Conversa Releases Newly Enhanced Voice-Driven Unified Messaging Software That Includes Fax/E-mail Forwarding Capabilities.REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 16, 1999-- Conversa Messenger 2.1.1 forwards faxes or e-mails to a fax machine using voice commands from any phone, provides Microsoft Office Microsoft's primary desktop applications for Windows and Mac. Depending on the package, it includes some combination of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook along with various Internet and other utilities. 2000 compatibility Conversa, developer of intelligent speech technologies for PC, server and embedded applications, has released an enhanced version of its voice-driven unified messaging Having access to e-mail, voice mail and faxes via a common computer application or by telephone. For example, unified messaging may send faxes and digitized voice mail to a mail server that turns them into e-mail attachments. software, Conversa Messenger(TM), featuring new fax and e-mail forwarding Relaying e-mail to a different mail server. There are Web sites that offer an e-mail address and forwarding service for a fee or at no cost because they are advertiser supported. These sites let you choose a permanent e-mail address, and all mail sent to that address is forwarded to your capabilities. Conversa Messenger 2.1.1 offers one-stop retrieval of users' e-mail, voicemail and faxes as well as voice-activated access to all contacts and messages remotely via phone or from the PC. The product is completely speaker-independent and therefore requires no training to recognize a particular user's voice. Conversa Messenger is especially suited for the small business owner who is frequently on the road. With Messenger's unique conversational interface, users can retrieve messages and contact information, as well as forward fax and e-mail messages to a fax machine, using simple, spoken commands -- even over the telephone. Unlike many messaging services currently available, Conversa Messenger is a desktop application, so there are no monthly service fees or per minute charges. Conversa Messenger 2.1.1 works with the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95 and 98 operating systems Operating systems can be categorized by technology, ownership, licensing, working state, usage, and by many other characteristics. In practice, many of these groupings may overlap. , Microsoft Outlook For the e-mail and news client bundled with certain versions of Microsoft Windows, see . Microsoft Outlook or Outlook (full name Microsoft Office Outlook and Microsoft Fax to transform a computer into a telephone, answering machine, fax machine and unified messaging center. In addition to the fax and e-mail forwarding capabilities, the new version has added Microsoft(R) Office 2000 compatibility. It sits transparently on top of, and works seamlessly with Microsoft Exchange Messaging and groupware software for Windows from Microsoft. Exchange Server is an Internet-compliant e-mail system that runs under Windows NT/2000 and Windows Server 2003. It can be accessed by Web browsers, the Exchange client, versions of Outlook and the earlier Windows Inbox. or Microsoft Outlook '97, '98 or 2000. Conversa Messenger uses Conversa's proprietary, continuous speech engine, CASSI (Conversa Advanced Symbolic Speech Nonverbal gestures and actions that are meant to communicate a message. The term symbolic speech is applied to a wide range of nonverbal communication. Many political activities, including marching, wearing armbands, and displaying or mutilating the U.S. Interpreter), which is speaker-independent and accommodates an unlimited vocabulary. Conversa Messenger -- Features At-a-Glance -- Just say it -- users access all their messages just by using their voice. The What Can I Say window displays and reads the commands users can say. They can still use the keyboard and touch tones whenever they want. -- Listen to e-mail -- whether they're sitting in front of their PC or calling in from a landline or cellular phone, users can listen to their e-mails and respond to them by voice; their replies are sent as a .wav file The native digital audio format in Windows. Using the .WAV file extension, 8- or 16-bit samples can be taken at rates of 11,025 Hz, 22,050 Hz and 44,100 Hz. The highest quality (16-bit at 44,100 Hz) is the sampling rate of an audio CD and uses 88KB of storage per second. attached to an e-mail message. -- Desktop phone and answering machine -- users just say "Answering machine on" to have Conversa Messenger take their incoming calls. If they have Caller ID A telephone company service that sends the caller's telephone number between the first and second ring of the call. If the calling number is not blocked, the calling number is displayed on the handset or base station of the called party. service, Conversa Messenger announces the caller and labels the message. -- Fax retrieval -- faxes appear graphically, so users can read them from their inbox. When traveling, they simply call Conversa Messenger, which notifies them about the new faxes they've received, including sender ID. -- E-mail and fax forwarding -- Messenger allows users to forward e-mail and fax messages to other e-mail addresses and to fax machines from a remote phone. -- Contacts at the tip of the tongue The tip of the tongue (TOT) phenomenon is an instance of knowing something that cannot immediately be recalled. TOT is a near-universal experience with memory recollection involving difficulty retrieving a well-known word or familiar name. -- users dial a number simply by saying the contact or company name saved in their Microsoft Windows Messaging address book. -- Central inbox for all messages -- users can select messages to hear by type and/or name. The interface is identical whether they're checking at the desktop or remotely. System Requirements, Pricing and Availability Conversa Messenger 2.1.1 requires Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95 or Windows 98, Intel(R) Pentium(R) 166 MHz (MegaHertZ) One million cycles per second. It is used to measure the transmission speed of electronic devices, including channels, buses and the computer's internal clock. A one-megahertz clock (1 MHz) means some number of bits (16, 32, 64, etc. processor, 32 MB RAM (64 MB recommended), 50 MB available disk space, Microsoft Fax, full duplex sound card, microphone (included), CD-ROM drive, 1 analog phone line, compatible voice-capable modem and Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Outlook `97, `98 and 2000. A speakerphone-capable modem is also required for speakerphone operation. Conversa Messenger 2.1.1 is available in most major computer retail stores throughout the U.S. and Canada for $129.95 MSRP MSRP Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price MSRP Message Session Relay Protocol MSRP Multi-Species Recovery Plan (US Fish & Wildlife Service) MSRP Member of the Society for Radiological Protection (UK) . About Conversa Founded in 1994, Conversa (pronounced con-ver-say) is a privately held company privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. that develops state-of-the-art speech technology solutions for PC, server and embedded applications allowing people to conversationally interact with computer devices. Conversa is at the forefront of the industry and has laid the foundation for a new category of voice-enabled computing called Conversational Computing. Representing a significant breakthrough in speech processing technology, Conversational Computing utilizes natural language as the user interface to intelligently communicate with computer applications and devices using digital conversations. Conversa's core speech engine, response and processing engines, as well as client server and development tools, are proprietary and based on several patents pending. Headquartered in Redmond, Wash., Conversa has approximately 95 employees. For more information, go to Conversa's web site at www.conversa.com or call 888/487-4373. Conversa Messenger(TM) is a trademark of Conversa. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners, without intent to infringe. Editor's note: To receive a review copy of Conversa Messenger 2.1.1, please contact Betsy Rogers at Conversa at 425/895-1800, ext. 214, or Ann Dupuis at KVO KVO Keep Vein Open KVO Key-Value Observing KVO Kunstvakonderwijs (Dutch) KVO Keeler, Vandyke, O'Brien (KVO Industries; Santa Rosa CA) at 503/221-2367. |
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