Kirusa and Acapela Group expand their partnership to speech enable Multimodal solutions around the world

This partnership will bring to market Kirusa's multimodal solutions voice enabled by Acapela multilingual high end text to speech , for services such as voice enabled search, multimodal messaging, SMS to voice or use of mobile applications in cars.

Edison, NJ, USA and Mons, Belgium, 06/20/2005: Kirusa, the leading provider of multimodal platforms enabling wireless applications delivery and Acapela Group, the First European Speech Group, have signed a strategic reseller agreement reinforcing the partnership set up between the two companies in 2003 and already validated with applications such as Volkswagen’s prototype multimodal car manual application, winner of the Automechanika Innovation Award.

Acapela high quality text to speech will voice-enable Kirusa flagship product, Kirusa Multimodal Solution (KMS-IPV) which enables simultaneous multimodality on smart devices (based on Java, Symbian, MS Smartphone, Brew, PalmOS and PocketPC). With KMS-IPV, users have access to all the standard (visual) input and output mechanisms available on their mobile devices augmented with voice input, voice output and voice recording. The KMS-IPV can be used by ISV’s to create multimodal solutions, such as the Volkswagen application developed by 8hertz technologies and mentioned above.

Acapela text to speech will also give the say to Kirusa Voice SMS (KV.SMSSM), an easy to use application, based on the Kirusa Multimodal Solution, which allows mobile users to reply to SMS text messages by voice, to send an SMS message by voice, and to receive SMS messages with voice content, on all mobile devices, and on all wireless networks, greatly enhancing the reach of SMS messaging and voice messaging to a wider population of mobile users.

David Berkley, Chief Scientist of Kirusa, Inc, says “Excellent speech software, as provided by Acapela, is a critical technology component for delivery of multimodal interfaces for mobile applications. Multimodal applications, such as media search and voice SMS, combine vocal and visual capabilities simultaneously, to enable easy access and use of mobile data applications.”

To optimise user interactivity with mobile devices, Acapela speech enables the world in motion with very high quality and accurate speech, in 22 languages and up to 50 voices. Acapela text to speech actively contributes to invent a new way of working, sharing knowledge and simplifying everyday lives, simplifying access to information for users always on the move. Acapela text to speech answers to performance requirements and quality demands, voice-enlarging a world of information usually limited by a tiny screen.

“Multimodality is a key driver for widespread adoption of speech technologies in mobility environment. We are very happy to reinforce this long term and successful partnership set up in 2003 with an innovative player such as Kirusa. Their patent-pending multimodal platform combines the best functionality of both visual and voice interfaces and our partnership allows our companies to give the says to outstanding applications throughout the world” adds Antoine Kauffeisen, Director of Marketing of Acapela Group. 

About Acapela Group

Entirely dedicated to developing and deploying natural language interfaces, Acapela Group is the European leader in speech solutions. Acapela’s speech technologies have already been deployed in many services and applications which speech enable numerous services: vocal portals, answering machine, contact centres, talking web, interactive games, edutainment softwares, e-learning programmes, tools to help disabled people, embarked navigation systems etc.

Acapela Group, major supplier of speech solutions in Europe, the Middle East and the Nordic markets, is very well known due to its numerous clients and partners in speech projects. These include: Alcatel, Alva, Atos Origin, Bo Jo Tveter, Bosch Blaupunkt, Daimler Chrysler, Franklin Electronic Publishers, Harman Becker, Intervoice, Magneti Marelli, Navteq, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Telia, Temic, Texas Instruments, Tieman, Toby Churchill, Scandis, Siemens, etc. http://www.acapela-group.com

About Kirusa

Kirusa is one of the leading global developers of Mobile Social Media and Value Added Services enabling mobile subscribers to reach out to their family and friends. Kirusa’s solutions include the hugely successful Kirusa Voice SMS service, the world’s most advanced Voice SMS solution, used by over 30 carriers around the world. Kirusa has pioneered a suite of social media applications that facilitate mobile subscribers to interact through voice, including the Call-n-Tweet application which helps users update their Twitter status using voice. Kirusa provides an open platform with APIs to enable third parties to offer mobile applications services to mobile subscribers. Used by mobile subscribers millions of times daily, Kirusa solutions are built on its patented and patent pending technology and its highly reliable and scalable open multimodal platform. Kirusa has been recognized as one of top 100 technology companies by Silicon India, and one of top 25 emerging technology companies by Smart Techie magazine. Headquartered in New Jersey and led by an experienced team of wireless telecom executives and technologists, Kirusa has offices in three continents. ‘Kirusa Voice SMS,’ is a trademark of Kirusa, Inc.

For more information visit: www.kirusa.com.

Media Contacts

Kirusa
Navneet Anand
GreyMatters Communications
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