Speech Applications & Solutions

Speech Applications & Solutions Featured Article

 

Nuance Communications has announced its efforts to assist callers with World Cup information. In conjunction with the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Nuance (News - Alert) Mobile speech solutions will power the new T-Com voice application.

 

This speech enabled information and entertainment service is accessible via call completion by Germany’s digital directory assistance 11864 for 79 Euro cents from T-Com’s fixed network. Once the 11864 has been dialed, callers can use the Nuance speech technology to navigate the system by simply speaking into the phone.

Launched in May 2006, this service is the first in Europe to offer directory assistance, address look-up and additional information and entertainment services via call completion. This functionality arrives just in time for the Football World Cup from June 8 to July 9 when football (or soccer to the U.S. fans) teams from 32 different countries compete across Germany to become the 2006 world champion. Fans will have access to specialized event services from T-Com.

 

Callers using the service will have access to the World Cup’s information for game schedules, results, news and live updates on matches or the ability to activate a celebrity wake-up service featuring the voice of German football stars.

 

Special to the World Cup, this service is intended to help meet the challenge of distributing information to such a large and distributed audience. Millions of football fans in Germany are expected to use this service.

 

Using Nuance Mobile, the system is able to deliver a personalized, content rich, easily accessed phone experience, driven by integrated applications that all smoothly transition from network to device. The portal’s design is a result of contributions from a team of companies, including Nuance’s global partner, Avaya, and Berlin-based Mundwerk, which is responsible for the portal’s user interface and application development work.

According to Rudinger Grave, spokesman of T-Com, voice applications are an exciting business model for T-Com and can offer exceptional services to those seeking information and entertainment around the World Cup. It has been created with the tournament in mind and users are anticipated to really enjoy its offerings.

Peter Hauser, general manager and senior vice president, Nuance Communications International, contributed that Nuance is excited to be such an integral part of a valuable and high-profile project. This is the second consecutive World Cup in which Nuance technology has powered the official voice information platform – a great success at the 2002 World Cup.

 

Hauser went on to add that this service further demonstrates how important speech recognition is becoming in every day tasks and Nuance looks forward to adding to the excitement and providing easy access to information at this year’s tournament.
There may not be a better way to get full European publicity and exposure than involvement with the World Cup. Nuance has taken on a terrific challenge with incorporating their voice service in an effort to distribute so much information to so many people. Nuance’s partnership with Avaya (News - Alert) and Mundwerk demonstrates strategic competence and the company’s past success and proven ability will only lend to improving its global presence.

Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMC and has also written for eastbiz.com. To see more of her articles, please visit Susan J. Campbell’s columnist page.