Nuance Enables World's First Completely Voice-Driven Wireless Phone
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2001--
Telespree Uses Nuance Speech Recognition to Deliver Unique
Keypadless'' Handset and Service Platform for Wireless Carriers
Nuance (Nasdaq:NUAN), the leader in Voice Web software, today announced that it is providing the speech recognition technology for the world's first completely voice-driven telephone for the wireless market. This unique one-button phone is part of a comprehensive set of products and services provided to carriers around the world by Telespree Communications, a wireless systems provider based in San Francisco. Carriers will use Telespree's platform as the basis for a new class of low-cost, over-the-counter wireless offerings for the mass consumer market.
Initially, Telespree will use Nuance speech recognition software to power its voice-activated dialing service. Users simply say the phone number to dial. In the near future, Telespree will introduce other voice-driven applications on its platform, including messaging, name dialing, address books, and voice portal services, among others. In addition, Telespree will use Nuance technology to enable carriers and consumers to customize the user experience. For instance, users will be able to choose the voice and personality of their service.
"Products like Telespree's will revolutionize the way people communicate and interact via the telephone," said Ron Croen, President and CEO of Nuance. "Touchtone keypads will go the way of the rotary dial, and people will use the power of voice to place calls, access information and much more on the emerging Voice Web -- all thanks to speech recognition."
Nuance's industry-leading speech recognition software, Nuance 7.0, is the engine behind Telespree's voice-driven solution. Nuance 7.0 delivers the highest level of accuracy, scalability and reliability available, and is designed for deployments in carrier networks.
"At Telespree, we have developed a voice-driven wireless system that is easy-to-use, affordable and convenient," said Alon Segal, CEO of Telespree. "To ensure the best speech recognition technology, we chose the industry leader -- Nuance."
Telespree's voice-driven product and service offering includes a one-button wireless phone, disposable AirClips(TM) for prepaid airtime and battery power, and the Intelligent Service Manager platform, a unique smart server/thin client system. Targeted to the mass market, the inexpensive phones, which are ready to use right out of the package, will be sold by wireless carriers through such diverse retail outlets as mall kiosks, mass market retailers, grocery stores and even gas stations.
About Telespree Communications
Telespree's patented new prepaid wireless service delivery platform, incorporating an innovative server/handset combination, which enables wireless carriers to profitably enter new high-growth consumer markets by reducing their acquisition, activation, distribution, operating and network infrastructure costs. Telespree's delivery platform is the only system available today that enables low cost, voice-driven wireless phones to be sold at vast consumer retail channels, effectively creating large, new markets of wireless users. For more information go to: www.telespree.com.
About Nuance
Nuance is the leader in Voice Web software -- speech recognition, voice authentication, text-to-speech and voice-browsing products that make 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 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 1-888-NUANCE-8.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, for example, those relating to the adoption by Telespree of Nuance products; the adoption of Telespree's platform and service by telecommunications carriers; the timing of Telespree's introduction of additional voice-driven applications; the impact of Telepsree's wireless phone offering and speech recognition technology on the future of communications and touchtone dialing; and the anticipated distribution channels for Telespree's wireless phones. 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 Telespree will not integrate Nuance's speech recognition technology into its shipping wireless phones; the risk that telecommunications carriers will not adopt Telespree's platform or services or agree to support their product offerings; the risk that Telespree will not introduce additional voice-driven applications that incorporate Nuance technology either in the near future or ever; the risk that Telespree's wireless phone offering and speech recognition technology will not have any impact on communications or touchtone dialing; the risk that Telespree's wireless phones will not find any distribution channels, whether retail or otherwise; 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.
CONTACT:
Nuance
Jennifer Yanez-Pastor, 650/847-7104
jyp@nuance.com
or
Benjamin Group/BSMG Worldwide
Angie Snyder, 415/352-2628 Ext 603
asnyder@bsmg.com
or
Calysto Communications For Telespree
Laura Borgstede, 404/266-2060
Lborgstede@calysto.com
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
BW2209 MAR 13,2001
5:30 PACIFIC
8:30 EASTERN |
