A regular update on business, new technology and events, from Spectrum; the executive search firm operating exclusively within the communications, media and technology sector in the UK, Europe and the USA.

• Spectrum Update
• Insight CEO Interview: Jeremy Coller
• Spectrum Thought Leadership: the first 90 days
• New Technology: the multi award winning Spinvox
• Executive Development: importance of language skills
• Personal Wealth: property investment
• Executive Opportunities: current assignments
• Networking Evening: how to attend

New Technology: the multi award winning Spinvox

New technology with Christine Domecq of SpinVox Ltd, Voicemail-to-Text

Christina, we understand that you founded Spinvox. Can you tell us more?
SpinVox provides the world's first voice to text conversion capability for mobile and landline phones. The original service that we launched in the UK in 2004 is called voice-to-text, put simply the service converts voicemail messages into texts and sends them straight to your mobile phone or email. With this service you can instantly and discreetly see who called and what they said, wherever you are. SpinVox's service entirely changes the user experience of voicemail, making it much easier to stay in touch. By proactively delivering the whole message directly to your handset, there's no need to dial into voicemail, write down details or replay messages. Voicemail also becomes a dialogue - the message appears as if the caller had sent you a text, so you can call or text back at the push of a button.

How did you come up with the idea?
Ironically, it was accidental. I was rushing between meetings in Seville three years ago. Listening to my voicemail messages and unsuccessfully trying to find pen and paper to write down names, numbers and details, I thought that there just has to be a better way. I called Daniel Doulton, SpinVox's co-founder, to find out if he knew of a service that I could use. When he told me that there wasn't one, it seemed like a great opportunity to create a simple service that fulfils a very real user need.

How accurate can voicemail-to-text really be?
People are often sceptical until they actually use the service themselves. Research has shown that the service provided by SpinVox is 97% accurate. In addition, anecdotal evidence from journalists who write about the service indicate that they have found it remarkably accurate, even after trying to deliberately trip it up with funny accents and difficult words. Even where the odd word is missed out due to background noise, or a name is miss-spelt, the reader can usually guess from the context what the word actually is.

You recently won the latest in a string of industry awards at 3GSM. What is it that the judges like about Spinvox?
Firstly, SpinVox is a simple solution derived from a real need - not a technology looking for an application. The service is repeatedly praised for being user friendly and simple to operate with 80% of those who trial the service staying with it once their free trial has ended.

Secondly, the mobile industry frequently encounters issues of compatibility and interoperability that SpinVox has managed to overcome. The service is not just for the so-called “early adopters” or those with new handsets - it works on any handset, network or voicemail platform, without requiring the roll-out of new applications, upgrades, software downloads or learning new behaviours. Users simply enter a one-off 21 digit activation code and then start receiving their voicemail messages as text!

Finally, SpinVox has a direct impact on the industry - by bringing together core voice and text services to improve usability while simultaneously increasing call continuity - essentially helping operators to get more value out of voice, text and voicemail.

What are your plans and targets for the organisation this year and beyond?
We're currently working with network operators internationally, and this year we're focusing on deployments with operators in English and Spanish.

French is currently in beta-testing with German and Italian on the product roadmap. Following intensive trials we'll be looking at multi-lingual implementations in these languages and any others that are in high demand. In the long-term we'd like SpinVox to be on offer to all mobile users across the globe, making it easier for them to stay in touch.

Presumably, business users derive most benefit from SpinVox. How does SpinVox reach it's customers?
Surprisingly we've found that our customers are not limited to a specific demographic group or to business users alone. Demand seems to cut across all ages and demographics, as it's just about removing the hassle from voicemail - a must-have service on most mobile phones.

To reach both business and consumer customers, we've partnered with leading mobile retailers, distributors and operators who use SpinVox to offer more value and choice to their customers. In the UK, some of these partners include 3, The Carphone Warehouse and 4u Business.

How do mobile operators perceive SpinVox - is there a threat to voice revenues if users are not dialing into voicemail to collect messages?
The service is actually a fantastic revenue opportunity for operators, which is why we're now working with operators internationally to deploy the service as an integral part of their standard voicemail services. Far from being a threat to revenues, SpinVox uniquely provides an opportunity for mobile and fixed line operators to achieve a sustainable uplift in voice and text revenues while simultaneously improving the user experience of voicemail.

We've found that voice-to-text has profound effects on call continuity - the bread and butter of the mobile industry, It's so simple to reply to a message that the call back is more likely to connect the first time or the conversation continues as text. Additionally, callers expect a speedier response as they know that their message got through. Indeed, trials with operators and retailers have indicated that SpinVox leads to a phenomenal 12% average uplift in voice and text traffic - core to the operator businesses.

We repeatedly see operators astounded by these figures, especially given that they can achieve them here and now - understandable when you consider the £bs that has been spent on 3G in order to derive future revenue uplifts.

Will operator deployments differ from the versions you have in retail?
The solution will be deployed as an extension to the operator's existing voicemail platform and voice product offering and will be integrated with core-network and handset functions. SpinVox currently has two products live in its product suite: voice-to-text and voice-to-email, with voice-to-IM and speak-a-text due for launch in Q1 07. All these products will integrate seamlessly with the operator’s existing platforms and will not require the subscribers to undergo any setup procedures.

If a reader of the Spectrum newsletter would like to trial SpinVox, can they do so?
Certainly. Seeing is believing so we offer a one week free trial so that people can see the service in action for themselves. Just text SPIN to 84004 or signup at our website www.spinvox.com. International users will have to wait just a little bit longer until we're able to offer an international trial facility.