from RB:
By: jimee11
Reply To: None Monday, 31 Jan 2000 at 4:17 PM EST
Post # of 191849
Lucent Technologies gives service providers a way to enhance a mobile user's access to messages and the Internet
FOR RELEASE MONDAY JANUARY 31, 2000
Two New Applications Enable People On The Move To Receive Voice, E-mail and Fax Messages and Access Web Content Via Voice Commands Over Wireless Handsets
MILPITAS, Calif. - Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) today announced that it will offer two new applications to service providers that will help the growing community of mobile users manage information and access the Internet without using a personal computer. With these applications, people on the move can manage Internet content and all of their messages - e-mail, voice, fax and instant -- from telephones, wireless handsets and personal digital assistants.
The new applications, Internet Message Management and Voice Browser, are based on Lucent's new Mobile Communications System (MCS) for service providers. With MCS, service providers can offer their customers greater control over the information they receive. For example, people can monitor the performance of their personal investment portfolios, "voice surf" the Internet for local restaurant or lodging recommendations, and receive and respond to messages while on the go, via voice commands and data messages on their telephones.
"The strategy behind our Mobile Communications System is based on the fact that people are looking for ways to access a variety of information easily and conveniently," said J. Kim Fennell, vice president and general manager, Lucent's Messaging Solutions Group. "Service providers want to help their subscribers always stay in touch, regardless of their environment or the communications devices at their disposal. The Internet Message Management and Voice Browser applications provide users with an effective and flexible way to improve their mobile communications."
"The Internet Message Management and Voice Browser applications offer mobile users a flexible alternative for real-time access to e-mail and Web content, independent of the communications device," said Dana Thorat, senior research analyst from IDC. "Lucent is positioned to take the lead in delivering mobile communications applications to service providers as this market develops."
With the Internet Message Management application, subscriber-controlled filtering rules enable users to define what messages they receive on which communications devices and at what time. For example, a user can program the application to only deliver messages from their administrator and manager.
This application also allows mobile users to receive e-mail messages with attachments, such as voice files, Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations or Lotus® Word Pro documents. These attachments can either be converted into speech and listened to over a wireless handset or redirected to a fax machine that is convenient for the user.
Using Lucent text-to-speech technology, fax capabilities and wireless data transmission, Internet Message Management allows e-mail to be displayed on wireless handsets or converted to voice for delivery over phone lines or to images for delivery to fax machines. This application also uses two-way Short Message Service (SMS) in a wireless environment, and will expand to include support for the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) -- making it possible to use on current and next-generation mobile phones.
With Voice Browser, mobile users can access personalized Web sites over the phone using Lucent's voice-recognition software. By using voice commands, a user can navigate and obtain customized information, such as stock quotes, daily schedule, traffic and weather reports, phone directories and local news. Lucent's text-to-speech technology makes it possible to convert textual information from the Internet into voice.
Lucent MCS enables service providers to increase revenues and reduce subscriber turnover. Service providers also can take advantage of new opportunities by tapping into Internet revenue streams, such as online advertising and e-commerce. Both MCS applications will be demonstrated for the first time at the GSM World Congress in Booth #F16, February 2-4 in Cannes France.
The MCS uses speech technology from Lucent Speech Solutions. Its Compact PCI Speech Processing Board brings superior reliability, scaleability and versatility to leading-edge applications. Combined with Lucent's patented speech software, the board supports open interfaces and handles multiple languages. Lucent Speech Solutions offers a full range of natural language speech technology for text-to-speech, automatic speech recognition and speaker verification applications.
The Internet Message Management application was developed in Bell Labs and will be available to wireless, wireline and Internet service providers in North America, Europe and Asia in the third quarter of 2000 in U.S. English. Future languages include U.K. English, German and French. Initial installations of the Voice Browser application will begin in North America in the second quarter of 2000.
"The Mobile Communications System conveniently provides access to e-mail and Internet content from the same mobile phone that people are using for their voice calls," said Krishan Sabnani, director of Bell Labs' Networking Software Research. "Now, users will be able to access their email, including attachments, without carrying around a laptop. They can even respond to e-mail just by talking into a mobile phone. This system truly turns a mobile phone into a personal communications device."
About Lucent Technologies
Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., designs, builds and delivers a wide range of public and private networks, communications systems and software, data networking systems, business telephone systems and microelectronic components. Bell Laboratories is the research and development arm for the company. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit its Web site at lucent.com.
The Messaging Solutions Group, headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., is a worldwide leader in providing multimedia messaging equipment and services to telephone companies, wireless service providers, businesses, governments and educational institutions in more than 90 countries. For more information on Lucent Technologies Messaging Solution Group, visit its Web site at lucent.com
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