SANFRANCISCO，March24，2004Sincethedawnoftheinformationage，researchershavelaboredtobuildapplicationsthatwillenablepeopletointeractwithcomputerssimplybytalking。

Butbuildingcomputersystemsthatrespondinstantlyandaccuratelytothespokenwordhasproventobemuchmoredifficultthanmostpeopleanticipated。

Becauseofthesheercomplexityandvarietyofhumanspeech，onlythelargestorganizationshavebeenabletoaffordthetimeandexpenserequiredtobuildsophisticatedspeech-enabledapplications。

Asaresult，speechrecognitionsoftwarethatcanoffermuchmorethanPressoneorsayonefunctionalityhasbeensomethingofararity。

WiththelaunchofMicrosoftSpeechServer2004，theworldofspeechrecognitionsoftwareispoisedtoundergoanimportantchange。

IntroducedbyMicrosoftChairmanandChiefSoftwareArchitectBillGatesduringhisopeningkeynoteaddressatthejointVSLive！

andAVIOS~SpeechTEKeventinSanFranciscotoday，MicrosoftSpeechServerisastandards-based，integratedspeechplatformthatwilldeliverthebusinessbenefitsofspeech-enabledsolutionstobothlarge-scaleenterprisesandmidsizecompanies。

ThereleaseofMicrosoftSpeechServermarkstheshiftofspeechrecognitionfromnichetechnologytomainstreamapplicationthatcanhelpcompaniesreducecosts，raiseproductivity，increasecustomersatisfactionandtakeadvantageofnewopportunitiesforgeneratingrevenue。

MicrosoftSpeechServerprovidesanextremelycost-effectiveandflexibleplatformthatintegratestelephonyandtheWeb，whileofferinggreatsecurityandreliability，alongwithspeechrecognitionthatissecondtonone，saysXuedongHuang，generalmanagerfortheMicrosoftSpeechServerproductgroup。

SpeechhasalwaysbeenanimportantpartofMicrosoftsvisionforseamless，pervasivecomputing。

Ifyouthinkaboutthefactthatthereare1。

2billiontelephonesintheworld，SpeechServerisreallygoingtoopenthedoortoawholenewrangeofsolutionsthatitwillmakeitpossibletoaccesstheinformationyouwantevenwhenyoudontnecessarilyhaveaccesstoacomputer。

TheBeginningofSpeechasaMainstreamTechnology

FirstmadeavailablelastJulywiththereleaseofthebeta1version，MicrosoftSpeechServerisalreadyplayingasignificantroleinhelpingindependentsoftwaredevelopmentcompaniescreatemainstreamspeech-enabledsolutions。

Currently，morethan60companiesareworkingwithMicrosofttodeveloppackagedspeechapplicationsandservicesthroughtheMicrosoftSpeechPartnerProgram。

CompaniessuchasJetBlueandGrangeInsurance，aswellastheNewYorkCityDepartmentofEducation，aretakingadvantageofspeech-enabledsolutionsbuiltonMicrosoftSpeechServertostreamlineoperationsanddeliverbettercustomerservice。

Itsonethingtobeabletosayyesornoorone，two，three，’saysRickSouler，directorofmarketingatViecore，Inc。

aleadingsystemsintegrationfirmthatspecializesincreatingself-servicesolutionsforcustomercontactcenters。

Butnaturallanguageisawholenewthing。

WithMicrosoftSpeechServer，Ithinkwerereallyrightatthebeginningofspeechasamainstreamapplication，andyouregoingtoseesomeexcitingnewsolutionsbecomeavailableveryquickly。

AccordingtoSouler，ViecoreisutilizingMicrosoftSpeechServertodevelopspeech-enabledsolutionsforenterpriseandmidsizecompaniesinindustriesrangingfromfinancialservicestoutilities，healthcare，insuranceandretail。

Currently，Viecoreisputtingthefinishingtouchesonanauto-attendantthatwillenablepeoplewhocallacentralswitchboardtosimplysaythenameofanemployee，departmentorserviceinordertobeautomaticallyconnected。

SolutionslikeViecoresauto-attendantarejustthebeginning。

Speech-enabledapplicationsbasedonMicrosoftSpeechServicesunderdevelopmentbyMicrosoftpartnersincludesolutionsforcustomerrelationshipmanagement，callcenters，financialserviceautomationandprescriptionfulfillment。

AtAccenture，theglobalmanagementconsultingandtechnologyservicescompany，CRMprofessionalsandthetechnologyresearchanddevelopmentorganizationhaveworkedtogethertocreatetwoprototypesthattakeadvantageoftheMicrosoftSpeechServerplatform。

Bothprototypesfocusonusingspeechtoreducethecostofcustomerinteractionandimprovethecustomerexperience。

ThefirstintegratesMicrosoftSpeechServerwithAccenturesCustomerInsightengine，resultinginanapplicationthatenablescustomerstomovequicklythroughastreamlined，automatedexperienceusingvoicepromptstoexploreandordernewservices。

Thesecondusesspeechrecognitioncapabilitiestoenableon-sitesalesprofessionalstoanswerquestionsandhelpcustomersmakepurchasedecisions。

AnIntegratedSpeechPlatformBuiltontheWindowsServerSystem

AnewmemberoftheMicrosoftWindowsServerSystemfamilyofproducts，MicrosoftSpeechServerwascreatedtodeliveraflexible，integratedspeechplatformthatdeliversthebusinessvalueofspeechinatrulycosteffectivemanner。

BuiltontheMicrosoftWindowsServer2003operatingsystem，MicrosoftSpeechServerprovideshighreliabilityandavailability，increasedperformanceandscalability，andawiderangeofadvancedsecurityfeatures。

MicrosoftSpeechServeralsoincludesasetofSpeechApplicationLanguageTags(SALT)developmenttoolsthattakeadvantageoftheMicrosoftVisualStudio。

NETWeb-programmingmodel。

TogetherMicrosoftSpeechServerandthespeechdevelopmenttoolsformaplatformforbuildingspeechapplicationsthatofferslowtotalcostofownership，theflexibilitytomeetreal-worldbusinessneedsandtheabilitytointeroperatewithexistingapplicationsandsolutions。

Inaddition，becauseMicrosoftSpeechServercombinesWebtechnologywithspeech-processingservicesandtelephonycapabilitiesinasinglesystem，developerscancreateapplicationsthatprovideeithervoice-onlyormultimodalfeatures。

WithMicrosoftSpeechServer，companiescandeployspeech-enabledsolutionsthatcanbeaccessedbytelephone，cellphone，PocketPC，TabletPCandotherdevices。

MicrosoftSpeechServerisavailableinStandardandEnterpriseeditions。

MicrosoftSpeechServerStandardEditionwasdesignedforsingle-serverconfigurationsandisfocusedonsmallandmedium-sizeddeployments。

Forlargeenterprises，MicrosoftSpeechServerEnterpriseEditionsupportsspeechdeploymentsthatrequirehighlyscalableanddistributedconfigurations。

WiththeEnterpriseedition，customerscanscaleoutbyaddingasmanynodesasneededtomeettheirportcapacityrequirements。

MicrosoftPartnerCompaniesDeliverKeyEnablingTechnologies

AlongwiththeBillGatesspeechannouncingthegeneralreleaseofMicrosoftSpeechServer，SpeechTEKSpring2004includesdemonstrationsofspeechtechnologiesandsolutionsbuiltbycompaniesthathaveworkedwithMicrosoftduringthedevelopmentofMicrosoftSpeechServerandaspartoftheMicrosoftSpeechPartnerProgram。

AmongthecompaniesatSpeechTEKSpring2004aresuchleadingcommunicationtechnologycompaniesasIntel，Intervoice，ScanSoft，EnvoxWorldwide，VoiceAutomation，GoldSystems，RedmondSoftware，CYGCOMandTataConsultancyServices。

Intel，theworldslargestchipmaker，isalsoaleadingmanufacturerofnetworkingandcommunicationsproducts，andtheIntelCommunicationsGrouphasworkedcloselywithMicrosofttodevelopareferencearchitecturethatenablesMicrosoftSpeechServertointeroperatewithexistingtelephonenetworks。

Intelisprovidingtwokeypiecesofthatreferencearchitecture：thetelephonyboard，whichisapieceofhardwarebuiltbyIntelthatallowsvoice-enabledsolutionsbasedonMicrosoftSpeechServertoconnectdirectlywithexistingtelephonesystems，andtheTelephonyInterfaceManager，orTIM，whichisalayerofsoftwarethatsimplifiesintegrationofthetelephonyboardwithSpeechServer。

Speechisareallycompellingtechnologybecauseitprovidessuchanaturalwaytointeractwithcomputersystems，saysIntelCommunicationsGroupMarketingManagerPeterGavalakis。

Untilnow，thecost，complexity，thelackofstandardsandthelackofinteroperabilityhavebeensignificantimpedimentstothewidespreadadoptionofspeechtechnology。

MicrosoftSpeechServerhasthepotentialtochangethat，andIthinkMicrosofthasdoneanoutstandingjobofmakingiteasytobuildgreatapplicationsbyprovidingexcellenttools，deliveringareallyreliableproductandensuringthatthereisastrongecosystemofpartnerswhounderstandthetechnology。

Intervoice，aDallas-basedcompanythathasbeendevelopingvoicesolutionssince1983，willalsobeanimportantpresenceatSpeechTEK。

IntervoicehasalsoworkedwithMicrosofttodevelopaTelephonyInterfaceManager。

AtSpeechTEK，thecompanywilldescribehowtheIntervoiceTIMcanhelpturnMicrosoftSpeechServerintoarobust，feature-richvoiceautomationplatformthatintegratesintovirtuallyanycallcenterortelephonyenvironment。

InadditiontoitsworkontheTIM，IntervoicehasalsodeployedprototypeapplicationsbasedonMicrosoftSpeechServerfortwomajorcustomers：theclothingretailerTalbots，andthebankingandinvestmentfirmHuntingtonBancshares。

AccordingtoGeorgePlatt，seniorvicepresidentofmarketingandcorporatestrategy，oneimportantimpactofthereleaseofMicrosoftSpeechServeristhattherangeofvoice-enablesolutionswillgrow，whichwillexpandthemarketforspeechapplicationssignificantly。

Callcentershavebeenthetraditionalmarketforspeechtechnology，saysPlatt。

ThelaunchofMicrosoftSpeechServergivesspeechtechnologyalotofvisibilityandcredibility，andearlyonyoullseenewsolutionsforcallcentersofallkinds，fromfinancialservicestoinsurancecompaniesandretailers。

Butotherkindsofapplicationswillsoonfollow，suchashumanresourcessolutionsthatprovideemployeeself-service。

Thatsreallygoingtohelpthisindustrygrow。

TheGrowingEcosystemofSpeechTechnologyCompanies

ScanSoft，agloballeaderinspeechtechnologies，applicationsandservices，isanotherMicrosoftpartnerthatisexcitedaboutthepotentialforgrowthinthemarket。

MicrosoftSpeechServerisgoingmakeitpossibleformanymidsizecompaniestotacklespeechprojectsforthefirsttime，saysDaveNuckols，ScansoftsdirectoroftheMicrosoftstrategicrelationship。

Untilnowthedevelopmentprocessforcustomapplicationshasbeensocostlythatonlycompanieswithhighcallvolumescouldjustifytheexpense。

SpeechServermakesspeechsolutionsmorecost-effectivetobuild，deployandrun，allowingsmallerorganizationstocapturethebenefitsofspeechautomationmorebroadlyandmoredeeply。

AccordingtoNuckols，ScanSofthasworkedwithMicrosoftonanumberofimportanttechnologiesforMicrosoftSpeechServer，includingthetext-to-speechandautomaticspeechrecognitionsoftwarethatispartoftheSpeechServerSoftwareDevelopmentKit。

ScanSoftisalsoagoodexampleofthestrongecosystemofpartnersthatMicrosofthascreatedtohelptechnologydevelopersbuildanddeployspeechsolutions。

ScanSofthasdevelopedanddeployedscalable，high-qualityspeechapplicationsaroundtheworldusingprovenprocessesandbestpracticesinuserinterfacedesigntoensurethehighestlevelsofcallersatisfactionandROIfortheircustomers。

AspartofthisecosystemaroundSpeechServer，wereworkingwithotherMicrosoftpartnersastheybuildtheirspeechpractices，saysNuckols。

Thecombinationofourexpertiseinareaslikeapplicationdevelopment，corespeechtechnologiesanduserinterfacedesign，andthe。

NETexpertisethatMicrosoftpartnerscanbringtothetablemakesforareallystrongpackageforcompanieslookingtotakeadvantageofspeechautomation。

AtSpeechTEK，ScanSoftwilldemonstrateitsChangeofAddresspackagedapplicationthatautomatesthewaycallcenterscollectaddressinformation。

ChangeofAddresscanbeusedtostartorstopserviceforautilityortoforwardamagazinesubscriptiontoanewaddress。

Today，change-of-addressinformationhastobecollectedbycall-centeroperatorsandmanuallyenteredintoacall-centerdatabase。

TheScanSoftsolutionwillallowcallerstosimplysaytheiraddressinformationafterhearingaprompt，savingthecallcentersignificanttimeandexpense。

EnvoxWorldwide，aglobalproviderofvoice-enhancedcommunicationssolutionsbasedinStockholmandBoston，hasbeenworkingwithMicrosofttodevelopopen，standards-basedspeechsolutionssinceJuly，2003。

AtSpeechTEKSpring2004，EnvoxWorldwideisdiscussingitsplansforsupportingtheSALTstandard。

Thoseplansincludedevelopingalineofprepackaged，self-serviceapplicationsforretailstoresandpharmaciesthatrunonMicrosoftSpeechServer。

Inaddition，EnvoxWorldwidehaslaunchedaSALTpracticeaspartofitsprofessionalservicesorganizationthatwillprovidedevelopment，callflowdesign，systemsintegrationandspeechuserinterfacedesignforSALT-basedsolutions。

EnvoxWorldwidewillalsounveilitsfirstSALTapplication。

Createdforpharmacies，thenewsolutionusesMicrosoftSpeechServertoautomatetheprocessforrefillingprescriptionsbyprovidingawell-testedcallflowandspeechuserinterface。

AccordingtoEnvox，thesolutionwillenablepharmaciestousevoiceautomationtodeliverhigherlevelsofservicetotheircustomersatapricepointthatwasnotpossiblebeforeMicrosoftenteredthemarket。

SpeechPartnerProgramCompaniesUnveilSpeech-EnabledSolutions

AnotherimportantparticipantintheMicrosoftSpeechPartnerProgramthatwillbeatSpeechTEKisVoiceAutomation，Inc。

ofWestford，Massachusetts。

LastOctober，MicrosoftandVoiceAutomationannouncedastrategicrelationshipaimedatvoice-enablingMicrosoftBusinessSolutionsCRM。

VoiceAutomationforMicrosoftCRMallowsremoteworkerstoaccessandupdateenterprisesalesdatawithoutakeyboard。

WiththeVoiceAutomationsolution，employeeswhoareontheroadwillbeabletouseaphonetoprovidespokencommandsthatallowthemtonavigatethroughMicrosoftCRM。

VoiceAutomationforMicrosoftCRMofferssimplified，secureloginfromeitheralandormobilephone。

AtSpeechTEK，VoiceAutomationwillshowcasekeyfeaturesofthesolutionincludingtheabilitytoretrieveandrespondtoe-mail；accesscontactinformationdetailssuchastelephonenumbersanddrivingdirections；andupdateleadstatus。

Boulder，Colorado-basedGoldSystems，Inc。

willdemonstratetwosolutionsbasedonMicrosoftSpeechServer。

Thefirstisaimedattheinsurancemarket，andincludesasetofpre-packagedspeechmodulesthatprovideself-serviceaccessforpolicyholders。

Thereusablemodules，whichcanbeeasilycustomizedtomeetthespecificneedsofindividualcompanies，cansignificantlyreducecallcentercostsandincreasecustomersatisfaction。

Duringtheproductdemonstration，LauraFarrelly，GoldSystemsvicepresidentofproductmanagement，willpreviewaccountstatus，claimstatusandphysicianlocatorinsurancemodules。

AnotherkeyparticipantintheMicrosoftSpeechServerProgramthatwilldemonstrateanewproductatSpeechTEKisCYGCOM。

BasedinMarkham，Ontario，Canada，CYGCOMwillshowcaseitsSpeechWatchServer，whichmonitorscriticalelementsofsystemperformance。

Builtforenterprisedeployment，SpeechWatchServerprovidesITprofessionalswithreliabilityinafullysupportedplatformfordistributedspeechapplications。

RedmondSoftwarewillalsobeatSpeechTEK，whereitwillunveilitsspeech-drivenautoattendant。

Thesystem，whichcanaccuratelyandefficientlytransferinboundcallstotheappropriatepersonordepartmentwithinacompanywithoutoperatorintervention，includestoolstogetnamesautomaticallyfromMicrosoftActiveDirectory，MicrosoftSQLServerorfromtextfiles。

GustavoBerdinas，CEOofRedmondSoftware，isenthusiasticaboutthesupporttheMicrosoftSpeechServerpartnernetworkhasprovided。

Wereasmallercompany，hesays。

ButbecauseweteamedupwithseveralotherSpeechServerpartnersweareabletodeliverthisnewclasstoofproductstoourcustomersatalowpricepointwithoutcompromisingonqualityandservice

EarlySpeechServerAdopterGetsaJumpontheMarket

TataConsultancyServices(TCS)willalsobedemonstratingMicrosoftSpeechServer-basedsolutionsatSpeechTEK。

Oneoftheworldsleadingglobalconsulting，ITsolutionsandservicesenterpriseswithmorethan24，000consultants，India-basedTCSwasthefirstMicrosofttechnologypartnertoimplementMicrosoftSpeechServerintoalivecustomerenvironment。

BuiltforGrangeInsurance，thespeech-enabledsolutionwascreatedtoenablecallerstoretrievebillingdetailsofapolicy24hoursaday，sevendaysaweek。

Whenitwasdeployed，thesystemwasbuilttohandle20percentofpolicyinquirycalls，withtheexpectationthatitwouldscaleovertimetohandle80percentofthosecalls。

AccordingtoTCSdevelopmentcentermanagerNitinHanjakar，thesuccessoftheGrangeInsuranceapplicationhasledTCStoexploreawiderangeofpotentialapplicationsbasedonMicrosoftSpeechServer。

AtSpeechTEK，hewillshowcaseTCSsRoundtheClockBillingInquiryapplication，whichallowscallerstogetpolicyormortgagebillingdetailsoverthephone。

Forinsurancepolicies，thatinformationcanincludepaymentduedate，lastpaymentdate，policystatusandpaymentstatus。

Formortgages，informationcanincludehomecoverageamount，deductible，loannumberandphysicaladdressofhome。

Thesolutionnotonlyallowscustomerstoaccesskeyinformation24hoursaday，butitreducescustomerservicerepresentativeworkloadsignificantly，enablingthemtofocusoncross-sellingandup-sellingopportunities。

OtherMicrosoftSpeechPartnerProgrammembersslatedtounveilspeech-enabledsolutionsbuiltonMicrosoftSpeechServerincludeEdifyCorp。

andGMVoicesInc。

PartnersthatareprovidingsystemintegrationservicesandcustomerapplicationdevelopmentservicesincludeEnterpriseIntegrationGroup，HeyAnita，HTIVoiceSolutions，InfoSysandWiproTechnologies。