Voice usage per user maybe witnessing a downturn as far as conventional mobile services are concerned. But when it comes to VAS the industry is looking up to integrate their services over voice platform with an aim to make their services more user-friendly.

And in one such initiative, rapidly rising VAS solution and services provider, One97 Communications and Nuance Communications announced a business tie-up whereby the combine will offer speech base applications not only to the domestic industry but also to the international markets.

The tie-up aims to target service providers as well as enterprises. Further they feel that VAS can witness increased uptake in semi-urban and rural areas due to the new user-friendliness nature of the services.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Managing Director, One97 Communications said “Voice is the preferred application interface for Indian mobile consumers. As the voice application and platform leader, having Nuance’s speech skills will be a great asset for us to build compelling consumer experiences. Together we will be able to address the Indian consumers in not just 28 languages but also in thousands of dialects.”  

He further added “Natural speech which was earlier restricted to high end application or users will now reach out to every mobile consumer and create a compelling value proposition to our operator and enterprise partners. One97 communications has always believed in delivering innovative product offerings to its customers, the association with Nuance is another step towards this commitment.”

Talking about this partnership Sunny Rao Managing Director, India and South East Asia, Nuance Communications said “We are very pleased to collaborate with One97 to deliver a voice enabled application to improve services to customers in one of the world’s largest mobile markets. The new application based on our proven speech recognition technology will enable customers to access services in a far more user friendly manner with more freedom of choice. Nuance wants to enable rural consumers to overcome low literacy levels and access value added services. Our partnership with One97 is an important step in that direction”

One97’s VAS platform already supports 28 Indian languages. But now numerous dialects too will be included.

The tie-up further says that the new solution also proves economical on the pockets of the subscriber as the subscriber is not required to pay any access charges to avail the services.  From a service provider perspective, the alliance again says that the uptake of VAS in the rural areas can be increased. They claim that the new platform will allow operators a greater scope for customization of offerings. For users the search and navigations will greatly ease out. For instance subscribers navigating on One97’s VIO (very intelligent outdial) will now have direct access to 80,000 songs when compared to 5-7 songs per menu.

Nuance just a day earlier had entered into tie-up with Comviva to offer voice-based Song Search feature.