IBM's next generation WebSphere Voice Server V5.1.1 and V5.1.2 products leverage the power of IBM WebSphere Application Server. It supports full open standards for grammar, lexicon, and Text to Speech markup development. It uses the Media Resource Control Protocol (MRCP) V1 Draft 4 for interoperability with a variety of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) companies. This IBM Redbook will help deploy voice-enabled applications using WebSphere Voice Server and it will give you a broad understanding of the WebSphere Voice Server architecture. It will also help you to plan, install, tailor, and configure your voice development environment on Microsoft Windows XP or 2000 Professional using WebSphere Studio Site Developer V5.1.2, and the Voice Toolkit for WebSphere Studio V5.1. This redbook also demonstrates the use of the VoiceXML markup language, Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Text to Speech (TTS), and the WebSphere Voice Server technologies through examples. A basic knowledge of VoiceXML development, voice-enabled application development using WebSphere Voice Server, and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) is assumed.

The WebSphere Voice Server product is a member of the IBM WebSphere software family. It provides a platform that enables the creation of voice applications through industry standards such as VoiceXML and Java. The WebSphere Voice Server facilitates the deployment of voice applications by interfacing with voice standards such as Cisco VoIP, IBM DirectTalk, and Dialogic platforms. It further aids the development of these applications by providing development tools. This IBM Redbook discusses the functionality of WebSphere Voice Server in the context of real business environments. We introduce the voice environment and the WebSphere Voice Server. We cover in great detail the various operating platforms supported by WebSphere Voice Server (Dialogic, Cisco, and DirectTalk - also referred to as WebSphere Voice Response). The product has been further enhanced to function on both Intel and AIX systems. The Redbook goes into some depth about this new functionality. Additionally, we discuss both the Software Developers Kit (SDK) and the Voice Toolkit that are available for the development of voice applications. A step-by-step approach was taken to walk through the development of a VoiceXML application utilizing both of these tools, and taking advantage of the new functions provided within them.

Since the initial introduction of IBM DirectTalk. DirectTalk has become a versatile, voice processing platform that has brought expanded functionality to IVR applications, including advanced speech recognition and VoiceXML for the Web. DirectTalk integrates information from multiple sources and can deliver direct access to the services and information customers and employees need around the clock. Businesses using DirectTalk can answer and screen a large number of calls simultaneously and promptly, reducing caller wait time and improving customer satisfaction. This redbook will help you: - Size and choose the appropriate IBM DirectTalk for Windows solution for your IVR environment. - Install, tailor and configure IBM DirectTalk Speech Recognition for Windows on the latest IBM xSeries and provide helpful information for installation on OEM systems. - Gain an understanding of the IBM DirectTalk architecture and the open architecture of the General Server Interface that allows the supplementing of IBM DirectTalk for Windows components by developing your own clients and servers. - Migrate from IBM DirectTalk/2 to IBM DirectTalk for Windows and use new system management software to manage an IBM DirectTalk network.