IRVING, TX – August 6, 2009 – Iwatsu Voice Networks (IVN) has announced the release
of a new speech dialing feature for the Iwatsu Enterprise Suite business communications
platform. The new feature allows users to speak the name of a desired contact, and the
call is automatically connected.
The new feature is accessed through a Speech button on Iwatsu phones. Pressing the
Speech button triggers automatic speech recognition (ASR) software embedded in the
system to listen for the name of a desired contact. That name is then cross referenced
over multiple contact lists before the system connects the call. The speech dialing
software, developed by Esna Technologies (Esnatech), is capable of searching through
thousands of contact entries instantaneously. If more than one number exists for any
given contact, users are prompted to select the desired number from the saved entries
(cell, work, home, etc.).
“Tracking down elusive contact numbers is something that everyone has experienced.”
said Michael Marchioni, IVN Vice President of Product Management. “With the Speech
Access feature, it doesn’t matter if the number is in a corporate contact list or a personal
contact list, all you have to remember is the person’s name.”
The Speech Access feature can also be combined with a Bluetooth headset connected to
an Iwatsu ICON phone, providing a unique hands-free dialing option. Users press the offhook
button on their Bluetooth headset and say the name of the person they are trying to
reach. The call is placed leaving the desk phone untouched.
About Iwatsu Voice Networks
Iwatsu Voice Networks (iwatsu.com) provides leading edge business communications
solutions to small and medium sized business (SMB), the educational market and many
other market segments. The Enterprise platform provides cost effective unified
communications, speech recognition, call reporting, in-building wireless, campus
networking and text-to-speech applications that are typically used by Fortune 1000
companies. IVN is a subsidiary company of Tokyo-based Iwatsu Electric, a 70-year
industry leader and pioneer of many firsts in the telecommunications industry, doing
business in North America through over 250 authorized business partners.