HTK, a leading managed service provider of next-generation interactive voice solutions, and WIN, a leading provider of mobile messaging and multimedia services, today announced a partnership that will enable WIN to deliver convergent mobile data and voice solutions to its extensive international client base.

WIN wanted to operate a best-in-class IVR service whilst retaining tight operational control and business agility, but did not see the need to invest in the build and support of its own in-house systems and infrastructure. After an extensive review of the solutions available from the markets leading suppliers, WIN selected HTK to provide a robust and flexible solution for adding converged voice solutions to its wireless data services.

The optimal technical, operational and financial solution was to bring together the core strengths of both companies through a model of Open Service Access, where HTK hosts the IVR infrastructure but allows WIN to remotely design, build and deploy its own voice applications. Through the HTK Portal web-based management tool, WIN has complete access to an application development suite and carrier-class IVR capability, but without the need to invest in its own systems or infrastructure.

WIN developers can use intuitive drag-and-drop tools to quickly build advanced services that leverage the VoiceXML standard, including speech recognition and text-to-speech synthesis. Once completed, the HTK Portal can be used by WIN to deploy, test and commission their home-grown IVR products - as if the IVR platform was on their own premises.

IVR applications are tightly integrated with WIN's advanced mobile data platform - WINCast - using Web Services, compliant with the industry trend towards Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and reflecting the HTK ethos of 100% open industry standards.

By adopting the HTK Open Service IVR solution, WIN has achieved its ambition to enter the Voice market with a highly scalable, robust and joined-up proposition for its existing client base as well as attracting new clients who have a holistic view of customer interaction via any device, over any network, producing any information.

Commenting on the partnership, Marlon Bowser, HTK Managing Director stated:

"I am truly excited about this new approach to IVR service delivery, leveraging open standards and the Software as a Service approach to provide companies like WIN with full access to our hosted network, technologies and capability. The operational and financial benefits are clear, and I'm sure that WIN will prove to be a highly successful player in the IVR and Speech market. This delivery model is set to transform the way that companies think about procuring IVR and messaging solutions, and I'm pleased to see that HTK is leading the way."

Ben King, Head of Marketing at WIN said:

"With the increasingly rich functionality available through mobile devices and network operators, WIN is now delivering full mobile multimedia services across messaging, internet, video streaming and now voice services for clients across Europe. This partnership with HTK allows us to seamlessly integrate interactive voice and speech recognition services into our WINCast service delivery platform, with all the control of an in-house solution and the assurances that we are supported by an innovative and market-leading specialist".