Nuance to Acquire VoiceSignal Technologies
biz.yahoo.com
Tuesday May 15, 7:30 am ET
Company Expects to Deliver Mobile Device Control and Voice Search to One Billion Consumers within Next Three Years
BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nuance Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire VoiceSignal Technologies, Inc., creating an organization with broad resources, solutions and expertise that will satisfy the accelerating demand for speech-enabled mobile devices and services. Nuance expects to serve more than one billion consumers within the next three years with voice-based mobile solutions that allow people to simply and effectively navigate, retrieve and transact across the vast and growing universe of content and services available in mobile phones, automobiles and personal navigation devices.
Nuance and VoiceSignal share a vision to make the growing list of mobile device features, content and services available to consumers through a single button and a natural voice command. With proven technology, broad industry relationships, real-world deployment experience and an organization passionate about speech technology, the combined company will be able to develop new and innovative speech solutions and mobile search capabilities to more effectively serve the rapidly expanding market for mobile services and applications.
"Today, more than two billion people worldwide rely on mobile phones to stay connected, informed and productive. We see an expanding opportunity in helping consumers to use the powerful capabilities of their phones and to access the array of content and services available on the mobile Web," said Paul Ricci, chairman and CEO, of Nuance Communications, Inc. "We understand how to unlock the extraordinary potential of the mobile experience with speech. VoiceSignal's roster of solutions, language experience, relationships and talented employees will help Nuance deliver on the promise of the mobile lifestyle for consumers, device manufacturers, carriers and mobile Web content providers."
With the addition of VoiceSignal, Nuance expects to provide its solutions to more than one billion consumers within the next three years and anticipates that its total mobility revenues will exceed $125 million in fiscal year 2008. These revenues will comprise growing revenue streams from the proliferation of Nuance's device control applications, voice search solutions, advertising-based services, transaction-based services and recurring subscription models in mobile phones, cars and personal navigation devices. The combined company will include among its mobility customers AOL, AT&T, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Palm, Rogers Wireless, Samsung, Sanyo, Sony Ericsson, Sprint, RIM, T-Mobile, Toyota and Vodafone.
Under the terms of the agreement, total consideration is approximately $293 million, net of cash, using yesterday's closing price of $15.28 per share of Nuance common stock. The consideration comprises approximately 5.8 million shares of Nuance common stock and a net cash payment of $204 million.
The transaction is expected to close in the fiscal fourth quarter and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. In its fiscal year 2008, Nuance expects VoiceSignal to contribute between $55 million and $57 million in non-GAAP revenue; $40 million and $42 million in GAAP revenue; a GAAP loss between $0.04 and $0.05 per share; and non-GAAP earnings between $0.05 and $0.06 per diluted share. The combination is expected to generate approximately $8 million to $10 million in cost synergies in fiscal year 2008.
"By combining forces with Nuance, we can accelerate the realization of our common vision for mobile handsets: to eliminate the input bottleneck from small, mobile device keypads and make accessible to users the full power of mobile devices," said Rich Geruson, CEO of VoiceSignal. "Joining Nuance's assets with our capabilities in mobile positions the company well in the exciting, dynamic market of mobile search, where a voice interface will be the key to unlock its potential."
Nuance and VoiceSignal possess a rich heritage of delivering mobile speech solutions that allow handset manufacturers and mobile carriers to overcome the constraints of mobile keypads and screen size, delivering new levels of convenience and accessibility. With the acquisition, Nuance expands its portfolio of speech solutions with applications, expertise and relationships designed to make it easier, safer and more productive to use mobile devices.
By combining the respective strengths and resources of Nuance and VoiceSignal, the organization is intent on improving how mobile consumers can simply use their voice to access, use and share information through a single button. Expected benefits and advances can be found in the following solutions:
* Mobile Search - Nuance and VoiceSignal have pioneered voice-based access to the vast search capabilities of the mobile Internet. Through simple commands and one-button ease, mobile users are afforded simple, convenient access to directory assistance, music, games, weather forecasts, news, sports scores, stock quotes, maps and at time special offers from advertisers.
* Mobile Messaging - There were more than one trillion mobile email, SMS or text messages sent last year and the number is expected to grow rapidly in 2007. Nuance and VoiceSignal offer solutions that allow people to dictate a message into a mobile device rather than relying on slow, "thumbs-only" input such as predictive text, triple tap or small QWERTY keypads.
* Mobile Command and Control - Voice-activated dialing and name dialing solutions can eliminate the ten to twenty "taps" or button pushes that are typically required to dial a phone number or access a certain command.
* Consumer Safety - Nuance and VoiceSignal are committed to providing solutions that make it easy and safe for people to receive text messages on a mobile phone, even when their hands or eyes are otherwise occupied. In addition, the companies will further pioneer capabilities of "spoken" names, menus, emails, Web pages or other content, making it ideal for hands-free, eyes-free use in light of emerging legislation on the use of mobile phones in automobiles.
Nuance and VoiceSignal are committed to innovation and proliferation of mobile speech and voice search solutions on a global scale. The combined company will continue to make available and support the solutions of Nuance and VoiceSignal. |
