BY LAURA GUEVIN
Editorial Director, Communications ASP

Just Name Your Game

I've been hearing a lot lately about VoiceXML, the open language that enables voice access to and browsing of Web content. Actually, TMC president Rich Tehrani wrote a column about it that will be published in the March/April issue of Communications ASP magazine (available online on March 21). He did more than that though: He wrote a piece of code to demonstrate the power of the language, showing how easy it is to integrate it with existing content (in this case, several of TMC's conference tracks for the upcoming Communications Solutions EXPO). The code will be accessible to readers through a toll-free number, thanks to the Tellme Studio from Tellme Networks.

Tellme and other VoiceXML platform providers are enabling a great range of applications and services, and Rich describes these capabilities as Web-based interactive voice response (IVR). Everything from access to restaurant reservations, ski and traffic reports, and news and stock quotes is available. And now gaming has been added to the list, with a number of interactive, voice response-driven options available through a toll-free call.

JSmart Technologies, based in the US and Israel, develops interactive games using VoiceXML, wireless application protocol (WAP), and Java. The company's Smart Platform is the foundation for all of their offerings, and provides opportunities for voice portals, carriers, and third-party developers in a scalable environment. Their games are accessible through a WAP-enabled handset or emulator, or by calling Tellme at 800-555-TELL and entering the appropriate extension for the game. Options include Smart Stakes, a trivia game, Smart Charades, and Head-2-Head Tic Tac Toe, among others.

There are several other games available through Tellme's site from independent developers like Colloquial.com. These include SpeechSmuggler and the Magic Eight Call. Other offerings from third-party developers include HexaDude's Crystal Ball, Adventure, and the classic Rock, Paper, Scissors. And of course there's Tellme's own version of Blackjack. While none of the games are extremely intricate, they offer an interesting -- and more importantly, free -- way to pass the time and even interact with other players in real time, if you don't have access to a computer.

Of course there are many other VoiceXML platforms available to game developers out there, and the BeVocal Caf from BeVocal, Inc. is another leading environment. Many of JSmart's games are also available on this platform by calling 800-4BVOCAL. Other platform providers include VoiceGenie, which offers the VoiceGenie Developers' Workshop, and Voxeo Corporation, which provides a development network. Additional platforms include IBM's WebSphere Voice Server SDK, Motorola's Mobile Application Development Kit, and Nuance's VoiceSite Staging Center -- hosted through a partnership with Interactive Telesis.

VoiceXML applications, and the speech recognition technology that drives them, have a long way to go before they reach mainstream acceptance. Gaming is just one area with development potential, but it is an area that is increasingly utilizing voice for interactivity. And while the VoiceXML games available today may not offer the glamour of video-driven favorites like Tomb Raider, they do offer an alternative form of entertainment for those without access to a computer or gaming system.

Laura Guevin welcomes your comments at lguevin@tmcnet.com.