Moscow City Telephone Network Applies FrontRange IPCC to New Automated Systems; Russian Telecommunications MGTS Recognizes Human Speech with 95% Speech-Recognition Accuracy Rate and Processes over 210 Telephone Channels Simultaneously

Business Wire, Nov 22, 2005

DUBLIN, Calif. -- Russian Communications News service ComNews.ru reported that Moscow City Telephone Network (MGTS) has launched a new service for 09 directory assistance. This service, which increases bandwidth via automation and voice recognition, was developed for MGTS by FrontRange Solutions, known in Russia for its CRM solutions. The system includes an integrated speech-recognition module from technology leader Nuance Communications.

With the new call-processing service, the Automatic 09 Operator software/hardware system, subscribers can quickly obtain any of 2,000 essential telephone numbers. The free service offers the option of using voice commands instead of touch-tone buttons, to navigate the menu; a speech-recognition system processes the commands.

The system divides directory assistance inquiries into several categories: Emergency Assistance, City Government, MGTS Information, Transportation, Repair Services, and Medical. MGTS plans continuous updates to this list wherein the automatic operator suggests menu items to subscribers such as: "Welcome. For emergency assistance, say: 'Assistance.' To switch to the Transportation menu, say: 'Transportation.'"

The automatic operator currently has 5,000 words in its active dictionary. The system's speech-recognition accuracy is 95% and its software can process calls over 210 telephone channels simultaneously.

Dmitry Stoliar, FrontRange Solutions Sales Director in Russia, explained that the setup of the system started in March 2005 and launched test runs of the service in July. At the same time, its capacity was built up so that in September it reached the target level of seven E1 circuits, or 210 channels, each of them with speech-recognition technology in operation. The system is easily scalable and allows unlimited expansion of the directory database.

Before July 1, 2005, the automatic 09 operator was a 4-minute sound file. The user was offered a limited set of information: only 20 city emergency service numbers. At the present time the automatic operator can quickly provide MGTS subscribers directory assistance for 2,000 telephone numbers at various Moscow city organizations and services, chiefly those that may be needed in an emergency.

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