Sprint PCS sprints ahead with voice-enabled Web services

(Telephony) Sprint PCS announced it will provide voice-enabled Web services, an expansion to its Voice Command launched last August. The carrier will offer customers the ability to listen and respond to e-mail, access personalized news, stocks, and other services via their wireless phones.

The network-based, voice-activated service can be accessed by any Sprint PCS customer and will be offered for free during the next three months. After that, the carrier expects to offer it for $5 per month.

“It does not surprise me that they are doing this now, because the company’s strategy is to get services out there ahead of any other carrier,” said Ken Hyers, industry analyst of wireless strategies at Cahners In-Stat Group.

Although Sprint PCS is one of the first carriers out of the gate with voice-enabled Web services, there could be a couple of initial challenges. It may be difficult at first to get users to try the service and then stick with it, in part because the eventual cost per month may be higher than they are willing to pay in addition to the cost of wireless Web access, Hyers said.

“Another issue could be that it often is a lot easier for people to see the written format as opposed to getting information verbally,” he continued.

Still, advances in speed-recognition software continue to make the technology more reliable. HeyAnita is the voice-recognition company providing the software, content and services for Sprint PCS to deploy nationwide access to the voice-activated Web content.

“This [move by Sprint PCS] reflects that there is a recognition that data services right now are so difficult for consumers to access via wireless devices and that there needs to be another solution,” Hyers said. “It is a smart move. Now, the question is: What other carriers are planning to do this?”