[June 13, 2001]

Talkie Launches Online Characters For Conversational Customer Service

Talkie, Inc. announced the launch of two standardized Talkie character products to enable better communication and customer service between companies and their customers. Talkie, Inc. is an artificial intelligence software technology provider specializing in proprietary conversational natural language solutions for customer service, e-commerce and other applications.

Talkie characters are fully conversational virtual customer service representatives. Talkies are animated characters that verbally respond with human or synthetic voices to a users� text input on the Web, with lip-synch, appropriate facial expressions and gestures. Using powerful, proprietary natural language and behavioral animation technology, Talkie characters are instantly available to the overwhelming majority of Internet browsers without a separate download, and operate effortlessly over dial-up connections.

Talkie Guide creates conversational characters to deliver instant answers to a customer�s top questions, and to solve common customer issues. Talkie Expert creates virtual advocates that can demonstrate products and integrate with interactive multimedia presentations.

According to Datamonitor, it is estimated that inadequate customer service on the Internet will cost the US $9 billion in 2002. "Talkie characters turn online customer service into a positive experience for providers and end-users," said Talkie, Inc. Chief Executive Officer John Tarnoff. "Talkies provide consistent, accurate information at a fraction of the cost of live reps."

Companies looking to drive traffic to their Web sites and reduce call center costs can have Talkie customize these products to suit their knowledge base needs and take advantage of the powerful branding opportunity of a fully-articulated human-like virtual representative. Adds Talkie Inc.'s Chief Software Architect Robit Hairman, "Our technology is making computers human-literate. Our focus groups are consistent: people respond to Talkie characters because they are uniquely life-like."

Talkie products feature proprietary Personality Factory technology, synthesizing natural language processing and behavioral animation in one package that is standards-based, easy to customize and quick to implement. Talkies successfully address a variety of knowledge bases, and can be custom-integrated to existing back end enterprise software systems. Talkie�s server-side turnkey solutions provide a range of attractively priced service levels, and are delivered in partnership with Exodus Communications. Graphics are compatible with Macromedia Flash.

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