FONX news release:
Fonix(R) Simplifies Development of Interactive Voice Solutions Via New s.Manager(SM) Speech Integration Framework Breakthrough Provides a Single Interface for Speech Needs; Single Source For Integrating Text-To-Speech Engines, Audio Into Speech Applications Including Telephony Hardware Support for Computer Telephony and Socket Capabilities Support for Network Applications
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb 6, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Fonix(R) Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: FONX chart, msgs), a leading provider of natural-user interface technology and voice solutions for computer telephony and server solutions, mobile and wireless devices, and vehicle telematics, today announced the debut of s.Manager(SM), a pioneering speech integration framework that will greatly simplify deployment and lower costs for a wide variety of interactive voice and speech applications.
s.Manager, announced today at the Telephony Voice User Interface Conference in Scottsdale, AZ, gives software developers an easy, low-cost, and versatile method of implementing voice solutions in applications ranging from IVR systems, Unified Messaging, Voice Portals, Contact Centers, and CRMs to network-based applications, websites, PDAs, cell phones, automotive telematics, and more. Several current Fonix customers, such as EPOS and Syntellect, will have an opportunity to evaluate s.Manager and possibly integrate the speech solution into their offerings.
s.Manager provides plug-and-play support for several server and computer telephony platforms, including C++, Java, and SAPI-compliant APIs, and support for various audio formats (MuLaw, ALaw, PCM Linear, VOX, raw, among others). The solution includes:
-- Text-To-Speech (TTS). s.Manager ships with the award-winning Fonix
Simply Speaking(TM) Unlimited Vocabulary TTS (U.S. English), which
speaks any text clearly and intelligently and offers the highest
channel density of any engine on the market; Fonix Clearly Speaking(TM)
Customized Vocabulary TTS (multi-language), which speaks focused
amounts of text with a voice indistinguishable from that of a human;
and Fonix DECtalk(R), the industry's most recognized formant-based TTS
engine offering a multi-language, very high channel density engine in
comparison to most concatenative-based TTS engines.
-- Additional Text-To-Speech Support. In order to offer customers greater
TTS flexibility and to better meet their multi-language needs, Fonix
s.Manager offers the plug-and-play of best-of-class TTS engines with
minimal code rewrite by supporting and reselling Lucent Articulator
(U.K. English), Babel-InfoVox (European and Scandinavian), and HiVocal
(Mandarin Chinese); s.Manager also supports Loquendo, ELAN Speech Cube,
ScanSoft RealSpeak, SVOX, OKI, and AT&T Natural Voices.
-- Fonix Speech Framework. s.Manager provides HTML, text, and basic email
filtering that eliminates unwanted text before it is spoken by the TTS
engine. The framework's versatile C++, Java, and SAPI 5.1 APIs
(Application Programming Interface) provide powerful functionality with
a minimum of coding effort. If a customer chooses to write an
application using the s.Manager's SAPI APIs, s.Manager provides access
to not only SAPI-compliant TTS engines, but also to non-SAPI engines,
thus providing a greater range of TTS options than before.
-- Total Audio Input/Output. Managing, mixing, and playing voice prompts,
greetings, menu items, branded voices, and more are possible with
s.Manager's audio capabilities. The framework accepts, converts,
plays, records, and saves almost any audio type, converting sample
rates and bit rates on the fly, and makes it easy to combine WAV
prompts with TTS synthesis. s.Manager can also synthesize and speak an
email via a single API call, filtering and eliminating unwanted text
before it is spoken.
-- Socket and Network Support. For network and wireless applications,
s.Manager can deliver voice across both hosted (desktop) and
distributed (networked) systems. The framework provides true
multi-modal input/output voice support for wireless handhelds, cell
phones, and in-vehicle automotive telematics applications, and can
stream audio across the Internet to any Web browser or application.
"s.Manager will change the face of voice by lowering development costs, efficiently increasing time-to-market, and improving reliability of speech applications regardless of their unique challenges or environment," said Mark Hamilton, Vice President and General Manager, CT and Server Business Unit for Fonix. "s.Manager enables users to quickly and easily implement 'best-of-class' voice solutions without expensive maintenance and rewrite costs. It's a faster, more complete, and more versatile interface for any voice need."
Powerful Performance
s.Manager offers a number of valuable additions as well. Email Plus, a unique, user-customizable s.Manager upgrade, automatically identifies acronyms, URLs, emoticons, and other inconsistencies in email text, changing inflection and/or simultaneously playing select WAV files to help communicate subtleties that are normally missed during synthesis. A menu of telephony support options is available for an additional fee, providing such high-level telephony support as Intel Dialogic telephony board communication, intelligent detection between boards, and various advanced call handling capabilities -- all accessed through the same API set as the TTS and audio control functionality.
Planned Improvements
As the industry's most comprehensive deployment environment for interactive speech, s.Manager will be continually enhanced to provide new user benefits. Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) is expected to be available in June, as well as additional TTS support and multiple languages (Slavic and Turkish), network clustering, and load-balancing. For more information, visit the Fonix corporate Web site at www.fonix.com , or call (801) 553-6600.
About Fonix Corporation
Fonix Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: FONX chart, msgs) is a leading provider of natural-user interface technology solutions for wireless and mobile devices, Internet and telephony systems, and vehicle telematics. Leading chip manufacturers, independent software and hardware vendors, and Internet content and service providers incorporate Fonix technology to provide their customers with an easier and more convenient user experience. Fonix products, including Text-To-Speech (TTS), Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), and Handwriting Recognition (HWR), provide the most natural communication solutions available. For additional information, visit www.fonix.com , or contact a Fonix representative at (801) 553-6600.
Fonix Investor Contact: Michelle Aamodt, (801) 328-0161, invrel@fonix.com
Fonix and DECtalk are registered trademarks, and s.Manager is a trademark, of Fonix Corporation. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other product or services names are the property of their respective owners.
Note: The statements released by Fonix Corporation that are not purely historical are forward-looking within the meaning of the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, |
