This week at SpeechTEK, the voice solutions showcase, PerSay, the leader in voice biometrics, will demonstrate how its VocalPassword technology powers Bells Voice Identification Service.  Bell, the largest communications provider in Canada, has made a spoken pass phrase the universal identifier for customer support across five service segments (wireline, wireless, high-speed Internet, digital TV and VoIP).  Voluntary enrollment is offered to customers as a more convenient alternative to an array of PIN-based services and manual authentication methods, with voice biometrics supporting the companys ongoing commitment to protect privacy as it offers increasingly complex and varied services.

PerSay VocalPassword was selected for the Bell project in September 2006.  Installation, integration by IBM Global Business Services, and testing followed quickly, and beginning in March, Bells Voice Identification Service was rolled out, one area code at a time, to all wireline and wireless customers in Canada.  As of August 20, 2007, Bell reported more than 275,000 voluntary enrollments.

Bell has a long-standing reputation for its leadership in the protection of the privacy and security of customers personal information.  So, the introduction of any identity authentication system had to align with Bells privacy policy without exception.  It had to be secure, simple and user- friendly, with customer trust as the most crucial element.  PerSay brought the depth of experience built on numerous successful deployments that positioned it as the service provider of choice for a voice authentication solution guaranteed to comply with Bells privacy policy.  "The primary driver for Bell in implementing a voice verification system was to make privacy protection more convenient for Bell customers," explained Charles Giordano, marketing lead for the companys voice authentication project.

With identity theft on the rise, the straightforward value proposition offered by voice biometrics-cost savings for service providers, and security and convenience for customers-continues to gain appeal as the most trustworthy way to secure Web, mobile and phone-based commerce.

For more information, please send your e-mails to swm@infothe.com.

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