Nuance Announces TALKS 5.0 for Touchscreen Phones

BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nuance Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) today announced the availability of Nuance TALKS 5.0 for Series 60 5^th edition touchscreen phones. Nuance TALKS is Nuance’s leading assistive software that converts displayed text on a handset into highly-intelligible speech for blind or visually impaired mobile consumers.

“We’re continually investing in our mobile assistive software portfolio so all consumers can stay connected with friends, family and colleagues no matter where they are – regardless of the device.”

Nuance TALKS 5.0 enables both blind and visually-impaired users to take full advantage of the many features found on popular Series 60 touchscreen mobile phones, including contact directories, caller ID, text messaging, access to Web browsers, and other applications like the popular Fring messaging application – all while retaining the original user interface. Until now, it has been challenging for the visually-impaired community to use touchscreen devices given the dynamic placement of icons, letters and numbers on virtual keypads, and existing screen readers for touchscreen phones override the original user interface for low-vision and fully-sighted users.

Nuance TALKS 5.0 features a new exploration mode that allows users to simply slide their finger across the screen to hear menus, applications, widgets, text, and more via Nuance’s robust text-to-speech capabilities. To access content, users just tap anywhere or slide their finger on the screen. The software also enables use of the virtual keypad by sliding their finger across it, and tapping once to emulate a keystroke. Additionally, Nuance TALKS 5.0 allows users to navigate all menu and application options with one hand by using the volume keys located on the side of the device, further increasing accessibility while on the go.

“With Nuance TALKS 5.0, we’re providing blind and visually impaired consumers with access to a variety of applications and services that make today’s touchscreen devices so powerful,” said Michael Thompson, senior vice president and general manager, Nuance Mobile. “We’re continually investing in our mobile assistive software portfolio so all consumers can stay connected with friends, family and colleagues no matter where they are – regardless of the device.”

Nuance TALKS 5.0 also features unique SIM-based licensing that offers users the freedom to leverage the software on as many handsets as they like where the same SIM card is used, as well as access to the DAISY2Go Audio Book Player that enables users to read content right from their mobile phone. This latest version also supports recent enhancements to the Series 60 calendar and email capabilities, and features enhanced audio handling.

Availability

TALKS 5.0 supports more than 20 languages worldwide and is now available for Series 60 5^th edition phones. For more information about TALKS, please visit www.nuance.com/talks.

About Nuance Mobile

Nuance Mobile builds innovative, intelligent and intuitive touch and speech interfaces to simplify and enhance the way people interact with mobile devices, applications, and services. Nuance Mobile solutions make mobile devices and in-car systems easier to use, automate customer self-service, and optimize the access and discovery of even the most advanced mobile applications and content – regardless of technical know-how, location, environment, or physical and literacy capabilities.

About Nuance Communications, Inc.

Nuance is a leading provider of speech and imaging solutions for businesses and consumers around the world. Its technologies, applications and services make the user experience more compelling by transforming the way people interact with information and how they create, share and use documents. Every day, millions of users and thousands of businesses experience Nuance’s proven applications and professional services. For more information, please visit: nuance.com.

Nuance, and the Nuance logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States of America and/or other countries. All other company names or product names may be the trademarks of their respective owners.