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Nuance to Expand Offerings with MobileVoiceControl Acquisition

Speech Applications & Solutions



Speech Applications & Solutions Featured Article

 

 

December 07, 2006

Nuance to Expand Offerings with MobileVoiceControl Acquisition

By Susan J. Campbell, TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

Nuance (News - Alert) Communications, a supplier of speech and imaging solutions, has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire MobileVoiceControl, a provider of speech-enabled mobile search and messaging services. This acquisition will help position Nuance to further accelerate the deployment of speech-enabled solutions in the wireless industry, specifically within the mobile search and communications markets.

By providing a speech-enabled service, MobileVoiceControl allows consumers to easily dictate and send e-mail or text messages, dial a contact, create calendar entries and search Web content without ever using their voice. Nuance will gain a complete mobile service with powerful speech-enabled search and communications applications.

The service is currently available to Sprint (News - Alert) Nextel subscribers on select devices and can be downloaded from Handango.com. A strategic partnership with Gannett Co. and USA TODAY allows for rich, dynamic content and advertising deliverables.

“Speech technology is rapidly expanding the possibilities for consumers in the mobile environment,” said Paul Ricci, chairman and CEO, Nuance, in a statement on Thursday. “MobileVoiceControl’s service enhances the accessibility and utility of mobile devices, and by integrating the advanced speech technology of our Nuance Mobile product portfolio, can truly become a transformative consumer service. Nuance Mobile now represents the industry’s most ambitious and advanced set of capabilities for today's mobile environment.”

As one of the fastest growing technology markets in the world, the mobile device and wireless phone market offers the opportunity to provide content, advertising and services that has enticed the world’s more prominent Internet, search, software and content providers.

Although many of today’s phones offer Web and data capabilities as well as advanced mobile phone functionality, much of the available mobile content remains virtually invisible to users as it is too deeply hidden in confusing menu hierarchies. Nuance believes it can offer the best way to overcome these challenges and drive growth for mobile services and as a result, continues to make significant investments in mobile speech technology.

Stephen S. Burns, president and founder of MobileVoiceControl contributed that joining Nuance provides MobileVoiceControl with the opportunity to leverage strong speech technology to expand the feature set and capabilities of its mobile speech services. The combination of the two companies offers MobileVoiceControl direct access to Nuance’s vast technology portfolio, global resources and carrier relationships, enabling the company to further capitalize on the success it has since its launch earlier this year.

By combining MobileVoiceControl with Nuance, the end user is promised the “best of both worlds” in the sense that they will be able to use the advanced voice options to access functions that previously may have eluded them. With next-generation technology, more and more consumers are demanding increased voice-commanded functionality at their fingertips.

This acquisition will present greater opportunities for Nuance in the market as it will be better positioned to tap into areas that it previously lacked the functionality to compete. Clients of both companies will enjoy enhanced capabilities while the combined enterprise can focus on expanding the customer base.

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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.





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