Monday December 21, 7:46 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Enterprise Messaging Services Joins Unisys NL Elite Software Reseller Program
EMS to Offer Speech Applications Based on Industry-Leading Unisys Natural Language Technology
BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 21, 1998-- Unisys Corp. and Enterprise Messaging Services Inc. (EMS), a leading provider of call processing products and services for computer telephony integration and intelligent networks, Monday announced a reseller alliance.
As a member of the Unisys NL Elite Software Reseller Program, EMS will use its SpeechAccess product and Unisys Natural Language (NL) technology to rapidly and easily build Interactive Voice Response (IVR) applications, then offer those advanced, NL-Enabled applications to customers.
Utilizing Unisys NL Speech Assistant (NLSA), EMS will provide customers with cutting-edge capabilities as spoken language applications continue to become more widespread. Spoken language systems are already replacing touch-tone dial systems for a variety of applications, such as phone banking, by interpreting phrases that users speak in a natural voice, like ''I want to open a new account.''
This capability simplifies the outside customer experience and dramatically expands the potential for new types of self-service applications. These applications will not only help enterprises realize cost savings in customer service operations, but also allow the creation of new revenue generating applications.
''There is a growing market demand for spoken language applications. Our NLSA tools simplify and accelerate speech application development and delivery without requiring specialized developer skills,'' said Rick Barchard, director of marketing, Unisys Natural Language Understanding initiative.
''The combination of EMS' SpeechAccess and NL-enabled technology will give enterprises a new range of options in deploying speech-based applications to grow their business and benefit their own customers.''
EMS utilizes the newest NLSA tool, the Dialog Design Assistant, to design and deploy speech-enabled applications. The Dialog Design Assistant allows developers to test, verify and simulate speech recognition applicability and accuracy prior to deployment. This drastically reduces risk and costs typically associated with spoken language IVR applications.
Previously, companies were forced to make educated guesses on the content of the application dialogue because testing was not possible until after the application was completely built. Any changes after the fact are expensive, complex and time-intensive.
Real-world deployment shows advantages of Unisys/EMS alliance
The first SpeechAccess application to utilize the combination of EMS and Unisys NLSA is the new speech-enabled Services Scheduling Application. This application, currently being deployed in a Philadelphia medical education facility, provides the caller with the ability to schedule their work hours. The caller will be able to use spoken English to communicate individual availability as well as access times and dates when they are already scheduled to work.
The application will also feature an outbound calling capability to remind the caller of upcoming work commitment dates.
EMS will market the Services Scheduling Application and other speech-based applications to a broad range of markets, including medical, education, commercial and telecommunications.
About the NL Speech Assistant
The Unisys Natural Language (NL) Speech Assistant is an advanced speech application development tool set. The NL Speech Assistant not only provides application developers with the tools for speech application design and creation but also provides for application project management, development methodology and testing.
To protect applications from speech recognizer obsolescence, the NL Speech Assistant gives developers an open tool to design and develop spoken language applications across platforms and speech recognizers.
Unisys NLSA technology is also currently integrated with or being resold by other prominent speech technology vendors including Philips, Lucent and Lernout & Hauspie, and IVR partners such as Parity Software, Artisoft, Voice Processing Plus, MediaSoft Telecom, Periphonics, Pronexus and International Public Access Technologies.
NL Solution Providers include systems integrators such as SAIC, Atlantic IVR, Enterprise Integration Group, and Unisys Communications Market Sector Group.
Unisys has a complete reseller program for the NL Speech Assistant, including platform integration, marketing and sales support, technical support and training. Visit www.marketplace.unisys.com/nlu for more information.
About Enterprise Messaging Services Inc.
EMS provides sophisticated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) software, consulting services, application development and project management. EMS is a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider with Microsoft Certified Professionals on staff. EMS consultants are highly qualified with technical expertise to design, build and manage telecommunication projects for Value Added Services.
EMS' Interactive Voice Response (IVR) product SpeechAccess is a full-featured, scaleable interactive voice response system development tool and runtime environment. SpeechAccess is a software tool to design, prototype, simulate, document, generate and customize Interactive Voice Response (IVR) applications.
It has evolved from extensive experience and study of both large and small-scale IVR solutions that exist in the marketplace.
EMS' corporate headquarters are located at 905 Airport Road, Suite 300, West Chester, Pa. 19380; Phone: 610/701-7002; Fax: 610/701-7004; Email: sales@emessages.com. For more information, visit the EMS Web site at emessages.com
About Unisys
Unisys (NYSE:UIS - news) is more than 33,000 employees helping customers in 100 countries apply information technology to solve their business problems.
Unisys solutions are based on a broad portfolio of global information services including systems integration, outsourcing, ''repeatable'' application solutions, consulting, network integration, remote network management, and multivendor maintenance and support, coupled with enterprise-class servers and associated middleware, software and storage.
Repeatable solutions are focused on key vertical markets including financial services, transportation, telecommunications, government, publishing and other commercial markets. Headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, in the Greater Philadelphia area, Unisys 1997 annual revenue was $6.6 billion. Access the Unisys home page on the World |
