DSC scoops up TI voice division, Buyout brings voice-activated services in-house

DSC Communications Corp. fortified its commitment to intelligent network technology last week by agreeing to buy the Telecommunications Systems Division of Texas Instruments Inc.

The TI division makes voice-enabled service platforms and products, including voice dialing, voice-activated network control and facsimile messaging services.

DSC will merge the TI operation with its switching systems group when the buyout is complete, sometime in mid-June.

The purchase gives DSC immediate access to mature technology that it can adapt to its INfusion intelligent network platforms, a DSC spokesman said. "The technology developed by TI is good and widely deployed," he said. "To this point, it's been developed on a proprietary platform. It needs to be developed on an open platform.

Although DSC isn't the only company to offer voice-activated service platforms in-house, the acquisition is a wise step, said Fred McClimans, chief executive officer of Current Analysis Inc., Ashburn, Va.

"This is one of those technologies that people take for granted," McClimans said, "but it's becoming increasingly important as we automate the network. If I were in DSC's shoes, I'd be looking to implement a lot of [voice activation] into my product line.

The DSC spokesman termed the acquisition's price tag as "moderate." The added capability puts DSC in a position to serve the anticipated demand for voice-activated automation, he said.

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