Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Voice-on-the-net (VON), VoIP, Internet (IP) Telephony -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (1633)	10/28/1998 8:02:00 AM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Respond to of 3178

UNISYS/ Unisys announces reseller program for automated speech recognizer engines October 28, 1998 M2 PRESSWIRE via NewsEdge Corporation : * Philips speech processing is inaugural program member * Signs major reseller and integration agreement with Unisys SpeechTEK, New York -- Building on its strong position as a leading vendor in the speech technology marketplace, Unisys Corporation today announced a new program through which it will resell industry-leading automated speech recognizer engines (ASRs). Unisys will integrate and bundle its own Natural Language technology with the ASRs and offer the complete package to Interactive Voice Response (IVR) vendors and developers. Unisys also announced that Philips Speech Processing is the inaugural member in its ASR Reseller Program. Unisys is undertaking this program in response to customer and developer demand for help in choosing and integrating the most appropriate tools for deploying speech-based applications. By pre-integrating NL Speech Assistant with a range of different ASR engines and IVR platforms, Unisys provides developers with an off-the-shelf package of tools to create spoken language applications across platforms and speech recognizers, protecting their applications from obsolescence. Unisys and Philips have signed an agreement that allows Unisys to resell Philips ASR to Unisys Natural Language customers and channel partners. As part of this agreement, Unisys will integrate its Natural Language Speech Assistant toolkit with Philips ASR, SpeechPearl [TM]. This integration will provide a turnkey development environment from a single source using industry-leading technology to build and operate speech-based applications. (See related release.) "We're proud to be taking part in this ground-breaking agreement with Unisys," said Paul Celen, COO of Philips Speech Processing. "We immediately saw the significant opportunity of partnering with Unisys due to their well-developed distribution network of channel partners and strong global presence." Reseller Program Streamlines Speech-Based Application Development Previously, developers of speech-based applications were forced to turn to a variety of vendors for the pieces of technology required to build their applications, and then integrate those technologies -- a costly and labor-intensive process. Unisys new reseller program will dramatically simplify the way speech-based technology applications are developed, packaged and sold, enabling developers to obtain the necessary technology components for their applications from a single source. "Unisys strives to inject new ideas and development into this market, " said Joe Yaworski, vice president and general manager of the Natural Language Understanding program, Unisys Corporation. "This program changes the buying requirements, as well as the upfront knowledge and effort necessary to build speech-based applications. We think this offering, with reputable program members like Philips, will jumpstart the development and deployment of speech applications." How It Works Each speech-based application requires different technologies to handle specific steps of a complex process. The Interactive Voice Response vendors provide the technology that enables an incoming call to be connected with the system, plays voice prompts to the user, digitizes the answer and gives it to an ASR, such as that offered by Philips. The ASR turns the digitized voice response into text and relays it to the Unisys NL Speech Assistant. The Unisys NL Speech Assistant then translates and filters that text into a specific response. For example, the user could tell the system "All right," "Yep," and "OK," all of which become "Yes." The response of "Yes" prompts the IVR technology to present the user with another question. This process continues until the user gets the desired information. Since the Unisys NL Speech Assistant is predominantly sold through its well- developed system of IVR channel partners, developers will now receive Unisys industry-leading speech application development and operating environment directly from their IVR vendors. The Unisys reseller program intends to drive growth of the speech-based application market to one-day replace touchtone applications with exponentially more efficient voice technology. About Unisys Unisys (NYSE:UIS) 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 Wide Web - unisys.com - for further information. Unisys is a registered trademark of Unisys Corporation. SpeechPearl is a trademark of Philips Speech Processing. All other brands and products referenced herein are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. <<M2 PRESSWIRE -- 10/27/98>>

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (1633)	10/28/1998 8:04:00 AM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Respond to of 3178

GST Global Telecommunications Inc. Announces Name Change to Global Light Telecommunications Inc. October 28, 1998 VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE) via NewsEdge Corporation -- GST Global(VSE:GGB.U.) (AMEX:GBT) GST Global Telecommunications Inc ("Global ") is very pleased to announce that it has changed its name to Global Light Telecommunications Inc. This name change will be effective at the opening of business on Thursday October 29, 1998. Global Light Telecommunications Inc. will have a new CUSIP NO. (37934X 10 0) and shares of GST Global Telecommunications Inc. will be exchangeable for shares of Global Light Telecommunications Inc. on a one-for-one basis, however, current shareholders do not need to exchange existing certificates. Global Light will continue to trade on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol "GBT" and on the Vancouver Stock Exchange under the existing symbol "GGB.U". Commenting on the change of name, Ian Watson, President and CEO stated, " We are pleased to introduce our new name and identity to the public marketplace. We feel that our new name now reflects the Company's autonomy and represents both its history and its future with Global operating as a telecommunications company focused on providing service in underserved and deregulating countries in the international marketplace." Global is a telecommunications company based in Vancouver, B.C. with joint venture interests in Europe through Axxon Telecom B.V., a switch-based long distance reseller, and in Mexico through Bestel, S.A. de C.V., a facilities based long distance concessionaire currently completing a 2,270 km fiber optic network in Mexico. GST Global also owns controlling interests in NeTrue Communications, Inc., a company involved in the supply of Internet telephony services to international markets and in Highpoint Telecommunications Inc., (HGP:Alberta Stock Exchange) which operates telecommunications networks specializing in voice, data and internet carrier services internationally. CONTACT: GST Global Telecommunications Inc. \| Robert Blankstein, 604/ 609-6677 \| 1-888-234-4423 \| or \| GST Global Telecommunications Inc. \| Kelly Taillon, 604/ 609-6677 \| 1-888-234-4423 \| Website: ggbtelecom.com [Copyright 1998, Business