Ivrnet acquires Diaphonics's speech recognition software

Calgary, Canada—based Ivrnet Inc. says has acquired a multi-million dollar asset in the form of biometric software. This software was acquired as a result of the collapse of a biometric software venture which allowed for the product to be obtained at minimal cost.

The company said the software will effectively position Ivrnet as an actor in hosted services, and the new product will be integrated into its current offerings. It will also be offered as a stand-alone security solution based on voice verification. Since late 2009, Ivrnet has been integrating this next generation security product within a limited rollout into three of their existing products. This limited rollout involved the use of speaker recognition as a multi-factor authentication gateway and as a voice sample verifier. Ivrnet now plans to integrate the newly acquired speech biometric software into their entire line of speech products. An aggressive marketing campaign is set to begin in March 2011.

CNW reports that the creator of the software, Diaphonics, spent about $12 million developing the technology over several years time. Early in 2010, in the midst of the broader economic downturn, Diaphonics’s venture-capital backers discontinued funding. As part of a prior agreement between the two companies, Ivrnet obtained the source code and full rights to use the software when Diaphonics stopped supporting the technology.

Currently marketing a line of speech applications, and now owning an innovative biometrics product, Ivrnet hopes to gain a lead in the development of biometric security systems.

Voice biometrics uses the uniqueness of a person’s voice much like a fingerprint is used to verify someone’s identity. Such a system effectively becomes impenetrable when used in conjunction with other verification systems. Using a voice-print combined with other verification protocol, such as a password, significantly increases reliability and enables speech to serve as a primary security key in a range of applications.

Ivrnet has already been selling Diaphonics’s software to the Alberta government as part of a customized application which verifies the identity of a person intended to receive financial assistance. The software is also used for quality control among sales representatives at car dealerships. Ivrnet’s secure system records and catalogues every call; incoming and outgoing. Conversations can be immediately tracked to the salesperson who was dealing with a particular customer. This has removed lengthy disputes about who said what and conclusions can be determined in a moment with a quicker resolution.

Diaphonics began the development of the speech biometrics software, and its principles have now formed a new company. They have also indicated that they will be continuing their business relationship with Ivrnet.