IN-DEPTH

The main article in this issue provides an introduction to CCXML (Call Control eXtensible Markup Language), a standard designed to power speech application deployment with advanced call control features whilst removing legacy from proprietary call control implementation.
The article outlines the main features and benefits of CCXML and provides a description of the wide array of applications that can greatly benefit from CCXML. The paper also introduces readers to the very latest Loquendo voice platform, Loquendo VoxNauta 7.0, which leverages CCXML, VoiceXML and all the major standards recently issued by both the W3C and IETF.

>> Go to the article.

STANDARDS CORNER

• Last Call Working Draft for the EMMA specification
  September, 16 2005
  The W3C's Multimodal Interaction Working Group has recently published the Extensible MultiModal Annotation markup language (EMMA) specification as a Last Call Working Draft. This means that EMMA is functionally complete and comments from the general public are welcome up until October 28, 2005.
  EMMA is an XML markup language for containing and annotating the interpretation of user input. Examples are a transcription into words of a raw signal, for instance derived from speech, pen or keystroke input, a set of attribute/value pairs describing their meaning, or a set of attribute/value pairs describing a gesture. EMMA will be of a great value for both speech and multimodal applications.
  
  
• Call for Participation: W3C Workshop on Internationalizing the SSML
  August 9, 2005
  The W3C Voice Browser Working Group promotes a workshop to expand the usage of the Speech Synthesis Markup Language Specification Version 1.0 (SSML) which is designed to provide a rich, XML-based markup language for assisting the generation of synthetic speech in Web and other applications.
  To make SSML more effective in current and emerging markets, the Voice Browser Working Group is considering enhancements for non-English languages. The goal of the workshop is to solicit use cases and requirements to help the Working Group design internationalization extensions to SSML. In particular to allow the exploitation for non-English languages, i.e. Chinese or other South-East Asian languages.
  
  
• IETF publishes a new draft of MRCP version 2
  August 1, 2005
  The Speech Services Control Working Group of the IETF has released an update of the Media Resource Control Protocol Version 2 (MRCPv2). This protocol allows client hosts to control media service resources such as speech synthesizers, recognizers, verifiers and identifiers residing in servers on the network.
  This new draft is another step to completing this very important standard for integration of speech technologies in platforms.
  
  

LOQUENDO Products

• Loquendo presents New Expressive Portuguese Voice.
  September 20, 2005
  Loquendo presents Eusebio, the outstanding new expressive voice for the Portuguese language. Eusebio is the new male voice to join Amalia, for the Portuguese language. This release is yet another important step towards expressive synthetic speech offered by Loquendo.
  Loquendo is the first speech market player to offer its customers the possibility to make their vocal messages expressive. Just like human conversation, expressive intention is conveyed through conventional formulas and interjections, which are pronounced with a natural and colorful intonation.
  For a demo of Eusebio, please click here, to meet the Loquendo TTS family, please click here.
  >> More
• Loquendo TTS and ASR Technologies Now Support MRCP v2 and v1
  August 1, 2005
  Loquendo announces the release of standards-compliant Media Resource Control Protocol (MRCP) v2 support for Loquendo speech technologies - including Loquendo TTS, Loquendo ASR, and Loquendo Speaker Verification - through its software-only server solution Loquendo Speech Suite 7.0.
  Loquendo Speech Suite 7.0 support includes MRCP v1 up to the latest draft provided by IETF and the full support of the most common standards for technology integration, combined with the full compliance of Loquendo technologies to SGRS (either XML and ABNF), SISR 1.0 and SSML 1.0.
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• Loquendo Presents VoxNauta 7.0
  July 27, 2005
  Loquendo announces the availability of its new, optimized Voice Platform solution, VoxNauta 7.0, a simple yet scalable and powerful voice platform that allows the optimal exploitation of Loquendo TTS, Loquendo ASR, and Loquendo Speaker Verification technologies. VoxNauta 7.0, Loquendo's multi-OS, software-only voice platform exploits all the most advanced W3C and IETF standards in the speech scenario in order to facilitate the task of advanced vocal application deployment. This includes the new VoiceXML 2.1 standard, as well as CCXML 1.0, the new standard language for programming call control at service level. Moreover Loquendo TTS, ASR and Speaker Verication technologies are integrated in Loquendo's voice platform by exploiting MRCP v2. The new version of the VoxNauta platform allows service deployment with total compliance to SGRS (either XML and ABNF), SISR 1.0 and SSML 1.0.
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Clients & Partners

• GlobeStar Integrates Loquendo TTS With ConnexALL Integration Solutions.
  September 14, 2005
  Globestar Systems Inc., a leader in integrated wireless business solutions and Loquendo are pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement which enables GlobeStar to incorporate the Loquendo TTS synthetic speech engine as part of its flagship product, ConnexALL. Loquendo's solutions will greatly enhance the Voice Response Client versatility of GlobeStar's award-winning ConnexALL integration software, allowing customers to deliver customized voice event notification in a broad array of languages from around the world.
  >> More
• Loquendo Technology Powers Innovative Services For The Citizens Of Barcelona And Turin.
  September 9, 2005
  Loquendo is leveraging its latest achievements in speech technology and natural language dialogue to power the Municipality of Barcelona's "Large Object Collection" service and the Municipality of Turin's "Cultural Agenda" information service, developed in the context of the EU-funded HOPS IST project. The project's principal objective is that of enabling an intelligent natural language-based Hub for the deployment of advanced semantically enriched, multi-channel, mass-scale Online Public Services.
  >> More
• CITEC Integrates Loquendo Speech Technologies With Aspect's Customer Self-Service Application
  August 3, 2005
  Loquendo announces the integration of Loquendo's multilingual Text to Speech and Automatic Speech Recognition engines with the Aspect Customer Self-Service (CSS) i nteractive voice response (IVR) application. CITEC is a platinum member for the Italian market of Aspect Communications' alliance program and its controlled company - Citec Voice - is master distributor of Loquendo speech technologies for the Italian telephony market.
  This integration will enable CITEC to design and implement Aspect CSS-based solutions, providing the full potential of Loquendo TTS text-to-speech technology and its advanced features, including Emotional Expressivity, Mixed Language Support and Audio Mixer, supporting natural language applications for automatic interaction services.
  >> More
• Loquendo Speech Technologies Are Now Fully Compliant With The Speech-Enabled Maps Of Teleatlas- PhonoMultiNet
  August 2, 2005
  Loquendo and Tele Atlas, the worldwide leader in digital maps and dynamic location content, are pleased to announce that Loquendo's speech technologies (both in server-based and embedded versions) are now fully compliant with the speech-enabled maps of TeleAtlas - PhonoMultiNet (SAMPA-UCL phonetic alphabet).
  This new feature of Loquendo TTS enables integrators to guarantee the correct pronunciation of addresses, signpost information, points-of-interest, thanks to Loquendo's unique, patented Mixed Language Capability technology. Loquendo TTS is the only text-to-speech engine capable of correctly reading any address in any language, with any voice. For instance, Loquendo's German voice can correctly read French or English addresses, without any action required on the integrator's part.
  >> More

EVENTS

• Voice Day 2005,
  Bonn, Alter Bundestag, 20-21 October 2005.
  
  12:00-12:45 - Friday, 21 October 2005
  "Natural Language Understanding" (Cosmin Popovici, Project Manager, Loquendo)
  
  13:30-14:15 - Friday, 21 October 2005
  "TTS versus Prerecorded" (Klaus Dietz, Loquendo)
  
  
• Expo Call Center Lisbon 2005,
  Culturgest-Lisbon, Portugal, 3-4 November 2005.
  
  
• Expo Call Center Madrid 2005,
  Madrid, Spain, IFEMA, Feria de Madrid-Palacio Norte, 16-17 November 2005.
  
  
• ISS World Fall 2005,
  Washington, DC, 7-9 December 2005.
  
  10:45- 11:15: Friday, December 9, 2005
  "Voice Investigation systems to Ascertain Targets Identity" (Luciano Piovano, Security Officer).
  
  
• SpeechTEK WEST 2006,
  San Francisco, CA, Hyatt Regency San Francisco, 5 Embarcadero Center, January 30 - February 1, 2006.