Press Release
Nuance Speech Makes Navigating with a TomTom GO Faster, Safer and EasierLondon, UK -August 30, 2007 -- Nuance Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: NUAN), a leading provider of speech and imaging solutions, today announced that TomTom has selected Nuance® speech solutions to power the new versions of TomTom's award-winning TomTom GO family: the TomTom GO 520, TomTom GO 720 and the TomTom GO 920. The new TomTom GO family leverages Nuance's speech technology to provide drivers with new levels of safety and convenience when using the navigation device. The new TomTom GO 520 and TomTom GO 720 are available now in retailers across Europe. The TomTom GO 920 will be available in Q4 2007.
These devices are now easier to operate, thanks to the new Nuance-powered voice-activated input feature. Drivers can simply say their destination address instead of having to type it out on the touch-screen keypad, making it easier and safer to enter a destination. The voice destination entry is available in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and UK. The new TomTom products also offer several additional new features including an extra-large 4.3 inch touch screen and faster route calculation.
To enter destinations by voice, drivers simply choose the menu option "Navigate to spoken address," and they are then able to complete the destination entry entirely by voice, without having to use the device keypad to spell out the address. To start the route calculation the driver simply says, "OK."
A recent survey commissioned by Nuance confirmed strong demand for voice destination entry and other speech-enabled features for personal navigation systems. As part of this study, nearly 1,000 drivers across Germany, Japan and the United States described their preferences for in-car features and assessed a range of voice-based functions. More than 75 percent of drivers confirmed that they enter or change their destination while on the road. In addition, more than 70 percent of survey respondents believed that controlling navigation systems by voice increased safety and improved the overall user experience of the navigation system.
"The new TomTom GO navigation devices combine a very compact design with the very latest technology at an attractive price. The GO range is TomTom's first series of navigation devices that allows drivers to enter their destination verbally. Speech recognition improves drivers' concentration in traffic: with Nuance speech technology, they can keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel," said Eric Pité, vice president product management, TomTom.
Craig Peddie, vice president and general manager, embedded speech, Nuance, added: "As consumer demand rises for advanced technology in vehicles, Nuance speech solutions provide hands-free, eyes-free access to help make increasingly complex consumer electronics applications safer and easier to use. Nuance is thrilled that TomTom has embraced voice destination entry for its new devices since speech-enabled features can add significant value to end-users and allow drivers to combine on-road safety and personal convenience. This innovative feature will also allow TomTom to stand out from the competition."
