News24 has launched `NewsCall24`, an interactive telephone service driven from its existing Web site and powered by SpeecHTML.
The service, supplied by Intelleca Vocalis, a member of the Intelleca group (formerly Complex-IT), allows News24 readers to access the latest news using a telephone and spoken voice commands.
"Now, where there`s a phone there`s News24," says News24 publisher Douw Steyn. "It`s often inconvenient to have to wait for traditional news-on-the-hour if Internet access is unavailable. Now, we are able to deliver breaking, business and sport news to our mobile readers - wherever they may be."
NewsCall24 will initially provide access to breaking, business and sport news, as well as business indicators and lottery numbers.
News24 has been providing around-the-clock breaking news from a South African perspective since 1998. The content is aimed specifically at South African Internet users, whether they live here or abroad, and local news is provided by more than 25 community news sites. Business news, indicators, live share prices and closing prices combined with market reports keep business readers informed on matters affecting local and global economies, while sport tickers provide live scores straight to users` desktops. Readers can also voice their opinions in discussion forums and voting polls.
"In-depth event coverage on a wide variety of national and international news draws interest groups to News24 and interactive opportunities make them stay," says Steyn. "As the Internet expands to other devices like cell phones, palm tops and television, we will keep delivering news through as many devices as possible. SpeecHTML is another way of making it possible for us to deliver real-time news."
Through the SpeecHTML gateway, customers are linked to the News24 website, where information is accessed, retrieved, converted to speech, and then sent down the telephone. The solution combines advanced speech recognition, text-to-speech conversion and Internet technologies and gives callers quick and convenient access to the information they want. No voice recordings are needed.
Steyn adds that there are currently approximately 2.1 million South African Internet users, while telephone and cellphone access is far more widespread. The voice portal extends News24`s reach to a much broader audience with different demographics, and offers a more convenient way to access the site`s news. SpeecHTML`s user-friendly voice-activated technology does not require any additional hardware or software, just a phone.
We explored a number of offerings in the market, and in the end SpeecHTML was the only way to go. By using the text-to-speech engine no voice-recordings are required, which is essential with the dynamic content we serve. The service can also be customised and expanded around the current and future needs of News24 and its readers," notes News24 editor Gallie van Rensburg. "News24 has shown consistent growth since its inception and needs partners, like Intelleca Vocalis, who can grow with it."
Because everyone knows how to use a phone, SpeecHTML provides users with an interface they can understand. It is friendly and interactive, and callers are made to feel that they have control of the way information is played to them.
"Our partnership has allowed for the creation of a speech interface with dynamic content," says Mike Renzon, Intelleca Vocalis managing director. "This is a major step forward towards personalised, portable media."
To use NewsCall24 call 082 245 9124 and say what you would like to listen to.
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