IBM ViaVoice Online Companion Empowers Internet Applications With Speech Technology

Business Wire, April 2, 1999

SOMERS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 1999--IBM today introduced its ViaVoice Online Companion - an accompaniment to ViaVoice 98 that lets Internet users chat in chat rooms and dictate directly into e-mails using their voice. With ViaVoice Online Companion, IBM is one of the first companies to provide consumers with a high-end, affordable, speech-enabled Internet solution.

"Our customers told us they wanted to use their voice to conduct more Internet-related activities," says Krishna Nathan, director of Consumer Voice Systems for IBM. "IBM is responding by providing an innovative, speech-enabled Internet solution that not only let's customers use their voice to chat, but control the experience with spoken commands."

ViaVoice Online Companion provides users with the ability to perform "mouse" functions by speaking - helping to control the computer desktop in a natural, easy manner. The Chatter's Jargon Topic lets users clearly express themselves and provides them with the ability to insert common abbreviations, acronyms and emoticons during online chat sessions.

Recently named "Best Software of 1998" by the American Marketing Association, IBM's ViaVoice 98 is a leader in speech recognition software. IBM's ViaVoice 98 lets users perform all of the tasks that a keyboard and mouse perform, but with the ease and simplicity of the human voice. With one of the largest vocabularies on the market, ViaVoice enables users to dictate directly into PC applications, as well as control and navigate their computer using their voice. ViaVoice also has a text-to-speech function that empowers PCs to read back e-mail and other documents to the user. With the addition of a speech-enabled Internet solution, IBM is rounding our its product offerings to provide a comprehensive, hands-free computing environment.

ViaVoice 98 has been recognized around the globe for its superior accuracy, effortless combination of command and control and outstanding software. In Ireland, ViaVoice 98 was named the top-selling software product in the country. IBM speech recognition software also received the "Best Technology Award" from NetWeek China. In addition, publications like Consumer Reports and Home PC praised ViaVoice 98 and recommended the software for people who want the ability to control Windows applications while dictating.

Pricing and Availability

ViaVoice Online Companion is available now for $19.95(a) at major retail and office supplies stores in North America. When consumers purchase ViaVoice Online Companion with either ViaVoice 98 Executive, Office or Home editions they will receive a mail-in rebate for $50, $40 or $25, respectively. The special rebate offer begins April 1, 1999 and ends June 30, 1999. ViaVoice 98 software ranges from $49.95 to $149.95, so consumers will receive significant value from this special offer on the full line of ViaVoice software for business and home users.

About IBM Speech Systems

IBM speech recognition technology is based on 30 years of speech recognition research and development. With a portfolio of more than one hundred patents, an established R&D business that includes researchers worldwide and a robust, proven speech technology available in many languages, IBM is a leader in speech recognition. For more information about IBM Speech Systems, visit the World Wide Web at http://www.software.ibm.com/speech.> (a) Editors Note: The suggested retail price is subject to change without notice and dealer prices may vary.

IBM and ViaVoice are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are registered of their respective owners. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

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