"Speech is universal, simple and holds incredible promise as a key interface for computing," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer noted. Naturally, Microsoft has a lot at stake when it comes to making computers easier to use. The company has spent the last decade developing speech, handwriting and touch as methods of input; even so, the most common input method for the PC is still the keyboard. That may be good for now, but it's apparently not good enough for the future.
"We've made great strides in speech technologies, but have only scratched the surface of what is possible," observed Jeff Raikes, president of the Microsoft Business Division. So if Microsoft really sees voice as the interface of the future, it makes sense that it would seek to purchase a firm that has developed and refined the interface to the level that Tellme clearly has.
The two companies do indeed share that vision. "Tellme was founded with the idea that anyone should be able to simply say what they want and get it from any device, starting with the phone," explained Tellme CEO Mike McCue. What does that mean in the context of the acquisition? Well, in the area of mobile and local search, that means combining Microsoft's local and mobile search offerings with Tellme's speech expertise, of course; Microsoft thinks that will allow it to take those offerings to the next level.
But it also means software plus services. Microsoft has long-term plans to use Tellme's technology to enhance its voice-enabled applications, including the Windows Vista operating system, the Microsoft Office system, and mobile applications such as Windows Mobile and Windows Automotive. The point, according to Microsoft, is to allow users to interact with the applications in the way that seems most natural.
Tellme's experience with speech could make it easier for mobile phone users to perform a Live search. This kind of thing is sorely needed; speech interfaces have been getting better, but they still have a ways to go. While they can work well for relatively limited interactions, many people still experience frustration and despair when interacting with a large company's robotic call center agent. The last thing Microsoft needs, if it hopes to eventually win the search war, is for its search users to get so aggravated they give up on using the service.
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