Prologix to provide text in IE’s speech software

HYDERABAD: Lucknow-based Prologix Software Solutions is all set to take a big leap in the IT world, the company is on the verge of partnering with Microsoft. Prologix is going to provide its text to speech software ‘Vaachak’ to be incorporated in the newer version of Internet Explorer that is slated for a release by the end of November 2002.

"We are in close negotiations with Microsoft and soon we would be having a partnership with them involving Vaachak and Internet Explorer," said, Vinamra Agarwal, CEO at Prologix. As of now the company is busy porting its software Vaachak on to the new Internet Explorer.

For Microsoft this would mean an easy tapping of the local unexplored territory of Indian languages and would enable developers to work on Windows XP and Unicode. Vaachak has already been completely integrated with Windows XP and Microsoft’s Unicode character set.

As of now the software has been ported to the MS office suite with the ability to read out any Unicode Hindi text in a voice of the choice of the user and at a rate, which a user would be able to define. Unicode is a standard that provides a unique number for every character irrespective of the platform, language and fundamentally.

"At the moment we have implemented it for Hindi. The software is one of the only TTS synthesizers that have the capability to recognize Unicode Hindi text and render it to clear speech," he explained.

Vaachak by itself is getting redefined to include new voices and languages. "Our next initiatives would be in the areas of Marathi, Bangla and Tamil," he added. Sources close to Microsoft have revealed that the company itself is working on developing a multilingual portal capable of speaking in a number of different Indian languages.

Once Microsoft fully integrates Vaachak into its browser, users would be able to hear the contents of an email or tally figures present in a worksheet or even automate presentations in Hindi. "In addition we have a comprehensive products suite for next generation telecom services solution that include innovative applications like Unified Messaging, Audio Conferencing, etc," he explained.

To highlight its latest developments, the company is participating at Milan International Exhibition/ tradeshow at SMAU 2002 and if the deal with Microsoft goes on smoothly, the company is surely on its way to glory.