|
 |
|
An Affordable and Easy to Use Internet Access for Everyone:
Significantly Increases Accessibility for the Disabled while Bridging the Digital Divide
SAN JOSE, California / Rockville, Virginia June 29, 2009 – TecAccess, an international leader in accessibility solutions, and InternetSpeech, a California-based international leader in voice Internet technology have announced today that both parties have launched a special effort to significantly increase the accessibility, as well as bridge the digital and language divides, using netECHO® Voice Internet Technology that allows anyone to access the Internet using any phone and user’s voice, without the need of a computer. The core “rendering” feature of voice Internet technology provides content from any website through short, precise, easily navigable audio in real time. Thus, many users (including many people who cannot read or write) would be able to enjoy all Internet content using any phone by just talking and listening.
“TecAccess is a trusted, world-class provider of accessibility consulting solutions. We understand the unique needs of business and how to protect organizations by reducing its risks, while at the same time maximizing value and ROI based on crucial accessibility initiatives. To do this, we´ve created a business model in which employees with disabilities - along with veterans with disabilities – lead the accessibility movement. And we have found that Voice Internet is a very effective way to help achieve our objectives, allowing our clients in government and industry to help achieve their objectives,” explained Debra Ruh, Founder and CEO of TecAccess.
"Our goal is not just to Provide Internet to everyone and help bridge the Digital Divide but also help enhance accessibility, increase independence and make people more capable for employment and avoid social exclusion,” said Dr. Emdad Khan, Founder, President and CEO of InternetSpeech. “There is a very good synergy to work with TecAccess, as our Voice Internet technology is a good solution to help achieve TecAccess' objectives. We are really pleased and excited to form this partnership.”
Developed and deployed in the U.S. in 2002, Voice Internet, netECHO empowers users by enabling them to navigate the Internet and listen to information from any web site, using simple voice commands and any telephone. netECHO’s patented technology provides content from any website in real-time, going beyond traditional voice portal features such as news, weather, stock quotes and horoscopes. Customers can also search any word(s) using popular search engines including Google®, Yahoo, Altavista® and MSN®. The streaming audio feature allows users to listen to music, Internet radio stations, and many other live audio programs using a simple phone.
Other key features include Directory Assistance, On-Line Book Reading, and Shopping on selected websites. Future versions of netECHO will support shopping on all major websites, more complex transactions including stock trading, banking and general e-commerce.
InternetSpeech's voice Internet service is ideal for a variety of market segments, including:
However,a cell phone with screen or personal devices, like PDAs are great devices to communicate via voice or text with small content. But these are not good devices to do computing or to access the Internet. The key reasons are:
People who don't own a computer, or who don't have one readily available;
WAP or other small screen-based phone users who want to hear real Internet content versus reading limited, pre-packaged online information on a tiny screen
Mobile business professionals who need access to data while out of the office;
Those with disabilities, particularly the visually-impaired and blind;
Senior citizens who have difficulty in using computers or viewing small screens or using a phone key pad;
The core technology can also be effectively used to render web content onto display devices including tablet PCs or mobile phone screens, thus allowing many technology illiterate people to easily enjoy the benefits of the Internet.
About TecAccess:
TecAccess is a trusted, world-class provider of accessibility consulting solutions. We understand the unique needs of business and how to protect organizations by reducing its risks, while at the same time maximizing value and ROI based on crucial accessibility initiatives. Having led large multi-national clients over the past decade, TecAccess is positioned to help you target one of the fastest growing market segments, people with disabilities and baby boomers, while reducing the risks associated with not being fully accessible to this spiking consumer group. Our goal is to ensure that you are aware of -- and prepared for - mounting changes in accessibility and disability guidelines and mandates that impact your human resources, IT, business development teams, and risk management departments.
For more information about TecAccess,
visit www.TecAccess.net , or call 804-503-9231.
About InternetSpeech:
InternetSpeech is the leader in voice Internet technology. Its voice/audio browser, netECHO®, provides consumers, businesses and Governments complete anytime, anywhere voice-based telephone access to the Internet. The company's patented technology can be bundled with other products such as traditional computer-based Internet access, location-based services, or visual micro browsers. InternetSpeech also offers business software that automates the process of voice-enabling a company's Web site and applications in any language, furthering the development of a globally-connected voice Internet. InternetSpeech, a privately held company headquartered in San Jose, Calif., launched netECHO in November 2000. For more information about InternetSpeech,
visit www.internetspeech.com, or call 408-532-8460.
netECHO® is a registered trademark of InternetSpeech.
# # #
|
|
|
|
