OnStar Licenses Nuance's Market-Leading Speech Recognition Software for Virtual Advisor
17 January 2001
OnStar Licenses Nuance's Market-Leading Speech Recognition Software for Virtual Advisor
TROY, Mich., and MENLO PARK, Calif., Jan. 17 OnStar, a
subsidiary of General Motors , and Nuance , the leader
in voice interface software, today announced that OnStar has licensed Nuance's
speech recognition software to be used in the OnStar Virtual Advisor.
Nuance's software is integrated into the OnStar Virtual Advisor platform
that will deliver in-vehicle, hands-free, voice-activated access to a
collection of Internet-based information and content services including
e-mail, stock quotes, sports reports, news and weather. The Virtual Advisor
can also be customized, allowing subscribers to personalize their in-vehicle
experience. General Magic -- a member of Nuance's Voice Web ASP
Program -- is developing and hosting the services for the new voice-driven
OnStar Virtual Advisor.
"We believe that services like OnStar represent the 'next big thing' for
consumer technology and an exciting new direction for Nuance," said
Ronald Croen, president and CEO of Nuance. "We've made groundbreaking
enhancements to our wireless and hands-free recognition capabilities, enabling
exceptionally high accuracy in noisy environments such as automobiles. We
believe that this is a significant step in bringing the power of the Voice Web
to drivers everywhere."
"Nuance is a great partner in supporting our new Virtual Advisor service,"
said Chet Huber, president of OnStar. "They have superb core technology, a
leadership position in the voice recognition industry, and continue to
demonstrate their expertise in helping us optimize the hands-free performance
of the OnStar system. As we expand the Virtual Advisor product suite, we will
continue to leverage advanced speech technology to better meet the needs of
our subscribers in a safe and secure manner."
About OnStar
OnStar is the industry-leading in-vehicle communications and information
service that combines Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology and
wireless communication to link the driver and vehicle with the OnStar Center,
where advisors are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to offer
real-time, personalized help. OnStar is offered as standard equipment or part
of an option package, on 32 General Motors vehicles including all sport
utilities and minivans and selected luxury and midsize sedans from Buick,
Cadillac, Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC, Oldsmobile and Saab. OnStar is equipped on
one million vehicles and will be on four million vehicles by 2003.
About Nuance
Nuance develops markets and supports a voice interface software platform
that makes the information and services of enterprises, telecommunications
networks and the Internet accessible from any telephone. Every day, millions
of people interact with Nuance systems at blue-chip companies like
American Airlines, Charles Schwab, The Home Shopping Network, Lloyds TSB,
Sears and United Parcel Service. Nuance is also driving the creation of the
Voice Web and delivering software for V-Commerce (voice-enabled e-commerce)
services and applications. Nuance is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif.,
with global sales offices and partners supporting solutions in multiple
languages around the world. For more information about Nuance, visit
http://www.nuance.com or call 888-NUANCE-8.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, for
example, those relating to the growth of voice-enabled services in the
automobile industry, the expansion of our Voice Advisor Product suite and our
ability to meet subscriber needs. There is no assurance that the results
contemplated by any forward-looking statements will be realized. The
following factors, risks and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual
results to differ materially from those described in this press release's
forward-looking statements: growth in voice-enabled services in the
automobile industry and the use of these applications by consumers and
businesses could not occur as expected; prospective customers may not adopt or
purchase Nuance products or current customers may not fully deploy Nuance
products that incorporate voice-enabled services in the automobile industry;
Nuance software products incorporating voice-enabled services may not achieve
widespread acceptance; and other factors described in Nuance's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Nuance's
prospectus dated Sept. 26, 2000. Nuance does not undertake to update any oral
or written forward-looking statements that may be made by or on behalf of
Nuance.
NOTE: Nuance is a registered trademark or trademark of Nuance
Communications, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective
owners.