SAN FRANCISCO — Jan. 31, 2006 — Today at the annual SpeechTEK West convention in San Francisco, Microsoft Corp. highlighted the recent successes of its software partners in bringing to market a diverse set of packaged speech applications built on Microsoft® Speech Server, the company’s interactive voice response (IVR) and speech recognition solution. The more than 20 packaged speech applications that have been certified by Microsoft to date demonstrate how companies across all industries can utilize the flexible Speech Server platform to deploy the next generation of IVR solutions.
Certified speech applications help deliver fast time to market and return on investment (ROI) by providing customers with reusable code and proven voice-response solutions. Microsoft expects the number of certified speech applications to double within the next year based on the current development pipeline and momentum from more than 70 Microsoft Speech Server partners.
Independent software vendors (ISVs) such as Advanced Technology and Research Inc. (ATR), bridgeSpeak and VoiceMetrix have deployed packaged solutions built on Microsoft Speech Server, with a number of customers delivering substantial ROI.
ATR
Advanced Technology and Research Inc.’s (ATR) mPath products integrate speech, global information system (GIS) and multimodal technologies in multiple languages to route calls, vehicles and alerts. Designed to streamline a company’s dispatch operation, mPath Radar offers spatial routing, reduction of dispatcher call volume and job updates by telephone. Offering both inbound and outbound calling, map-based work and alert response, mPath Radar allows dispatchers to work more efficiently, make fewer mistakes and effectively manage their communication and fleet workload.
ATR mPath Operator Leavetime, a component of mPath Radar, is a robust, well-tested IVR system that answers, routes and shapes voice traffic into an enterprise dispatch communications solution. Built on Microsoft Speech Server’s scalable component technology, ATR mPath Operator allows companies to increase the power of their call center, delivering professional, enterprise-class telephone systems at small-business prices.
“ATR mPath Radar allows my dispatchers to spend less time on the phone, and more time dispatching jobs,” said Pat Inglese, president of Pioneer Concrete Pumping Inc. “Increased productivity means increased profitability, and ATR Dispatch Radar paid for itself in record time. It’s like adding another dispatcher for a fraction of the cost.”
bridgeSpeak LLC
bridgeSpeak Automotive Retail helps auto dealerships increase profitability and improve service. The bridgeSpeak system unifies a dealership’s computer and phone systems, automating inbound calls, streamlining service scheduling and enabling proactive customer communications.
bridgeSpeak’s inbound auto attendant helps ensure that every customer call is promptly and consistently answered and quickly directed to the right person or department. Another component of the system generates outbound service appointment reminder calls to customers, helping minimize service downtime. bridgeSpeak’s outbound calling feature also integrates with dealers’ promotions and customer databases, enabling each communication to include relevant promotional offers. bridgeSpeak also contacts customers regarding recalls, special orders and other offerings.
Taylor Automotive Family, operator of Taylor Cadillac and Taylor Kia in Toledo, Ohio, captured approximately $122,190 in additional revenue in less than 45 days after its initial deployment of bridgeSpeak Automotive Retail. “We have had a seamless changeover to bridgeSpeak’s software,” said Steve Taylor, president of Taylor Automotive. “The initial results are well beyond my expectations.”
“Microsoft Speech Server is an ideal platform for bridgeSpeak,” said Jon Poploskie, vice president of bridgeSpeak. “Our customers lack extensive technology infrastructure or expertise, but Microsoft Speech Server provides a highly capable, cost-effective platform built on mainstream technologies that are within reach of most midsize businesses. Speech Server has enabled bridgeSpeak to bring the business value of speech within the reach of today’s auto dealers.”
VoiceMetrix Corp.
VoiceMetrix provides telephony and Internet customer self-service solutions to government and commercial enterprises. VoiceMetrix has chosen Microsoft Speech Server as the core platform for its flagship Advanced Jury Information System (AJIS) Appear product. To date, 40 federal courts have deployed VoiceMetrix AJIS Appear solution to help reduce costs and free up court staff time.
AJIS Appear is an automated voice messaging system that integrates with existing jury management systems and provides an outbound calling component to remind jurors of their reporting date and inform them about revised reporting times, dates or cancellations. The system also accepts inbound calls, enabling jurors to confirm their instructions or hear the status of their individual requests. AJIS Appear also makes this reporting and status information available via the Internet.
“VoiceMetrix is excited to work with Microsoft Speech Server to take judicial technology to the next level with integrated speech solutions,” said Robert Mayo, president of VoiceMetrix. “On average, courts that deploy the AJIS Appear system can reduce their failed juror appearance rates by as much as 30 percent. In turn, courts can quickly increase their juror utilization rates while also reducing jury office workload and costs.”
Microsoft Speech Server Partners
Other partners with packaged applications built on Microsoft Speech Server include Apptera Inc., ComputerTalk Associates Inc., Datria Systems Inc., Gold Systems, Intervoice Inc., Metaphor Solutions Inc., Pronexus Inc., Pulse Voice Inc., Servion Global Solutions Ltd., SOFTEL, Solar Software Inc., Tell-Eureka, Vail Systems Inc., Voice Automation Inc., and VOICE.TRUST AG.
About Microsoft Speech Server
Microsoft Speech Server 2004 R2, part of the Windows Server System™ family, is an integrated, interactive voice response platform for building, deploying and maintaining dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) and speech-enabled applications for customer self-service and outbound notification. Contact centers and businesses use the award-winning platform to automate customer self-service calls, reduce call-center agent time, improve customer satisfaction, add speech capabilities to line-of-business applications and provide access to existing applications from most any telephone. Speech Server helps reduce the complexity and cost of developing and deploying DTMF and speech-enabled applications. Speech Server also enables developers to use the powerful Visual Studio® 2005 development environment to cost-effectively build and maintain high-quality DTMF and speech-enabled applications. More information can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/speech.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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