PSG Online, the investment information and trading Web site, has established a voice-enabled Interactive Voice Response (IVR) service with Intelleca`s SpeecHTML solution from Vocalis. The speech recognition service allows customers access to information via telephone and spoken voice commands, and will provide them with up-to-the-minute share prices and other financial data on a 24-hour basis.
"The service enables our clients to stay in touch with their investment portfolios and have constant and flexible control over their financial affairs, no matter where they are," says Charles Chapman, PSG Online chief financial officer. "It provides added value for customers who are already benefiting from the financial news and information services available on our Web site."
PSG Online provides access to JSE market information, research, company data, investment tools, online trading and the PSG Online Equities Trading System for 11 000 registered users.
PSG Online users will be provided with a unique telephone access number through which they can manage their personal investment portfolios via landline or cellphone. Through the SpeecHTML gateway, customers are linked to PSG Online`s Web site from which data is accessed, retrieved, converted to speech, and then played back over the telephone. The solution combines advanced speech recognition, text-to-speech conversion and Internet technologies.
Chapman notes that because the voice portal allows customers to speak to the Web site to obtain the information they need, it has a much wider audience reach than a standard Web site. "With more than 1.8 million monthly page impressions, we are offering SpeecHTML as a means of extending PSG Online services to new users."
SpeecHTML offers PSG Online customers a single gateway to a range of information, and because callers can call from anywhere, the Web site is accessible to those who do not have access to a PC. "Customers who are on holiday or away on business can simply phone in to check their investments," says Chapman.
Intelleca offers this solution on an ASP basis and does not require the purchase of additional hardware or software. Changes to Web site information are made by editing the Web pages and once edits are completed, they are immediately available.
"SpeecHTML converts PSG Online`s existing Internet investment into an excellent mobile telephone-based service," says Mike Renzon, executive director at Intelleca.
"In many scenarios the telephone or cellphone is the preferred means of access to important information. Our solution acts as a cost-effective gateway between the telephone network and the Internet."
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