vocalizer product line will incorporate a combination of Nuance-developed software and technologies from such leading vendors as Lucent Speech Solutions, Fonix (OTC Bulletin Board: FONX), and others. Ongoing development of Vocalizer will take place at a development lab in Norwich, England, staffed by some of the best researchers in the TTS field. Andrew Breen, Ph.D., formerly with British Telecom, is heading the team.
Pricing and Availability
Nuance Vocalizer 1.0 will be available for download for development purposes for free through the Nuance Developer Network in Q1 2001. The human-like quality of Nuance Vocalizer 1.0 can be heard today at www.nuance.com. License pricing for Nuance Vocalizer in North American English starts at $600 per port.
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 BeVocal, Lycos, Merrill Lynch, Nomura Securities, Sprint PCS, and Tellme Networks. 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 availability of the Vocalizer products, including, for example, those products in different languages and on different platforms; the integration of the Vocalizer products with Nuance's other software and the benefits thereof; continuing Vocalizer development; and cost-savings and other benefits derived from a customer's use of Vocalizer software. 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 or implied in this press release's forward-looking statements: the risk that Nuance is unable to develop successfully and make available new products, including, for example, the Vocalizer product line; the risk that Nuance is unable to successfully integrate Vocalizer with Nuance's other software; the risk that Nuance's customers will be unable to develop or commercialize successfully products or services that use Nuance's products; the risk that products and services based upon Nuance's products are not commercially accepted by consumers; and other factors described in Nuance's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Nuance's last-filed prospectus and quarterly report. Nuance does not undertake to update any oral or written forward-looking statements that may be made by or on behalf of Nuance.
SOURCE Nuance
CO: Nuance; Lucent Speech Solutions; Fonix
ST: California
IN: CPR STW
SU: PDT
01/29/2001 12:59 EST prnewswire.com |
