REDMOND, Wash. — May 8, 2006 —Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of the Microsoft^® Speech Server 2007 beta and a new set of features to make it easier for companies to develop and manage well-designed voice response and touch-tone applications to address their callers’ needs and improve customer satisfaction. Scheduled for release in fall 2006, Speech Server 2007 is Microsoft’s next-generation speech and telephony platform to help contact centers and businesses meet the challenge of reducing costs while improving automated customer service over the telephone.

According to Opinion Research Corp.,¹ nearly seven out of 10 consumers say they are less likely to do business with a company after a bad call center experience. Forrester Research Inc.² also recently reported that many companies “fail to keep callers in their IVR system due to complex menus or poorly designed interfaces.” To help companies retain customers and provide cost-efficient customer service, Microsoft has built several new features into Speech Server 2007 that will provide the tools needed to build and refine robust applications that deliver a more satisfying experience for customers.

“We believe that software can create a great self-service experience,” said Rich Bray, general manager of Microsoft Speech Server at Microsoft. “The powerful tools in Speech Server 2007 dramatically reduce the cost and complexity of building and maintaining customer-friendly self-service systems, freeing your agents to focus on high-value transactions and high-touch customer service.”

Continue At Source

Send via e-mail | Submit to Digg | Add to Live Favorites