Turin, Italy and Manchester, Great Britain - Loquendo, leading provider of speech technology, and GPC Computer Software, the largest manufacturer of taxi management and dispatch systems in the world, today announced the integration of Loquendo speech technology into GPC Computer Software's taxi operator solution, Autocab.

Autocab (www.autocab.com) is the world's most popular booking and dispatch system, using proven and reliable computer and telecommunications technology to improve every aspect of the taxi operator's business, from booking and dispatch through to accounts and management. It has been installed in hundreds of locations throughout the world.

Autocab makes use of an IVR system which guarantees that calls are answered extremely promptly and that jobs booked through the automated system are given priority. Each taxi operator can formulate a set of rules to decide which calls to route via the automated system and which via an operator.

The system then speaks to the customer directly, using Loquendo's natural sounding text to speech, and asks whether the customer wants a cab to their current location or whether they wish to speak to an operator. The job is then booked directly onto the system.

The service can be further enhanced by inviting customers to text their 3 most frequent journeys: a script is then added to the text to speech and each time the caller phones for a taxi they are automatically offered their 3 nominated journeys.

Feedback from customers shows that the IVR, within 2 weeks of installation, handles 17-20% of all incoming calls. Customers benefit greatly with a faster and more professional service, so increasing the customer base, while the efficient and personalised dispatch and invoicing attracts lucrative corporate work.

All this brings more work to the taxi driver, but such growth does not mean increased staff costs: over 80% of bookings can be made via text, email or the Internet, leaving call operators free to handle the more complex and time consuming calls.

About Loquendo - Vocal Technology and Services
With over 30 years experience in speech technology, Loquendo is at the forefront of the global speech market. Loquendo TTS, Loquendo ASR, Loquendo Speaker Verification and the Loquendo VoiceXML and CCXML Platform are high-quality, high-performance technologies that guarantee systems integrators the best solutions in 20 languages with 47 voices.

Loquendo is the only speech technology vendor that provides a complete product line for navigation and handheld devices, desktop PCs and telephony servers, guaranteeing the same portfolio of languages and the same core engine in all these environments.

Many enterprises and carriers worldwide have recognized the Loquendo difference, advanced technologies that power millions of calls every day in telecommunications and enterprise markets across the globe.

Loquendo is a Telecom Italia company headquartered in Turin, Italy, with offices in the US, Spain, Germany and France, and a worldwide network of partners. For more information about Loquendo, and to hear demos of all the Loquendo voices, go to www.loquendo.com.

About GPC Computer Software Ltd
GPC Computer Software Ltd was formed in 1989 and is now the largest manufacturer of taxi management & dispatch systems in the world with offices in Manchester, Paris, Sydney & Madrid. The company also has Accredited Distributors/service agents in Greece, Portugal, Colombia, Hungary and Ecuador.

The Autocab system is installed at hundreds of locations throughout the world, with twice as many installations as their nearest competitor.

As well as the specialist software developed by the company, they manufacture their own data terminals, PC workstations and associated equipment to the highest specification. The company also has a reputation for innovation and responds to new regulations and market demands with unique solutions.

Two teams of software developers are constantly improving the specification and utilities of the Autocab system to meet their customers' increasingly sophisticated requirements.

GPC also provides 24/7 support for all Autocab customers because they recognise that the dispatch system is the cornerstone of their customer's business.