San Jose, California-based DSP Group has announced the D6055A, a second-generation chip set in its family of sets for digital answering machines. It is based on the TMS320 signal processor from Texas Instruments Inc, and contains proprietary speech processing algorithms developed by DSP Group. The vendors of telephone answering machines expect a rapid transition from magnetic tape to digital storage, and say that this will be accelerated since obsolescence is not an issue in the still-new answering machine market. The elimination of all moving parts in the answering machine should result in higher reliability and simplified manufacturing, while the replacement of the bulky mechanical drive with chips enables vendors to shrink product size and increase design flexibility. A digital answering machine offers direct selective access to each message – random access, a capability similar to that offered by the user interface of the compact disk player. Computer controlled digital storage allows for the implementation of features such as multiple mailboxes and message forwarding, enabling the answering machine to perform as a personal voicemail system. Digital Speakerphone is a proprietary algorithm that runs on the same device and is said to improve line switching in speakerphone operation significantly. Pricing for DSP’s chip sets for digital answering machines and personal voicemail ranges from $18 to $25 in high volume. The company says that future generations of its chip sets will incorporate speech recognition technology, which it says will enable users to activate the machine just by shouting at the thing and without touching the keys.
