PerSay, long recognized as one of the leaders in the voice biometrics space, was acquired by Nuance Communications, Inc. late last year. In an article on tmcnet.com, Chuck Buffum, Vice President of Authentication for Nuance is quoted as saying “PerSay’s voice biometrics products are currently in use across a range of applications, including remote transactions via contact centers and the Internet, password reset, offender monitoring, voice mining, and time and attendance. Together, the companies can accelerate the growth and adoption of the emerging voice biometrics market segment.”
I wish Almog, Ariel and the rest of the PerSay team the best of luck!
Showing posts with label Persay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Persay. Show all posts
Monday, January 17, 2011
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Voice Biometrics Helps Uncover Terror Plot in Europe
According to an October 5 item from the Associated Press,"the British eavesdropping agency GCHQ deployed voice identification software to help uncover the plot that officials say has targeted Germany, Britain and France." The article goes on to say that voice biometrics has played a role thwarting other terror plots in the past.
Voice biometrics experts believe that the technology has strong potential for streamlining intelligence operations. For example, both the U.S. and British intelligence gather huge amounts of electronic eavesdropping data. Persay's CEO, Almog Aley-Raz offered that "using voice biometrics could allow officials to scan a large number of phone conversations for several suspects' voices."
Voice biometrics may not be perfect (i.e., subject to background noise, etc.) but it has proven to be a valuable tool in the ongoing war on terror.
Voice biometrics experts believe that the technology has strong potential for streamlining intelligence operations. For example, both the U.S. and British intelligence gather huge amounts of electronic eavesdropping data. Persay's CEO, Almog Aley-Raz offered that "using voice biometrics could allow officials to scan a large number of phone conversations for several suspects' voices."
Voice biometrics may not be perfect (i.e., subject to background noise, etc.) but it has proven to be a valuable tool in the ongoing war on terror.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Competition for Authenticating Mobile Phones via Biometrics Heats Up
An August 14 item on ThirdFactor.com announced that Animetrics has released new facial recognition authentication on certain mobile phones.
According to the article, “the service, called FaceR CredentialME, is available on devices using the Android, Windows Mobile and RIM operating systems on the Sprint 3G or 4G networks and was launched in conjunction with Troy Security Solutions, a mobile products and solutions provider.”
“The biometric service allows a user to authenticate their identity via unique characteristics in their face recorded from the phone’s embedded camera for anything such as basic online services or corporate specific services. Further, the biometric authentication can be used to entirely replace standard login methods or layered on top of them as a second factor of authentication.”
This announcement comes on the heels of PerSay’s introduction of a voice biometrics solution for iPhones and Bio-Key’s upcoming release of a fingerprint biometrics solution for mobile phones.
The race is on!
According to the article, “the service, called FaceR CredentialME, is available on devices using the Android, Windows Mobile and RIM operating systems on the Sprint 3G or 4G networks and was launched in conjunction with Troy Security Solutions, a mobile products and solutions provider.”
“The biometric service allows a user to authenticate their identity via unique characteristics in their face recorded from the phone’s embedded camera for anything such as basic online services or corporate specific services. Further, the biometric authentication can be used to entirely replace standard login methods or layered on top of them as a second factor of authentication.”
This announcement comes on the heels of PerSay’s introduction of a voice biometrics solution for iPhones and Bio-Key’s upcoming release of a fingerprint biometrics solution for mobile phones.
The race is on!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
PerSay Delivers Voice Biometrics Solution for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch
According to a press release, PerSay’s VocalPassword™ voice biometrics functionality is now available for iPhone™, iPad™ and iPod Touch™ applications. The voice biometrics functionality, which interfaces with a VocalPassword™ web service interface, uses a simple spoken pass phrase which enables single / multi-factor voice-based authentication. By combining it with the device ID, and / or a password, a triple-factor authentication is enabled.
Almog Aley-Raz, PerSay’s CEO, stated “iPhone and iPad users are demanding friendly Apps that utilize the most advanced technology for enhanced experience. By eliminating keyboard use, as well as the need for auto-filling names and passwords which poses a security risk, the PerSay solution provides optimal usability with maximum protection. Sensitive enterprise and personal applications, including mobile banking, social networks, payment services, membership clubs, and many more, can now provide their users with a sleek and innovative, yet strong authentication experience.”
As an iPhone user, I’m looking forward to demoing PerSay’s application.
Almog Aley-Raz, PerSay’s CEO, stated “iPhone and iPad users are demanding friendly Apps that utilize the most advanced technology for enhanced experience. By eliminating keyboard use, as well as the need for auto-filling names and passwords which poses a security risk, the PerSay solution provides optimal usability with maximum protection. Sensitive enterprise and personal applications, including mobile banking, social networks, payment services, membership clubs, and many more, can now provide their users with a sleek and innovative, yet strong authentication experience.”
As an iPhone user, I’m looking forward to demoing PerSay’s application.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
PerSay Wins 2010 Speech Industry Award
Congratulations to Persay for winning the 2010 Speech Industry Award for Speech Security. Other recipients in the category included: Leaders: Agnitio and Raytheon/BBN; Vendor Contender: Loquendo.
The Speech Industry Awards are handed out each year by Speech Technology magazine. According to the magazine's website, "recipients were determined through an extensive process and proprietary rating formula that involves collecting industry analyst and consultant reviews, financial and corporate information, product and functionality assessments, and scores based on their importance to current and potential customers."
PerSay Ltd., with offices in Tel-Aviv, Israel and New York, is a provider of voice biometrics products.
The Speech Industry Awards are handed out each year by Speech Technology magazine. According to the magazine's website, "recipients were determined through an extensive process and proprietary rating formula that involves collecting industry analyst and consultant reviews, financial and corporate information, product and functionality assessments, and scores based on their importance to current and potential customers."
PerSay Ltd., with offices in Tel-Aviv, Israel and New York, is a provider of voice biometrics products.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
SpeechTEK to Feature a Dedicated Voice Biometrics Track
SpeechTEK, an annual voice solutions conference, will be held August 2-4, 2010 at the New York City Marriott Marquis Hotel. This year’s conference will feature a dedicated voice biometrics track with three sessions:
• Understanding Voice Biometrics
• Voice Biometrics to the Aid of Preventing Identity Theft
• Determine the Identity of the Caller
In addition, several voice biometrics vendors, including Convergys and Persay, will be exhibiting. Additional details about the conference can be found on SpeechTEK’s Website.
There is free admission to the exhibit area. I hope to see you there.
• Understanding Voice Biometrics
• Voice Biometrics to the Aid of Preventing Identity Theft
• Determine the Identity of the Caller
In addition, several voice biometrics vendors, including Convergys and Persay, will be exhibiting. Additional details about the conference can be found on SpeechTEK’s Website.
There is free admission to the exhibit area. I hope to see you there.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Top Three Banks in Israel Deploy Voice Biometrics
According to a press release, PerSay has completed the deployment of public-facing voice biometrics systems at the top three banks in Israel – Bank HaPoalim, Bank Leumi and Discount Bank. Applications range from automatic PIN reset to multi-factor identity verification.
Bank HaPoalim’s Contact Center manager commented about voice biometrics on Israeli TV as follows:”Besides the efficiency we gained by eliminating authentication questions, we have significantly improved our service accessibility and customer experience.” Also, Israel’s former Chief Scientist (and PerSay Board Member), Dr. Orna Berry, commented that she expects to see a global expansion of voice biometrics in the next few years to accessing remote services and applications over the phone, Internet, as well as mobile devices.
This latest news can only enhance the credibility of voice biometrics as the right technology for remote identity verification in contact centers. As my recent article on speechtechmag.com asks, “What’s Everyone Waiting for?”
Bank HaPoalim’s Contact Center manager commented about voice biometrics on Israeli TV as follows:”Besides the efficiency we gained by eliminating authentication questions, we have significantly improved our service accessibility and customer experience.” Also, Israel’s former Chief Scientist (and PerSay Board Member), Dr. Orna Berry, commented that she expects to see a global expansion of voice biometrics in the next few years to accessing remote services and applications over the phone, Internet, as well as mobile devices.
This latest news can only enhance the credibility of voice biometrics as the right technology for remote identity verification in contact centers. As my recent article on speechtechmag.com asks, “What’s Everyone Waiting for?”
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
PerSay Forms Alliance with Global Telecom Solutions Provider
According to a press release, PerSay has entered into an alliance with Huawei, a global telecom solutions provider with headquarters in the People's Republic of China. The agreement enables Huawei to offer a pre-integrated voice biometrics enabled IP Contact Center solution across enterprises globally.
Reacting to the announcement, Almog Aley-Raz, PerSay’s CEO stated “While more and more solution providers, system integrators, and value added resellers realize the benefits of voice biometrics, Huawei has taken a unique proactive approach, integrating voice biometrics into its product suite and offering it to its customers. With this strategic alliance, we are more confident than ever that voice biometrics and PerSay products will play a role in every modern contact center.”
Coming on the heels of the recent TradeHarbor-USAN partnership announcement, I'm hopeful that contact centers will soon begin deploying voice biometrics en masse!
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Reacting to the announcement, Almog Aley-Raz, PerSay’s CEO stated “While more and more solution providers, system integrators, and value added resellers realize the benefits of voice biometrics, Huawei has taken a unique proactive approach, integrating voice biometrics into its product suite and offering it to its customers. With this strategic alliance, we are more confident than ever that voice biometrics and PerSay products will play a role in every modern contact center.”
Coming on the heels of the recent TradeHarbor-USAN partnership announcement, I'm hopeful that contact centers will soon begin deploying voice biometrics en masse!
9EZG58FGVCXG
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Voice Biometrics Case Study - Vodafone Turkey
In June 2009, Vodafone Turkey, that country’s second largest mobile communications provider (16 million+ subscribers), in concert with implementation partner SPEECHOUSE, began deploying a customer-facing voice biometrics application. Vodafone Turkey’s “Voice Signature” application is powered by PerSay’s VocalPassword™.
According to PerSay, the primary drivers for Voice Signature were to enhance customer service and improve security. Subscriber benefits include the ability to perform secure self-service transactions such as resetting a blocked mobile device. Enrollment in the Voice Signature application is voluntary.
Vodafone Turkey also benefits by a reduction in call center costs. According to them, thanks to Voice Signature, call durations decreased by about 15%, while customer satisfaction increased 85%.
As a testament to their voice biometrics implementation, Vodafone Turkey won “The Best Technology Solution” award at the “Istanbul Call Center Awards 2009” ceremony.
According to PerSay, the primary drivers for Voice Signature were to enhance customer service and improve security. Subscriber benefits include the ability to perform secure self-service transactions such as resetting a blocked mobile device. Enrollment in the Voice Signature application is voluntary.
Vodafone Turkey also benefits by a reduction in call center costs. According to them, thanks to Voice Signature, call durations decreased by about 15%, while customer satisfaction increased 85%.
As a testament to their voice biometrics implementation, Vodafone Turkey won “The Best Technology Solution” award at the “Istanbul Call Center Awards 2009” ceremony.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Voice Biometrics Case Study - Bell Canada
In 2007, Persay and IBM Global Services Canada began the rollout of the first large-scale customer-facing voice biometrics system. It is only fitting that the client was Bell Canada. After all, in 1867, Alexander Graham Bell’s father began work on developing an early voiceprint.
Bell is Canada’s largest communications company. According to Persay’s Website, the principal project driver for Bell was to fight identity theft and make the privacy protection (i.e., verification) process more convenient for customers.
Enrollment process:
• Customer calls Bell’s contact center and is presented with the option to enroll using an IVR system
• If the customer opts in, the enrollment process is initiated. Or, if the customer opts out, they can ask for a re-prompt to enroll in 60 days
• Customer enrolls by repeating a pass phrase “At Bell, my voice is my password” three times (process takes approximately 2 minutes). The captured “base” voiceprint is stored in the database for future verification
• The enrollment is secured by the customer’s PIN and an account number and they are notified (via callback or SMS) when the enrollment process is completed
Click here for a demo.
Verification process:
• In subsequent calls to Bell’s contact center, the customer is prompted to repeat their “At Bell, my voice is my password” pass phrase. The captured “sample” voiceprint is then compared to the customer’s “base” voiceprint
• If the voiceprints match, the customer is successfully verified and is automatically granted access to the IVR or a live agent (who is alerted that the customer’s identity has already been verified – saving time)
• Customer can add multiple voiceprints per account to enable access for additional authorized co-users (e.g., spouse)
Click here for a demo.
To date, more than 2,000,000 Bell Canada customers have voluntary enrolled and verification rates exceed 4,000,000 a year.
Bell is Canada’s largest communications company. According to Persay’s Website, the principal project driver for Bell was to fight identity theft and make the privacy protection (i.e., verification) process more convenient for customers.
Enrollment process:
• Customer calls Bell’s contact center and is presented with the option to enroll using an IVR system
• If the customer opts in, the enrollment process is initiated. Or, if the customer opts out, they can ask for a re-prompt to enroll in 60 days
• Customer enrolls by repeating a pass phrase “At Bell, my voice is my password” three times (process takes approximately 2 minutes). The captured “base” voiceprint is stored in the database for future verification
• The enrollment is secured by the customer’s PIN and an account number and they are notified (via callback or SMS) when the enrollment process is completed
Click here for a demo.
Verification process:
• In subsequent calls to Bell’s contact center, the customer is prompted to repeat their “At Bell, my voice is my password” pass phrase. The captured “sample” voiceprint is then compared to the customer’s “base” voiceprint
• If the voiceprints match, the customer is successfully verified and is automatically granted access to the IVR or a live agent (who is alerted that the customer’s identity has already been verified – saving time)
• Customer can add multiple voiceprints per account to enable access for additional authorized co-users (e.g., spouse)
Click here for a demo.
To date, more than 2,000,000 Bell Canada customers have voluntary enrolled and verification rates exceed 4,000,000 a year.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Voxeo’s Announcement
Today’s announcement that IVR provider Voxeo will partner with four voice biometrics vendors (CSIdentity, Persay, TradeHarbor and Vocalect) has promise. It offers 100,000 telephony/Web developers, who use Voxeo’s IVR developer portal, the opportunity to develop creative voice biometrics applications for their clients. This move has the potential to mainstream the use of voice biometrics in organizations large and small. The one thing I’m unclear about is how the developers are going to differentiate between the voice biometrics applications offered by the four vendors. Time will tell.
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