Nuance Communications (News - Alert) Inc. today introduces a voice biometrics solution that can authenticate people as they speak their own names, so they don’t have to remember and enter passwords or answer security questions.

The technology can be used in call center, IVR applications, mobile apps and Web applications.

“The acceptance of voice biometrics is accelerating, and has become one of the hottest areas of our business,” says Robert Weideman, general manager and executive vice president at Nuance Enterprise. “In just the past two years, the total number of consumers who have enrolled voiceprints with banks, mobile providers and other organizations has tripled – from 10 million to 30 million.”

According to Nuance, surveys indicate 85 percent of people are dissatisfied with current authentication methods. The release goes on to say that Barclays, Eastern Bank, T-Mobile (News - Alert), Turkcell and Vanguard are among those organizations. And, it adds, Opus Research reports that from 2011 to 2012, spending on voice biometric solutions for authentication grew by 74.2 percent and is forecast to grow 35 percent in the next five years.

“Organizations recognize that, by providing the natural voice interface and high level of security that voice biometrics affords – right at the point of authentication – they can deliver a much more compelling experience to their consumers, with an added level of security,” Weideman adds.

As discussed in a Nuance-authored piece in the September 2012 issue of CUSTOMER magazine, IVR menu mazes are becoming a thing of the past. “Companies are realizing that focusing on customer convenience is truly the best way to ensure cost savings and customer retention. As a result, many of today’s IVRs are more conversational and designed to be convenient for callers – resulting in fewer zero-outs,” according to the piece, which tells the story of how US Airways in 2011 implemented a natural language IVR based on its technology.