Microsoft announced on March 14 that it will buy Tellme Networks with an eye toward using the firm's technology to enable people to search the Internet by speaking instead of typing. "Speech is universal, simple and holds incredible promise as a key interface for computing," said Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer.
"Tellme brings to Microsoft the talent, technology and proven experience in speech that will enable us to deliver a new wave of products and revolutionise human-computer interaction."
Tellme was founded in 1999 and has stated its goal as "to let anyone say what they want and get it, from any phone. Tellme crafts speech services for directory assistance and customer service calls as well as voice-enabled online search.
The firm handles millions of telephone calls daily requesting information such as stock quotes, sports scores, weather, movie times and driving directions, according to Microsoft.
Microsoft plans to integrate Tellme technology into its mobile telephone Internet search services as well as existing automated voice communications software and to share it with business partners.
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