Lucent voices support for Orange's mobile internet plans
Lucent has signed a deal to add voice access to Orange's mobile internet services.
The £24m (€39m) deal will focus on the deployment of Lucent's MiLife VoiceXML Gateway solution.
The platform will bring a variety of innovations, including the ability for customers to listen to any email they receive.
The announcement of the deal is marked with the immediate debut of Orange's VoiceXML-based portal, the UK's first.
Customers can use any phone to access a variety of information services including sports results, travel news and horoscopes.
Orange UK's commercial director David Taylor says the project is at the heart of its aim to develop intelligent, interactive and personalised services.
The VoiceXML Gateway will be deployed on the Lucent enhanced Media Resource Server - a carrier-grade platform that provides the resources needed to support text-to-speech and audio playback capabilities.
Initially, three platforms will be deployed within Orange's UK network, with further implementations planned over the next three years.
"We are delighted to be working with Orange to help them introduce innovative revenue-generating services," says Carlos Mira, Lucent's European president for mobility sales.
He adds that the deal will help to ensure that Orange is among the first to bring third-generation data services to market.
