14/05-10   -   Press releases

I6NET and Vestec partner to bring a high-quality, low-cost VoiceXML browser and speech recognition engine solution to Asterisk platform

I6NET, a company specializing in sophisticated VoiceXML browsers for speech applications, and Vestec, a company specializing in robust affordable speech recognition engines, announced a partnership today for integration of their products for the Asterisk telephony platform. The combination of I6NET VXI* VoiceXML browser and Vestec Speech Engine significantly reduces the cost, time, and difficulty of implementing sophisticated speech recognition solutions with Asterisk.

VXI* VoiceXML browser for Asterisk provides the ability to rapidly develop and deploy innovative VoiceXML-controlled voice and video applications in VoIP, PSTN, and 3G-324M networks. VXI* is fully compliant with W3C VoiceXML 2.0 and some 2.1 specifications, and can easily integrate automatic speech recognition (ASR) and text-to-speech (TTS) systems to enable advanced IVR/IVVR applications, voice and video communications, and real-time video calling applications. VXI* interpreter is pluggable into standard Digium Asterisk PBX releases, including Asterisk Business Edition. The solution is scalable as well as affordable.

Vestec’s speech engine significantly broadens the market for speech recognition with Asterisk by offering a high-quality, standards-based, easy-to-use solution at fraction of the cost of conventional vendors. The engine costs $99 per port, without any minimum port license purchase requirement. It is easy to install, supports industry standard grammar format, provides a vocabulary size sufficient for a wide variety of speech applications, and supports all major Asterisk releases and Linux distributions on both 32 and 64 bit machines. A starter kit, comprising a specially priced one port perpetual license for a full-feature standard engine, is available for only $25.

“Cost has always been an issue for speech solutions and Vestec’s engine goes a long way towards making speech recognition affordable to the rapidly growing Asterisk community," said Ivan Sixto, Co-Founder & CEO of I6NET. “We are delighted that Vestec shares our goal of reducing the cost and complexity of developing speech applications with I6NET VoiceXML browser." Dr. Fakhri Karray, President & CEO of Vestec, said, “Our aim is to popularize and commoditize speech recognition by leveraging unique artificial intelligence technologies. We are thrilled to have partnered with I6NET to offer a robust, affordable integrated VoiceXML browser and speech recognition solution for Asterisk."

I6NET’s VoiceXML browser for Asterisk is available at: http://www.i6net.com/ while Vestec’s speech engine for Asterisk can be purchased at: http://www.asteriskexchange.com/listings/113

About I6NET

I6NET Solutions and Technologies Limited is a pan European company specializing in the development of new applications and advanced communication solutions. Its innovative VoiceXML browser and applications technology enables the creation of interactive voice services to access multi-lingual and dynamic content.

About Vestec

Vestec’s goal is to commoditize, standardize and demystify speech recognition through use of unique artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The company’s speech recognition engine delivers performance comparable to leading conventional engines at a fraction of their cost and empowers speech application developers via its ease-of-use. More information is available at http://www.evestech.com/