WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 21, 2002--Ascent Computing Group Inc. (Ascent), an Inc 500 and a Fast 500 company, and the only provider of both voice-based technology software and IT consulting services, today announced that it has selected Intel(R) as a key components provider for its speech-enabled software platform. Ascent will integrate Intel's open-standards-based technology into Ascent's natural language processing enterprise applications. Ascent will employ Intel(R) components, including the Dialogic(R) JCT Series Telephony Boards, for use in their AscentTel(TM) speech technology product that incorporates Ascent's proprietary natural language processing technology. Ascent has implemented all the features of Intel's Continuous Speech Processing functionality, providing advanced echo cancellation, barge-in and voice activity detection capabilities. "Deployment of speech-based applications offers enterprise customers new opportunities to reduce costs and differentiate themselves through enhanced access to information, wherever it lies, via the telephone," said Tim Moynihan, Director of Product Marketing, Intel. "The combination of Intel's open standards-based telephony components and Ascent's voice platform and expertise in delivering end to end voice enabled solutions provides customers with a solid and reliable platform." AscentTel voice-enables all business applications running under any operating system using Voice XML enhanced with natural language processing. AscenTel™ provides users with the ability to request and receive information verbally from enterprise databases allowing transactions to be conducted over the telephone. "We have selected Intel(R) components because we wanted the most innovative and reliable speech technology," said President of Ascent. "We look forward to a successful and synergistic collaboration that will enable us to offer our AscenTel™ natural language processing product to the marketplace under the best possible circumstances." Natural language processing means that a system accounts for natural human pronunciations, linguistic structures, slang, and variations on word definitions. The purpose of natural language processing in voice recognition technology is to enable an individual to address a computer as one would intuitively address another person. According to the Kelsey Group, total worldwide value of the voice market ecosystem is projected to reach $41 billion (on a global basis) by 2005. AscenTel™ version 2.0 is scheduled to be brought to market in the first quarter of 2002. AscenTel™'s target markets include: financial/insurance, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing/retail industries. About Ascent Computing Group (www.ascent-inc.com) Ascent Computing Group is the only provider of both voice-based business application software and consulting services. Voice is the simplest way to interact with enterprise data anytime, anyplace from any phone. Ascent uniquely voice-enables all business applications running under any operating system with Voice XML enhanced with natural language processing. Headquartered in White Plains, New York, Ascent has been developing and deploying business solutions for world-class companies since 1994. Intel is a trademark or registered trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. AscenTel™ and anytime anywhere anyphone are trademarks of Ascent Computing Group, Inc.
