Tellme Networks

Infobox_Company
company_name = Tellme Networks Inc
company_
company_type = subsidiary of Microsoft
company_slogan = The Phone as it Can Be
foundation = 1999, Mountain View, CA
location = Mountain View, CA
key_people = Mike McCue, Chief Executive Officer
industry = Telecom
num_employees = 360 [cite news|author=Liedtke, Michael|title=Tellme's Tale As Microsoft Subsidiary
url=http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/T/TELLME_MICROSOFT?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-03-01-04-47-38|publisher=Associated Press via Wired News|date=March 1, 2008|accessdate=2008-03-01]
products = Telephone services and applications
revenue = "unknown"
homepage = [http://www.tellme.com www.tellme.com]

Tellme Networks is a company founded in 1999 by Mike McCue and Angus Davis, based out of Mountain View, California, in the United States, that specializes in telephone-based applications. Tellme Networks was acquired by Microsoft on March 14, 2007 for "close to $800M". [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117389108729336936.html?mod=us_business_whats_news] The deal closed in late April. Tellme's phone network processes more than two billion unique calls per year. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/09/technology/09tellme.html?ei=5088&en=38baf9e68e1b36f6&ex=1318046400&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all Tellme and Cingular Plan Broader Directory Service] - New York Times, October 9, 2006]

History

In 2000, Tellme launched an internet platform that delivered content to telephones — a concept frequently called voice portals. Early competitors included TelSurf Networks, BeVocal, Hey Anita and Quack.com, which was founded in 1999 and acquired in September, 2000 by America Online to power its competing service AOL By Phone. At least 10 additional competitors appeared in 2000 in various attempts to mimic the funding success of Tellme.Fact|date=February 2007

ervices

Voice portal customers build Internet-powered, voice-enabled applications on the Tellme Network using Tellme Studio. Tellme Studio is a Web-based VoiceXML development tool. The Tellme platform is based on open standards like VoiceXML, CCXML, and VoIP.The Tellme Voice Portal can be accessed by calling 1-800-555-TELL (8355). Tellme also hosts toll-free directory assistance, and could be accessed by dialing 1-800-555-1212.

Customers

Some of the services running on Tellme's network include directory assistance (4-1-1) for Cingular and Verizon, customer service for Merrill Lynch, E*TRADE Financial and American Airlines, and e-commerce services for Amazon.com and Fandango. [ [http://www.tellme.com/about/PressRoom/release/20060821_2 Tellme Press Release] August 21, 2006 ]

See also

* 1-800-FREE-411
* 800-The-Info
* GOOG-411
* List of speech recognition software
* Speech recognition

Notes