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Business professionals are constantly on the go and, as a result, they do not have time to complete every task in a given a day, even a simple task such as reading an e-mail.
MobileVoiceControl, recently acquired by Nuance Communications, believes that it has a remedy for that problem with its Narrator service, which will allow users to have their e-mails read aloud them.
The Mason, Ohio-based speech products provider announced Dec.19 that its Narrator service is available for BlackBerry Pearl smart phone users, allowing incoming e-mail messages on their BlackBerry device to be read aloud to users through their handsets speakerphone, headset or hands-free car kit.
Matt Revis, product marketing director of Nuance Communications, told eWeek that, “The Narrator is the type of service that is consistent with Nuances mobile strategy: deliver products and services that leverage speech technology to enhance the mobile experience and empower users to get more from their devices.”
The Narrator service will allow users to keep their eyes and hands free while listening to incoming e-mails, a benefit for business users who are constantly on the go.
“While driving a car or rushing through the airport, a business user can continue to keep up with e-mails without having to stop what theyre doing to read,” Revis said. “Not only is this a substantial productivity benefit, but its also an important safety feature because it encourages people to keep their eyes on the road.”
Narrator will also include the following features:
- The ability to switch from Narrator mode to normal mode, in which the user can read the e-mail instead of having it read aloud.
- Users will be able to select either a male of female voice for e-mail read back.
- The program will work through both speaker mode and headset mode.
- The program will be able to detect wireless headsets if the user is connected.
When asked if the Narrator service would read or detect spam, Revis explained that, “Narrator does give a quick click option to stop reading a particular e-mail if the listener detects spam or doesnt want to hear it for any reason.”
Revis added that, “Narrator is a great complement to the spam blockers which are readily available and commonly built into many e-mail clients. By using your spam blocker successfully, you ensure that Narrator will only read the e-mails that are important to you.”
The Narrator service from MobileVoiceControl is available immediately in the English language only to BlackBerry Pearl users for $19.99 for a one year subscription and can be downloaded at the companys website.
Additional languages are expected to be available sometime in early 2007.