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ATX Launches Interactive Voice Recognition to Deliver Data to Vehicles

13 October 2000

ATX Launches Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) Using IBM Speech Technology to Deliver Data to Vehicles

    DALLAS and DETROIT, Oct. 12 ATX Technologies, Inc., the
leading independent telematics service provider to the automotive market,
today announced the launch of Interactive Voice Recognition/speech response
technology (IVR) to provide motorists with enhanced navigation, safety and
convenience.  ATX has selected IBM's Direct Talk voice processing platform and
ViaVoice speech recognition technology as the foundation for IVR.
    IVR is part of the ATX line of telematics (location-based) services.
    Responding in real-time to natural voice requests or commands received
through interactive dialogue with the driver or passengers, IVR provides an
automated means of receiving a variety of information including routing
assistance, traffic reports, e-mail, stock quotes, news, weather, sports, or
any Internet-based information.  Drivers can keep their eyes on the road and
their hands on the wheel and not have to use a keypad, console buttons or
watch a dashboard screen to navigate or access information.  Motorists always
have the option of talking directly with an ATX response specialist.
    ATX will unveil its IVR service that uses IBM's Direct Talk voice
processing platform and ViaVoice speech recognition technology during
individual ride-and-drive demonstrations at Convergence 2000 International
Congress on Transportation Electronics in Detroit on October 16-18.  ATX and
IBM will demonstrate the most challenging application of the interactive
technology-routing assistance.
    "Motorists want a simple, voice-based system that reduces driver
distraction and gets them where they need to be or the information they must
have," said Steve Millstein, president and CEO of ATX Technologies, Inc.
"Interactive voice delivery is the most critical step in providing motorists
with a safe and convenient mobile portal.  At Convergence, we will demonstrate
IVR for the first time on the streets.  ATX's Original Equipment Manufacturer
(OEM) customers want to offer IVR to increase interaction with their customers
and to build loyalty and service relationships after the sale," Millstein
added.
    Raj Desai, IBM director of automotive development, noted ATX addresses
these needs of automakers by leveraging IBM's highly scalable and modular
software platforms such as WebSphere Separate research by ATX and IBM
indicates consumers view IVR and speech response technology as one of the most
important features offered by any automaker with in-vehicle information
systems.

    How IVR Works
    Through global satellite positioning and the most up-to-date street map
and address directory databases, the IVR solution offers motorists traveling
from point A to point B multiple routing options.  Drivers in unfamiliar
territory can feel confident with the highly accurate directions.  IVR is also
used to locate needed services such as gas stations, ATM machines, and
restaurants.
    "Conversational computing anytime and anywhere is here now with ATX's
innovative use of IBM's voice solution," said Ozzie Osborne, general manager,
IBM Voice Systems.  "Becoming lost or confused while driving to a destination
will be a problem of the past, and motorists will wonder how they ever got
along without the safety and convenient feature of voice navigation."
    ATX plans to announce the launch of additional IVR services in the next
several months.  Expansion of these next-generation voice interactive services
is driven by advanced speech recognition software and the adoption of Voice
eXstensible Markup Language (VoiceXML) as the standard markup language for
Web-based voice-response services.  ATX is a supporting member of the VoiceXML
Forum, founded by voice technology leaders IBM, AT&T, Lucent and Motorola in
1999.
    ATX integrates wireless communications, database functions, and location-
identification technologies to provide a complete line of telematics services,
such as emergency response, roadside assistance, automatic collision
notification, locating critical services, stolen vehicle tracking, convenience
services such as routing assistance, navigation and more.  ATX serves more
than 150,000 subscribers through its customers' brands, including Mercedes-
Benz, Ford, Jaguar, Lincoln, and the Infiniti division of Nissan.