San Antonio, Texas-based Datapoint Corp – its operational headquarters are in Paris (France, not Texas) these days – has launched a speech-interactive voice response system designed to translate telephone input into database software instructions. Called the Interactive Voice Processor, the system can recognise tone, alphabetical and numeric input, responding to callers’ requests and input commands. The system is targeted at applications such as banking and catalogue sales. It includes a range of protocols and host links as standard, including Digital Equipment Corp VT100 emulation and a vast array of IBM Corp protocols, according to Rennie Bellamy, Datapoint’s voice processing product manager. He says Datapoint will write the front-end for the package as part of the price. Interactive Voice Processor costs from UKP40,000 for a six-port system, which Bellamy claims is good value compared with the cost of employing six staff just to answer the phone. It is available immediately.
