I'm not sure how compelling the use of voice for configuration is, but it is a good experiment to explore the capabilities and possibilities of the technology...
InfoSpace Announces Availability of Speech-Enabled SMS Alerts Provisioning Built on its Open Standards-Based, VoiceXML Speech Platform New InfoSpace application designed to drive SMS usage and revenues; to provide carriers' sales networks and consumers with convenient and easy-to-use demonstration, set-up and provisioning tool
BELLEVUE, Wash., Sep 6, 2001 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- InfoSpace, Inc. (Nasdaq:INSP), a leading provider of the platform and applications that enable partners to deliver consumer and commerce services across the Internet to any device over current and next-generation networks, today announced the availability of InfoSpace Speech-Enabled SMS Alerts, a provisioning tool that is integrated and operates on the Company's open standards-based, VoiceXML speech platform and is one of the key components to InfoSpace's wireless platform.
SMS (Short Messaging Service) has proven to be a widely successful wireless feature as well as a revenue generator for wireless carriers. According to the GSM Association, the current global monthly average for SMS text messages is an estimated 16 billion, up from one billion in early 1999. Due to SMS's success, many carriers derive significant percentages of their wireless data revenue from the delivery of SMS services.
"SMS services are fueling the adoption of wireless data services and speech-enabling the set-up and provisioning of these services, such as alerts, is a very convenient and powerful tool. Through our speech platform and applications, a user is able to set-up an alert by calling a number and simply saying something like, `Set stock alert. InfoSpace. 4 p.m.' and it's done," said Naveen Jain, chairman and CEO of InfoSpace, Inc. "This new technology is another excellent example of our efforts to continue to innovate and enhance our platform, so that our customers, including the leading wireless carriers, can provide users with new and compelling features and functionality."
InfoSpace offers a complete end-to-end speech solution to partners, including control of the core technology, platform, applications and studio (third-party development kit). The Speech-Enabled SMS Alerts application is designed to increase usage of SMS services as more wireless data subscribers can benefit from the ability to easily create and modify alerts directly from their wireless phone. Currently, InfoSpace powers SMS services for a number of carriers internationally and domestically. Speech-enabling SMS alerts should also create larger revenue opportunities for InfoSpace carrier partners. Speech provisioning should make it easier for carriers' marketing and sales professionals to demonstrate wireless data capabilities by setting up SMS alert features, such as timed and event stock alerts, sports score alerts, news alerts, among others, while face to face with a potential subscriber, and drive adoption of wireless data services. InfoSpace's speech-enabling technology is fast and intuitive, and provides a user-provisioning alternative to going online.
"We are very excited about our first-to-market advantage in speech-enabling SMS wireless alerts. Speech-enabled SMS alerts is a great multimodal application that combines the power of SMS for the display of user requested information with the ease of use and speed of speech provisioning. This service is especially valuable if a user doesn't have readily available access to an Internet connection," Jain added. |
