Company:SpeechWorks
| Fate | Acquired in 2005 |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
SpeechWorks was a company founded in Boston in 1994 by speech recognition pioneer Mike Phillips and Bill O'Farrell. The Boston-based company developed and supported speech-related computer software. Originally known as Applied Language Technologies, SpeechWorks went public in 2000 and tripled its value. It was acquired by Scansoft in 2003.[1] ScanSoft acquired Nuance in 2005, and changed its name to Nuance Communications.[2]
The company's main focus was bringing speech recognition solutions to phone systems. Carriers and voice portals were able to use these speech-activated services to direct consumer calls, conduct transactions, and obtain information.[3] SpeechWorks technology was uniquely suited for these applications because it was the first software that offered a human-sounding voice that asked callers questions which they could verbally answer, allowed callers to interrupt the software before it concluded reciting a list of options, and could learn from previous calls in order to add new vocabulary to its database.[4]
These services were largely successful: SpeechWorks client Thrifty car rentals used this service to give pricing information to callers, and 90% of surveyed customers who interacted with it expressed that the service either met or exceeded their ease of use expectations.[5]
SpeechWorks' clients were typically in the financial services, telecommunications, and travel industries, and included FedEx, United Airlines, Amtrak, Thrifty car rentals, and others. SpeechWorks also developed “multi-modal” and text-to-speech technology as early as 2001 that enabled people to use spoken commands to navigate cell phones.[2]
Speechify Solo
Speechify Solo was a text-to-speech software released by Speechworks in 2002. Speechify Solo featured a natural, human-sounding speaking voice that could read text-based information aloud, and personalize messages for individual users. It could be applied in the fields of hand-held computing, home entertainment, and the automotive industries.[6]
In early 2003, the National Weather Service implemented major voice improvements using Speechify, to be heard on NOAA Weather Radio. In 2016, these were replaced by a new voice associated with a new system.
Relationship with AOL
In 2000, America Online, Inc, also known as AOL, released "AOL by Phone," a service that enabled AOL users to check their e-mail and access other AOL features through spoken commands from any telephone. This service was developed in partnership with Quack.com, a voice portal company owned by AOL. Quack.com utilized SpeechWorks' Speechify software to power the service's voice recognition capabilities.[7] Two years later, in 2002, AOL purchased $5 million of SpeechWorks stock, equivalent to 1% of the company.[8]
Acquisitions
SpeechWorks purchased Ithaca based Eloquent Technologies, Inc. in 2000 for $17 million.[9]
See also
References
- ↑ "Technology Briefing | Deals: Scansoft To Acquire Speechworks For $132 million". The New York Times. April 25, 2003. https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/25/business/technology-briefing-deals-scansoft-to-acquire-speechworks-for-132-million.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Commission File No.: 000-30203". sec.gov. 2005-05-09. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1102556/000095013505002723/b55051a3e425.htm.
- ↑ "SpeechWorks International, Inc.: Private Company Information - Businessweek". https://www.bloomberg.com/Research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=34656.[|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
- ↑ "Thrifty speaks to its customers: car rental agency deploys speech recognition to improve customer experience while reducing costs". September 2002. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA91965840&v=2.1&u=mlin_b_northest&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w&asid=be7380f80ca32191c667d3be4d820345.
- ↑ "Thrifty and SpeechWorks Bring Speech Recognition to 1-800-Thrifty". http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thrifty-and-speechworks-bring-speech-recognition-to-1-800-thrifty-71402817.html.
- ↑ "SpeechWorks Introduces Speechify Solo Text–to–Speech Engine; A High Quality Solution for the Automotive and Device Market". http://www.design-reuse.com/news/3157/speechworks-speechify-solo-text-speech-engine-quality-solution-automotive-device-market.html.
- ↑ "Look Who's Talking: America Online Launches 'AOL By Phone' With Access To E-Mail By Simple Voice Commands | Time Warner Inc.". http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2000/10/25/look-who-s-talking-america-online-launches-aol-by-phone-with.
- ↑ "AOL invests in speech-recognition company - CNET". http://www.cnet.com/news/aol-invests-in-speech-recognition-company/.
- ↑ "SpeechWorks to acquire Eloquent Technology - Boston Business Journal". http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2000/12/18/daily15.html.
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