Dragon-HCL launch Naturally Speaking mobile

US-based Dragon Systems Inc, a speech recognition software developing company, has

launched Dragon Naturally Speaking Mobile in India in collaboration with its distributor,

HCL Infosystems. The Mobile is one of the four products of Dragon Systems namely, For

Teens, Standard and Preferred. Out of the four, the Teens, currently being beta tested

with Indian teenagers by the company, is yet to be released in India.

The Naturally Speaking Mobile is a dictaphone-like device,

recording voice up to 40 minutes. This can be increased by using a smart card up to

additional 80 minutes. The data can be retrieved from the instrument by connecting it to

the system with the Naturally Speaking software, which will transcribe the voice into

data. Graeme Vanderstoel, Director, Asia Pacific, said, "The product was the solution

to address the issue of mobile computing while driving and travelling. Any transcription

of vocal data to system data, the product comes in handy. The instrument is outsourced

from China based Voice-IT. This has been specially designed for the software with enhanced

mikes and memory systems."

The product is priced at Rs 26,995 and is available at all

HCL retail outlets. HCL is also bundling the software with its systems as a promotion

activity since the first quarter of the year. This move has increased the sales of HCL

systems with 4,000 units being sold in the first quarter itself. HCL currently offers

Dragon Systems' Point and Speak, Preferred, Professionals and Naturally Speaking Mobile.

Dragon Systems is currently working with HCL on similar

products for the Indian languages. Earlier this year, HCL had released the Indian version

of Dragon Dictate to facilitate the Desi English to be recognized by the software. The

earlier issue of eight hours of training the software to the voice has also been reduced

to 30 minutes by the company.