SHAPE Services teams up with Yap to add speech recognition to IM+
By Dusan Belic on Thursday, May 14th, 2009 at 1:45 AM PST In Applications
SHAPE Services has partnered with Yap, the company behind the first fully automated voice-to-text platform, to add a speech recognition feature to its instant messaging client – IM+ for BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) smartphones.
From the press release:
IM+ with speech recognition will allow users to dictate their instant messages and send them as text to their contacts in Facebook, AIM/iChat, MSN/Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo!, ICQ, Jabber, Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Talk and MySpaceIM. Recent studies indicate that over 70% of consumers prefer using voice to interact with their mobile devices rather than typing. Speech-enablement increases message creation speed and greatly improves the usability of instant messaging on mobile devices.
The beta version of the app was showcased at the recently ended Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES) in Orlando, Florida, and the full release is expected at the end of May 2009. Then, once the BlackBerry version hits the market, we’ve no doubts SHAPE will release version of the app for other platforms, as well…
that is perfect because a ton of states are starting to ban driving while texting. according to this:http://www.newsy.com/videos/texting_and_driving_your_right_or_a_new_way_to_crash it can be more dangerous than drunk driving.