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AVST Launches New Version of CallXpress(R) Speech Server; Powerful Seneca(R)-Based Speech Recognition Application Boasts Variety of New Usability Features and Performance Enhancements

Posted on: Wednesday, 20 September 2006, 12:00 CDT

Applied Voice & Speech Technologies, Inc. (AVST), a leading provider of unified communications solutions, today announced a new version of its CallXpress Speech Server, which is based on its advanced speech module, Seneca. Version 4.8 boasts a variety of performance enhancements and new features as a result of specific feedback from AVST's channel partners and customers.

With CallXpress Speech Server, AVST has uniquely combined the strengths of its world-class messaging platform, CallXpress 7.8, with its innovative speech applications platform, Seneca 4.8, to create a powerful, next-generation unified communications solution. The solution continues to provide speech enabled message access, call completion and personal assistant applications to thousands of its customers around the world.

CallXpress Speech Server 4.8 features a "Call Me Back" command and Text-Reply-with-Voice capabilities. The "Call Me Back" feature allows a user to dial into the system from any phone and ask it to call back. The system will then call the user back at the number that was dialed in from. This allows the user to communicate with the system while the user's phone treats it as an incoming call. The feature is a valuable cost-savings tool in markets such as the United Kingdom where incoming cell phone calls are not charged to the user or counted as used minutes.

The new Text-Reply-with-Voice feature is specifically designed to better communicate with Blackberry users. When using the CallXpress system over the phone, replying to an email sent via Blackberry can be difficult because Blackberrys do not recognize voice files. The Text-Reply-with-Voice feature enables the user to use certain voice commands to send preconfigured text messages as e-mails. Users may also forward e-mails and create new e-mail messages using one of the sorted text messages.

These features are examples of AVST's commitment to providing the most advanced and innovative solutions that help the corporate workforce perform easier and more efficiently, resulting in happier employees and lower business operational costs. Maintaining its leadership in the unified communications solution industry, AVST continually responds to the market's needs by paying close attention to the opinions and requests of its reseller and customer base.

"Anytime-anywhere communications for the workforce and 24/7 access to the entire enterprise communications infrastructure remain the driving forces behind AVST's communications applications," said Tom Minifie, AVST's Vice President of Product Management. "We continue to research and create more features and enhancements that respond to our customers' demands for the ability to manage all corporate communications via a single interface, whether they are in the office or on the road."

Other notable enhancements to CallXpress Speech Server 4.8 include:

-- New adaptation to noisy environments - the system has been upgraded to better recognize background noise and process calls based on the amount of noise. In noisy environments, the system switches into "hot word spotting" mode, and only responds to key commands that are identified by certain buzz words.

-- Improved grammar commands - in order to make it easier to use, the system now recognizes commonly used words such as "this" and "my," and can ignore them to filter out and respond to commands.

-- Automatic Help mode - if a user remains silent for a certain period of time, the system recognizes that the user needs help and provides a list of actions to choose from.

Current users of AVST's XpressCare(R) will receive the upgrade to CallXpress Speech Server 4.8 for free. The solution will be generally available through AVST's established reseller channels by the end of September 2006. For information about how to purchase AVST products, please visit http://www.avst.com/contactus/howtobuy.asp.

About AVST

Applied Voice & Speech Technologies, Inc. (AVST) is a leading developer of unified communications solutions for businesses of all sizes. Through its world-class unified communications platform, CallXpress(R), and its innovative speech applications module, Seneca(R), AVST offers the industry's most powerful suite of switch-independent unified communications solutions. AVST's solutions enable direct access to an enterprise's communications infrastructure including voice mail, email and fax messaging from any voice or data device via a touch-tone, GUI or speech interface. Established in September 2003, AVST was formed from the combined businesses of Sound Advantage (established in 1997) and the AVT division (established in 1982) of Captaris, Inc.

Headquartered in Orange County, CA, AVST maintains facilities in Seattle, WA and the United Kingdom and has remote sales offices across the United States. With over 35,000 systems installed worldwide, AVST's unified communications solutions are sold and supported internationally by an extensive network of resellers and OEM partners. For more information contact Denny Michael, VP of Marketing, at 949-699-2300 or access the company's website at www.avst.com.

Source: Business Wire

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