In a move that seems to be ZTE trying to find a niche, ZTE and Nuance Communications have announced a multiyear collaboration where Nuance’s voice capabilities will be integrated as part of a new range of ZTE Android devices worldwide.
The result will be a diverse set of mobile applications and devices, including ZTE’s new Car Mode application which is unveiled today at CES in Las Vegas.
No specific devices have been mentioned yet. Which is good as ZTE aren’t the quickest at getting devices to market.
Here is the press release:
ZTE and Nuance to Collaborate on Portfolio of Voice-Enabled Android Devices
Multi-year agreement to bring advanced voice applications to ZTE android devices, including ZTE’s new Car Mode app for smarter, safer in-car experience
Burlington, Mass. and Las Vegas, CES 2013 – January 8, 2013 – Nuance Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) and ZTE Corporation today announced a multiyear collaboration where Nuance’s voice capabilities will be integrated as part of a new portfolio of ZTE Android devices worldwide. The result will be a diverse set of mobile applications and devices that foster a more natural, human interaction between people and their ZTE phones – in more than 25 languages. Among those applications is ZTE’s new Car Mode application unveiled at CES 2013 in Las Vegas.
Car Mode integrates Nuance’s powerful voice capabilities to let users speak to stay connected to the people and content they love, without bringing additional manual-visual distractions into the car. Taking advantage of Nuance’s automotive-grade voice technology and expertise, ZTE’s Car Mode application is embedded within the device to provide people with a reliable, always available hands-free, eyes-free access to the phone functions that are used the most while driving, such as making phone calls, reading text messages and accessing music. At the same time, no network or data connection is required and the app is designed for noisy automotive environments.
People simply engage Car Mode with a hands-free wake-up word, and the app is at their command to dial contacts and numbers, launch navigation apps, get the local weather, and play music on the device. Furthermore, Car Mode announces incoming callers and reads incoming text messages aloud with Nuance’s natural text to speech, and allows people to barge in with new voice commands or cancel incoming audio when needed. Car Mode also features a “Do not disturb” mode where drivers can further minimise distractions by blocking all incoming calls and text messages until they arrive at their destination – with notifications available of the calls and text messages missed.
“Mobile means being connected at any time and any place. By integrating Nuance’s voice technologies as a core part of our Android device lineup and mobile applications, our consumers can simply speak to elicit an intelligent response from their phone – no hands required,” said Mr. Kan Yulun, corporate vice president of ZTE Corporation and CTO of the ZTE Mobile Device Division.
“Working closely with ZTE, Nuance will further humanise and simplify the way people interact with ZTE devices and applications through voice,” said Michael Thompson, executive vice president and general manager, Nuance Mobile. “The results of our collaboration will yield a new global portfolio of intelligent and intuitive Android devices and applications that keep people connected on the go and wherever life takes them.”
Availability:
ZTE’s Car Mode application will be available pre-loaded on ZTE Android devices in 2013.
Nuance’s portfolio of voice, touch and natural language understanding innovations are defining a new generation of intelligent systems and personal assistant technologies, which include Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Dragon Dictate for Mac, Dragon Assistant for Intel-inspired Ultrabooks, Dragon Dictation, Dragon Go!, Dragon Drive!, Dragon TV, Dragon ID, Dragon Voicemail to Text, and Swype. With Nuance technology, people experience more humanised interactions with the world’s best phones, tablets, computers, cars, TVs, apps and services from leading manufacturers and operators. To learn more visit www.nuancemobilelife.com.