Speech Applications & Solutions

Speech Applications & Solutions Featured Article

 

AT&T's 1-800-YellowPages Directory Assistance Service has dipped into the benefits of speech technology by integrating solutions from Nuance (News - Alert) Communications into their service.

 

With the addition of Nuance's technologies, their service is better automated to provide callers with faster access to the information they desire.  

 

For white page requests, Nuance will provide a better customer experience by including text-to-speech and speech recognition solutions that make it easy for callers to speak their requests and receive spoken responses—for a faster way to find information, without the need for an actual phone book or internet access.

 

AT&T's (News - Alert) new service is free for callers with the inclusion of  sponsored, targeted advertising messages. Nuance's solution is part of an integrated advertising platform offered by VoltDelta (News - Alert). By adding their speech application to the platform, they are able to offer a name and number search that is dynamic.

 

"The entrance of AT&T into the market for advertiser- supported DA services validates the business model of this evolving market. We expect the number of free 411 calls to explode as callers discover the service offers a faster, more convenient alternative to other options such as standard yellow pages or traditional internet searches," Mark Thompson, vice president and general manager, Telco search and communications Nuance commented in a statement to the press.

 

Just yesterday, AT&T announced the addition of new categories to answer to today's modern lifestyle and making it easier to find listings for such things as Animal Chiropractic and Meal Preparation. 

 

Bob Mueller, director of Marketing Communications for AT&T Yellow Pages commented, "Keeping our animals healthy and active, learning online, and buying meals already prepared have become facets of modern life, and we reflect those trends in our books."

 

Nuance made headlines today with the closing of their acquisition of MobileVoiceControl. The deal, announced just last month, will help Nuance to more quickly deploy speech-enabled services for the wireless industry as well as the mobile search and communications markets.