Philips and Microsoft Collaborate to Enhance Speech Capabilities in Telephony

Strategic Insights -

Philips Speech Processing, the speech technology division of Royal Philips Electronics, has announced the availability of a Microsoft Windows Speech Application Programming Interface (SAPI) integration for enhanced telephony applications. This integration utilizes Philips' innovative SpeechPearl(TM) telephony-based speech recognition engine, enabling telephony platform providers and integrators to incorporate advanced speech technologies into solutions such as unified messaging platforms, IVR systems, or Microsoft's new Web-based IVR technology.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SAPI integration, developed in close co-operation with Microsoft, is available immediately within Philips' SpeechPearl(TM) telephony product, a world-leading natural dialog speech recognition engine for both small and large vocabulary applications.
  • The integration allows for the easy incorporation of Philips technology into user environments for a wide variety of telephony-based applications, decreasing development time and increasing efficiency for telephony speech recognition applications in Windows-based environments.
  • Philips Speech Processing's support of the Microsoft SAPI will expand market potential in the U.S. and internationally, offering the ability to switch languages and vocabulary "on-the-fly" in a speaker-independent manner.
  • The SpeechPearl(TM) engine is recognized as the leading speech recognition engine for both small and large vocabulary natural dialog telephony applications, with more than 23 languages developed by Philips Speech Processing.
  • The integration is a significant step in positioning Philips as a leader in developing speech recognition technology solutions for the telephony industry, supporting the evolution of natural speech recognition into IT and consumer electronics environments.
  • Developers now have access to the SpeechPearl(TM) engine, which is one of the only speaker-independent recognizers that can switch languages and vocabulary "on-the-fly", allowing for the development of robust multi-lingual applications with almost unrestricted vocabulary.

Statistics:

  • Over $33.9 billion in sales in 1998 for Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG)
  • 256,000 employees in over 60 countries
  • SpeechPearl(TM) engine supports more than 23 languages
  • The SAPI integration is available immediately within Philips' SpeechPearl(TM) telephony product

Sources:

  • Philips Speech Processing press release, date not specified
  • Microsoft Web-Based IVR technology description
  • Royal Philips Electronics annual sales figures for 1998 (Source: NYSE)