Nuance and TeleCommunication Systems Launch
Speech-Enabled Navigation Service for Mobile Phones
Speech-Based Service Makes it Faster, Easier and Safer
to Access Driving Directions
3GSM World Congress 2007, BARCELONA, Spain,
February 14, 2007 – Nuance Communications, Inc.
(NASDAQ: NUAN) and TeleCommunication Systems (NasdaqGM:
TSYS) today announced the development of a speech-enabled
mobile navigation system for mobile phones. TCS selected
Nuance speech solutions to simplify the destination entry
process for its white label TCS Navigator product,
resulting in the creation of the first navigation system
for mobile phones to offer voice destination entry. The
new service will be demoed in Hall 2, Booth 2A106 at the
3GSM World Congress 2007, being held this week in
Barcelona, Spain.
The Nuance Mobile Navigation Service Package enhances
TCS Navigator with a robust, speaker-independent voice
destination entry application. The industry’s leading
speech recognition technology leverages large street
address grammars to eliminate the time-consuming task of
keying in street or city names by allowing users to simply
speak a destination. The Nuance Mobile Speech Platform
even filters “um” and “ah” type utterances, for fast,
highly accurate recognition and response. TCS Navigator
with voice destination entry is expected to be available
this spring.
“Our goal is to provide drivers with the most precise
and user-friendly wireless information data tools
available,” said Drew Morin, senior vice president and
chief technology officer, TCS. “TCS Navigator, with its
integrated traffic and rich Point-of-Interest management,
is an exemplary application for the speech interface
enhancement. Voice destination entry provides a hands-free
user experience, offering our subscribers an easier,
faster and safer way to enter address information.”
“Voice destination entry limits driver distraction by
eliminating manual interaction, and is just as practical
for pedestrians who are tired of tedious keypad entry,”
said Michael Thompson, vice president and general manager,
telco, search and communications, Nuance. “TCS Navigator
users will benefit from Nuance’s unique technology that
enables extremely large address grammars to be used with
high accuracy rates. Speech-based navigation is just one
of the many ways speech can be used to fundamentally
change the way people use their mobile devices. The same
technology can be used for other mobile tasks such as
directory search, music search and message creation.”
About Nuance Mobile Speech Platform (see today’s
related announcement)
The Nuance Mobile Speech Platform provides J2ME, BREW,
Symbian and Windows Mobile application developers with the
ability to enhance their offerings with a seamless speech
experience. From advanced speech recognition to natural
text-to-speech, the Nuance Mobile Speech Platform
dramatically improves the usability of mobile search
applications such as content download, directory services
and navigation.
About TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NasdaqGM: TSYS)
produces wireless data communications technology solutions
that require proven high levels of reliability. TCS
provides wireless and VoIP E9-1-1 network-based services,
secure deployable communication systems and engineered
satellite-based services, and commercial location
applications, like traffic and navigation, using the
precise location of a wireless device. Customers include
leading wireless and VoIP operators around the world, and
agencies of the U.S. Departments of Defense, State, and
Homeland Security. For more information, visit
http://www.telecomsys.com .
About Nuance Communications, Inc.
Nuance is a leading provider of speech and imaging
solutions for business and consumers around the world. Its
technologies, applications, and services make the user
experience more compelling by transforming the way people
interact with information and how they create, share, and
use documents. Every day, millions of users and thousands
of businesses experience Nuance’s proven applications. For
more information, please visit
www.nuance.com.
Nuance and the Nuance logo are
trademarks or registered trademarks of Nuance
Communications, Inc. or its affiliates in the United
States and/or other countries. All other trademarks
referenced herein are the property of their respective
owners.
This announcement contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
These statements are based upon TCS’
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties that would cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated.
The actual results realized by the
Company could differ materially from the statements made
herein, depending in particular upon the risks and
uncertainties described in the Company’s filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These include
without limitation risks and uncertainties relating to the
Company’s financial results and the ability of the Company
to (i) reach profitability as early as anticipated, (ii)
continue to rely on its customers and other third parties
to provide additional products and services that create a
demand for its products and services, (iii) conduct its
business in foreign countries, (iv) adapt and integrate
new technologies into its products, (v) expand its
business offerings in the new wireless data industry, (vi)
develop software and provide services without any errors
or defects, (vii) protect its intellectual property
rights, and (viii) implement its sales and marketing
strategy.
Existing and prospective investors
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to
update or revise the information in this press release,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
circumstances, or otherwise. |