General Motors' OnStar subsidiary has selected IBM to provide interactive speech technologies for its next-generation voice-recognition applications.
This effort addresses OnStar-specific needs, in the demanding in-vehicle environment, related to speech recognition for the deployment of its next generation hardware and support for its new off-board voice-interactive services.
Working in collaboration with OnStar, the IBM Embedded ViaVoice product was enhanced to deliver superior voice interactions for OnStar customers. Additionally, OnStar has selected the IBM Websphere Voice Response software and IBM eServer pSeries systems as the foundation to build OnStar-specific voice-interactive services for its customers. This development will be supported by resources from IBM Global Services.
Frank Roney, IBM Managing Director, General Motors Global Account said, "At IBM, we see voice technology as fundamental to the automotive telematics value proposition, and we are delighted that OnStar has chosen our industry-leading interactive voice technologies as the foundation of their new, Gen6 applications." Terms of the multi-year agreement, which begins with model year 2004 vehicles, were not disclosed.
OnStar said it selected IBM because its technology provides the following advantages:
Leading, state-of-the-art voice recognition software that will receive continual enhancement over the long term from IBM, in collaboration with OnStar requirements.
Technology that aligns with OnStar's rigorous targets for recognition accuracy across the full spectrum of automotive driving conditions and user dialects.
Technology that supports OnStar's demanding user interface requirements. A flexible platform that can be customized over time to incorporate automated delivery of OnStar-specific applications and services such as enhanced remote diagnostics and improved customer-to-dealer communications.
Continued, real-time integration of advances in speech-recognition and other telematics technologies from IBM Research.
According to Strategy Analytics, by the end of 2007, the market for telematics terminals across North America, Western Europe, and Japan will be worth around US$20 billion, rising from US$5 billion at the end of 2000.
OnStar and IBM view voice recognition capabilities as essential in the emerging world of in-vehicle automotive communications, where the miniaturization of communications devices in cars is driving the use of interactive voice technologies - hands-free dialing and navigation, for example - to replace more traditional driver-passenger interfaces.
Telematics is one of IBM's leading on-demand technology and business process offerings, enabling automakers to extend a variety of service and maintenance upgrades to drivers and fleet owners.
OnStar is currently available on all GM vehicle brands and more than 50 different GM cars and trucks as well as select models from five other automotive manufacturers.
