Audiopoint Speaks to the Visually Impaired Community and Upgrades its Voice Terminal Service™

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Audiopoint, a leading provider of innovative voice data solutions, today introduced an upgrade to its Voice Terminal Service that speaks directly to the visually impaired community, voice enables Google Calendar and offers entry level service plans making the service affordable to all.

Voice Terminal Service (VTS), a platform based application service, is the perfect mobile tool for anyone who wants to access the Internet, email and customized web information while on the go. This upgrade is especially pertinent to those with low vision or no vision by providing them first time access to their personal data without the need for expensive, specialized equipment or hardware such as screen readers. With simple voice commands, VTS is accessed via any telephone - landline, cellular or today’s smart phone. VTS improves the online user experience of the visually impaired and liberates them so that they can reach greater independence and mobility.

“Our visually impaired customers have mentioned that adding voice access to calendar and scheduling is top on their “wish list” as the next most beneficial feature add to VTS,” said Brian Lichorowic, President and CEO of Audiopoint. “We listen to our customers and responded with the VTS 1.5 upgrade by delivering the first release of VTS' Google Calendar Interface.”

VTS’ Google Calendar Interface allows users to listen to Daily Agendas, based on specified date, add detailed calendar events, based on a scripted interface, including a user-recorded audio description of the event, and a “Quick Add” function, which allows the user to rapidly add calendar events, based on a specific “expert-mode” syntax. Later releases of VTS will allow the user to modify or cancel existing calendar events, via voice command, as well.

VTS 1.5 improves usability with new call flow prompts, an updated voice user interface, and an easier, more secure login process. Users can now access their address book over the phone and the ‘Enhanced Notifier’ feature allows users to broadcast messages by group, individual contact or, particularly critical for emergency services, access a phone number that is not in their address book that is sent via email or alert.

The VTS product suite provides a variety of options to help companies, technologies and other third party software vendors achieve Section 508 compliance. Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. For example, to satisfy sub-requirement 1194.21 (which is part of 508.3), VTS provides a text to voice through voice-enabled web pages and for 1194.22, web to the technology can create any email, calendar, sports, news, horoscope information accessible voice any phone without the requiring the use of internet or additional technology. Through an emergency Notifier (MercAlert) option, VTS provides an additional layer of security and awareness for businesses and government agencies, in response to disasters and other critical news, to broadcast messages in real time. To address 1194.23, Audiopoint’s VTS service works on any phone, giving the user the opportunity to select the device that best fits their needs.

The Company is continuing ongoing efforts to make its services fully compliant with Section 508.31 standards.

Pricing and Availability

VTS is available as a monthly or annual subscription at new, affordable rates of $1.99 a month for 125 minutes of service, $4.95 a month for 250 minutes, and $12.95 for 1000 minutes. Annual plans and site licenses are also available ranging from $199 to $499. Audiopoint is offering VTS free to all visually impaired U.S. veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information, visit www.voiceterminal.net or call 888.382.8346.

About Audiopoint

Audiopoint is a leading provider of innovative voice data services and solutions for consumer-oriented businesses, offering design, development and deployment of large scale Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) software and services, voice-enabled marketing and call center automation. Established in 1998, Audiopoint launched the industry's first voice portal in 1999 and has since established long-term partnerships with numerous Fortune 500 companies to provide advanced speech applications for mobility access. Audiopoint is a privately held company based in Rockville, Maryland with executive and R&D offices in Middleburg, Virginia. For more information, visit www.audiopoint.net.