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APEX VOICE COMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCES GENERAL – Latest Version Includes Call Recording and Karaoke Modules SHERMAN OAKS, CA, September 30, 2004 – APEX Voice Communications, a leading supplier of enhanced services and real-time billing platforms to carriers, telecom service providers and enterprises worldwide, today announced the general availability of OmniVox version 5.0, an Intelligent Call/Media Processor supporting Windows XP. Some of the new features of OmniVox for Windows XP include the Call Recording Module, the Karaoke Module and support for more ScanSoft products. Additionally, a number of key enhancements have been made to the OmniView® Service Creation Environment, the award-winning graphical design, development, deployment and maintenance module.With the new Call Record Module, OmniVox for Windows XP records activities from both the IVR and the telephone. From the IVR, OmniVox records the prompts which are played to the caller, while from the telephone, OmniVox records both the spoken responses of the caller and the DTMF keystrokes entered by the caller. The Call Record feature is used widely for transaction-based call processing, such as banking, stock trades and purchases (order entry), where the service provider requires a complete activity log of the call (i.e. in cases of disputes). The Karaoke Module plays a background audio file and then simultaneously records what the caller is singing (or speaking). Already installed across the Middle East, this Module was originally marketed as a way to send Karaoke songs to friends and family. However, over the last few years, the entertainment industry around the world has begun to use this type of module to increase home audience participation, primarily in talent shows and game shows. In the United States, this type of Karaoke Module is used in the popular television talent show American Idol. “Other than supporting a new operating system, OmniVox for Windows XP has expanded support for existing technologies” said Elhum Vahdat, executive vice president of APEX Voice Communications. “For example, our customers can now choose automated speech recognition from either ScanSoft or Nuance, and choose two text-to-speech offerings from ScanSoft”. OmniVox has supported automated speech recognition technology for over 10 years, as part of its standard offering. ScanSoft’s OpenSpeech is a high-performance speech engine that is open, standards-based, and tuned to VoiceXML, delivering enhanced levels of accuracy specially in wireless environments. With the addition of ScanSoft’s OpenSpeech Voice Recognition, OmniVox now supports automated speech recognition from both ScanSoft and Nuance, two of the leading companies in the field. Much like voice recognition, OmniVox has supported text-to-speech for a number of years. With the addition of ScanSoft’s Speechify (SpeechWorks Division), OmniVox now supports two text-to-speech technologies from ScanSoft, giving greater options to developers worldwide. Text-to-speech is used for a wide range of applications, including delivering emails for unified messaging systems, providing prompts for IVR applications, as well as speech-enabling voice portals, directory assistance and auto-attendant applications. Other new features of OmniVox for Windows XP include a utility to facilitate the porting of OmniVox applications from UNIX or Linux to Windows; the ability for the SQL Commands to handle Binary Large Object (BLOBs), such as voice files, pictures and spreadsheets; and expanded support for SS7, which now includes Datakinetics from Intel. About APEX Voice Communications APEX is a leading manufacturer of enhanced services and real-time billing solutions. APEX’s high-density, open platforms enable innovative, revenue-generating services to reach the market quickly, easily and cost-effectively. APEX products are engineered for both existing and next-generation networks, offering circuit-based providers a migration path to packet-based services. For more information call +1 818.379.8400, visit www.apexvoice.com or e-mail [email protected]. Value Added Resellers may also visit the APEX Reseller Program at www.arp.apexvoice.com. Intel is a registered trademark and NetStructure is a trademark of Intel Corp. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. OmniVox and OmniView are registered trademarks of APEX Voice Communications, Inc. |