NIC to Market Web-Accessible Voice System

By Jennifer Freer, Staff Writer

MAY 17 - NIC Technol
ogies, a division of the National Information Consortium, an e-government solutions provider, announced May 17
that it is unveiling an Internet-enabled interactive voice response system (iVR) for e-government.


The system will allow universal access to Web-based government services from any device, including a standard phone.

Government agencies at all levels now have the ability to integrate multiple information and services through a single system, said officials at the Overland Park, Kan.-based NIC. The system supports Automated Speech Recognition, improves customer service and eliminates the need for keypad-driven systems.


The system converts text to voice through any touch-tone telephone. Citizens "listen" to the Web-based a
pplication via an interactive voice through a menu-driven interface. The solution also provides for interactive
fax-on-demand of information, government forms and transaction receipts. Disabled Americans can access government information anywhere, anytime.

"Almost half of all Americans do not have Internet access," said Don Smeltzer, president of NIC Technologies. "For e-government to realize its full promise and become a powerful tool for all citizens, we must create universal and ubiquitous access to e-government applications. Our Web iVR solution will help our government partners bridge the digital divide and serve more citizens through both Internet and voice technologies."

The system was initially developed for the Michigan Department of State.