FEATURES
The Wireless Renaissance Of Speech Recognition
Brian Demers, NMS Communications
New York is the first state to ban the use of a cell phone while
driving. One might see this as bad news, but it really isn’t. It should
not only make cell phone use safer, but it also will create robust growth
within the speech recognition marketplace.
Side Bar: Speech
Rec And ROI: A Healthy Mix In A Sluggish Economy
By Michael Thompson, SpeechWorks
Chart Your Course
Kevin Mayer, Editorial Director
Unified message tries a new tack, shifting its sails, presenting
itself as unified communications. The idea is that unified communications,
unlike unified messaging, does more than act as a mere universal inbox, a
catch-all for e-mail, fax, and voice messages. Rather, unified
communications embraces real-time interactions, through sophisticated
find-me/follow-me and notification functionality, as well as mobile use,
through support for multiple devices. More ambitious development may
inspire another course change, and yet additional changes in terminology,
as integration with databases and other applications blur the distinction
between messaging and real-time communications, between messaging and
customer relationship management, between messaging and knowledge
management.
REVIEWS
iVoice.com’s Speech Enabled Auto Attendant
and Media Center
Intel’s D/240PCI-T1 Board
Siliconrax-Sliger’s CTI-400D
Envox Ltd.’s Envox 4.0
NEWS AND VIEWS
Breaking News
Letters
To The Editor
Enabling
Technologies
Chris Donner, Contributing Editor
App-gens are tools associated with traditional
computer telephony/CTI style applications. As network-based applications
propagate and task-specific devices access network applications, the line
between app-gen and service creation environment (SCE) blurs. Chris looks
at news and upcoming releases in both of these areas.
Interactive Commerce
Carol Bancroft, Managing Editor
According to research by Gartner, many companies underestimate the cost of
implementing a CRM solution. But by developing and integrating key project
management tools to guide decision-making throughout CRM initiatives,
companies can be sure to keep the project on-track and profitable.
|
PUBLISHER'S OUTLOOK
Assuring Voices
Rich Tehrani, Publisher
While recent events remind us of the importance of security, the same old
difficulties in implementing security remain. Security measures can be
inconvenient, not to mention costly, as any accountant will remind you.
For many a bean counter, avoiding a theoretical cost, however large, is
less compelling than an actual cost, however small. Regardless, at least
one security measure has the potential to cut operational costs and even
promote additional revenue, and to do so gracefully, by taking advantage
of the unique qualities of the spoken word. The spoken word may be uttered
naturally, and it is entirely unique from individual to individual. Hence,
the applicability of speaker verification systems, which automatically
authenticate network users, simplifying contact center operations, and
building confidence in e-commerce transactions.
EDITOR'S OUTLOOK
A New Spirit Of Service
Kevin Mayer, Editorial Director
In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the editors of
Communications Solutions were inundated with press announcements about
disaster recovery and video conferencing, and how these applications had
assumed higher priority in light of recent events. While not inclined to
gainsay these claims, we couldn’t help but wonder if it would be rash of
us to amplify them, to disseminate them to a wider readership, as we’ve
noticed so many other publications do. We thought that less reflexive and
more considered examination might reveal other shifts in communications
priorities. Ultimately, we decided that a new emphasis on coordination,
cooperation, and collaboration, consistent with the public spiritedness in
the response to the attacks, might inspire interest in highly integrated
applications.
TOM KEATING'S CC:
In Search Of A Linux-Based PBX
Tom Keating, Executive Technology Editor
Linux enthusiasts comprise a respectable number of people in the
communications industry, and there are a number of Web servers, DNS
servers, file servers, and other Linux-based products on the market. But
where could one find a Linux-based PBX? Could one even find it? Tom
Keating discusses his tireless search.
DEPARTMENTS
Analytical Views: Video
Conferencing SPs Rise To The IP Challenge
Roopam Jain, Frost & Sullivan
Despite the slowed economy, several vendors and service providers have
introduced more technologically elegant and comprehensive video
conferencing solutions. The last several months, in particular, have seen
a spate of IP video conferencing service announcements. What will it take
for these solutions to survive?
Compass: How Do You Measure Performance?
Jeff Lawrence, Intel
In an industry that is constantly changing, many people find comfort
in laws — it adds a level of predictability to something that is always
in flux. These laws, however, are not based on scientific fact. They are
based on history and analysis. Jeff Lawrence discusses a means to identify
a quantitative relationship between some of the important networking
trends and identify some units of measure that can be used to judge the
relative value of various technological solutions.
Inside Networking:
Routing In An IP/Ethernet World
Tony Rybczynski, Nortel Networks
Routing is here to stay, though the implementations are becoming more
hardware intensive, specialized and increasingly integrated with optical
networking. Specialization has routing functionality being incorporated
into devices that are optimized for specific needs, as well. This month,
Tony Rybczynski discusses how the value proposition changes as the world
moves to end-to-end IP and Ethernet.
|