Speech recognition firm Nuance and e-banking solutions provider Xcom have teamed up to launch a new voice-activated real-time stock quote system in Germany.
The Capitto-Kurs-Informer service enables callers to dial up from any telephone and ask for the latest share price update on the Dax, Mdax, Sdax, Smax and Nemax All Shares indices - as well as information on stocks in the Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Industrial 30.
The system can recognize 800 German stock names and 4000 financial terms and expressions. Users do not have to remember stock identification numbers to obtain the information they want, but simply say the name of the stock.
"This voice-activated financial information system is a first in Germany," says Nick Applegarth, managing director of Nuance, Emea. "Users have indicated that it is very important for them to have access to this kind of information from any telephone at any time by simply asking for it...This service is fast, simple to use, and available 24 hours a day."
Callers do not have to subscribe to the system, and calls are charged at $0.5 per minute. The system's voice interface enables callers to interrupt at any time during the call to amend their requests, without having to wait for a pre-specified break, say the companies.
Future versions of the system will have a calendar associated with a company's name, for example when the next AGM (annual general meeting) of a listed company is scheduled or what dividend it pays.
The financial information is provided by Xcom's quote server which links directly with the Deutsche Borse, Frankfurt.