text:
Note [April 2007]: I stopped updating this page in 2005 as VoiceXML made huge gains and news of SALT began to dry up. Microsoft has since added VoiceXML 2.0/2.1 support to Microsoft Speech Server, joined the VoiceXML Forum, and has successfully completed the Forum's VoiceXML 2.0 platform certification process. And now with its acquisition of TellMe Networks about to be completed, Microsoft stands poised to become the largest VoiceXML company in the world!
We used to hear a great deal from the press about a standards battle between SALT and VoiceXML. It made for good copy, but the marketplace reality is that W3C's VoiceXML 2.0 standard predominates. This is most evident when you look at how SALT Forum member companies are behaving -- most are making huge commercial bets on VoiceXML 2.0. The average SALT Forum company is more fervently behind VoiceXML 2.0 than the average VoiceXML Forum member company!
Here is a sampling of recent pro-VoiceXML press releases and public statements from SALT Forum companies (www.saltforum.org/members/members.asp). An "n/a" entry means I haven't yet found any publically-available information on the company's usage of VoiceXML or SALT. If you have any corrections or additions, please drop me a line at ferrans at yahoo.com. While I don't explicitly track SALT-only news here, SALT Forum companies make three times as many announcements relating to VoiceXML as they do regarding SALT.
"Sharing the risks and rewards of outsourcing" An article on the CRM outsourcing deal (6/2002).
"ATR is a leader in the development and adoption of new technology that advances business capability. VxML based speech recognition systems that integrate call centers and other data. With over five years of company history and a proven track record of customer satisfaction, ATR is leading the way to usable, implemented internet and telephony based business solutions." (12/2004). Also have expertise in SALT.
n/a: www.aliant.ca web site has no references to SALT or VoiceXML. Are they just monitoring?
n/a: No information available for VoiceXML or SALT. Just monitoring? See www.alliance-infotech.com.
"BeVocal views VoiceXML 2.0 as the standard that provides a complete solution for developing sophisticated voice applications. The W3C Candidate Release of VoiceXML 2.0 is a significant milestone which is the culmination of actual implementations from W3C member companies and public input. VoiceXML 2.0 is ready for prime-time and widespread adoption. Our developers on BeVocal Café and our hosted customers have seen the benefits of the rapid web-based development and deployment of their voice applications. The simultaneous release of the W3C test suite gives consumers the confidence that VoiceXML 2.0 solutions will have compatibility into the future."
-- Ralf I. Pfeiffer, Manager, VoiceXML Technology Group, BeVocal, Inc. (3/2004).
VoiceXML Forum Supporter, renewed in 2/2004.
Brooktrout buys [VoiceXML media server company] Snowshore (3/2004).
Collaborating with VoiceGenie and Bludis to develop a VoiceXML-based voice server (8/2004).
Deployment options based on "VoiceXML dial tone" (2003).
Have VoiceXML Studio development tool.
Note: web site no longer available. (4/2004).
OpenVXI open source VoiceXML 2.0 browser (10/2003).
Now named GetVocal. They have a "high-density VoiceXML 2.0 platform", the "first VoiceXML 2.0 implementation from a computer telephony provider". "GetVocal is an award winning VoiceXML solution provider - known world-wide for it's proven and pioneering solutions."
Edify Received 2003 "Product of the Year" Award from Customer Interaction Solutions. This was for the Edify 8.5 VoiceXML 2.0 browser (12/2003).
Edify joins VoiceXML Forum (2/2004).
"Edify banks on natural-language apps." "[The] Edify Voice Banking [application] is scalable from 4 to 9,000 ports. Conforming to Voice XML 2.0, it is deployable to a native Edify environment, Edify's VoiceXML, or Voice XML products by Avaya and other vendors. Wahn said that a future release will support Microsoft's speech server." (10/2004).
The formerly SALT only enCue Voice.NET Server now describes as supporting VoiceXML, and has a VoiceXML interpreter (9/2004).
Envox backing ScanSoft's xHMI tooling initiative, "an XML-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as VoiceXML and CCXML" (11/2004).
Genesys Awarded 2002 "Product of the Year" by Customer Interaction Solutions Magazine. Genesys [VoiceXML] Voice Portal Selected for its Technological Excellence and Vision (1/2003).
Product Profile: Genesys Voice Platform. "GVP is based on solid, leading technology." "Genesys has years of experience with VoiceXML, the new de facto standard." (3/2004).
"Genesys and IBM to Deliver Enterprise-Wide Speech-Enabled Self-Service Solutions" on IBM WebSphere [VoiceXML] Voice Server (4/2004).
Versera Intelligent Communications Environment is architected with Java, Linux, and VoiceXML technologies [no mention of SALT] (8/2004).
"Glenayre Announces First Commercial Deployment of New Versera Intelligent Communications Environment." Architected with Java and VoiceXML technologies, Versera ICE enables carriers to consistently live up to their subscribers' expectations -- and even set them -- now and in the future." (9/2004).
"We develop open, platform-neutral applications using Vonetix - which allows for application data integration across heterogeneous computing environments. To ensure your competitive advantage, Gold Systems helps you harness the power of Java, XML, VoiceXML, SALT, WAP and others."
"Open standards such as VoiceXML are critical to the widespread adoption of interactive media solutions, especially speech technology. The VoiceXML Forum effectively promotes awareness of VoiceXML both as a technology and as a business enabler, is an authoritative source for VoiceXML information and is now driving innovative education and certification programs for both application developers and platform vendors. HP fully supports VoiceXML in its telecom products: our OpenCall Media Platform product is the most complete and mature VoiceXML platform for service provider." -- Dr. Scott McGlashan, Chief Technologist, Interactive Media Products, Hewlett-Packard (9/2003).
"HP has invested heavily in VoiceXML technology and the development of a best-of-class platform to support new VoiceXML offerings."
"VoiceXML is broadly supported by a majority of vendors. Approximately 80 percent of voice services developers have provided or are currently developing VoiceXML applications, giving service providers a large choice of applications."
"VoiceXML 2.0 provides an open standard for writing speech gateways and applications in a truly ubiquitous manner. It also promotes speech as the viable access mechanism for web-based content. HeyAnita’s FreeSpeech Platform Version 4.0 allows companies to develop voice applications in the programming language of their choice while taking advantage of the VoiceXML 2.0 standard to achieve interoperability with leading gateway servers." -- Sanjeev Kuwadekar, CEO, HeyAnita Inc (3/2004).
"Hitachi welcomes the collaborative relationships between W3C and VoiceXML Forum. This makes VoiceXML a global standard and we believe it strongly encourages the access to the Internet via voice. We plan to develop voice portal systems for drivers with VoiceXML technologies and also plan to contribute to internationalization issues of VoiceXML as a Japanese company."
Note: In July 2002, iBasis sold its IVR hosting business to Convergys, a VoiceXML proponent.
VoiceXML Forum Supporter, renewed 2/2004.
InfoTalk - Vbrowser Platform: "InfoTalk-vBrowser is a VoiceXML interpreter that is fully integrated with other InfoTalk products to form the InfoTalk-Vbrowser Platform. (9/2004).
Intervoice Awarded 2003 "Product of the Year" Award By Technology marketing ZCorporation's Customer Inter@ction Solutions Magazine. InVision(r) Studio for VoiceXML 2.0 Singled Out for its Technological Excellence and Vision (12/2003).
Intervoice 'Opens' Legacy Constraints of Voice Messaging [in VoiceXML] (2/2004).
"ScanSoft introduces SpeechPAK 1.0 for utilities". "SpeechPAKs accelerate R.O.I. gains by delivering a fast, high-quality deployment on a variety of VoiceXML 2.0 platforms from industry leaders such as [...] Intervoice [...]" (4/2004).
"Intervoice Teams with Apptera to Offer Applications to Financial Services". Intervoice is reselling Apptera's VoiceXML financial application suite. (5/2004).
"30-Month Managed Services Order Valued at Approximately $5M; Continuing Partnership With Firm Exemplifies Both Technology and Solutions Reliability and Value" A global financial services firm and existing partner of Intervoice is deploying an Intervoice solution centered on Omvia Voice Framework and a VoiceXML-based Electronic Benefits Transfer system written by Intervoice. This VoiceXML-based system will be used by welfare recipients in 35 states! (10/2004).
"Award-Winning Intervoice Customer to Discuss Deployment Success in Joint Presentation at Speech Technology Conference". " Intervoice will showcase its [...] InVision(R) Studio for VoiceXML standards-based development environment" (2/2005).
"Intervoice Secures $6M Expansion Order from a European Network Provider for a Voice Portal Solution" The order is an additional Voice Extensible Mark-up Language (VoiceXML)-based extension to the network provider's existing portal as a core element of the Company's Omvia(R) portal offering. The expansion order, totaling nearly 3,000 ports, includes two years of maintenance from Intervoice. (2/2005).
"Intervoice Launches New Multimedia Enhanced Services Solution for Network Operators that Delivers Compelling, Innovative Applications to Drive Subscriber Demand" " Built around a powerful core known as Home Zone, Omvia Media Exchange offers an attractive new universe of Voice Extensible Mark-up Language (VoiceXML)-based multimedia applications -- such as voice-navigated messaging, custom ringback tones, email, images and video -- all from a single subscriber mailbox." (2/2005).
Kirusa congratulates the W3C and applauds the effort of the Voice Browser Working Group in developing VoiceXML 2.0. Kirusa strongly supports the evolution of the Speech Interface Framework by the W3C and welcomes further standardization efforts to support enriched voice interfaces. This will also have strong implications for multimodal platforms which allow voice and visual interfaces to be integrated to create a very compelling experience for the end user. Kirusa looks forward to supporting the W3C in activities that further this vision.
Voxpilot and Kirusa showcase Kirusa's VoiceXML-based SMS multimodal application. The Kirusa application is deployed on VoxPilot's carrier-grade Open Media VoiceXML platform.
See ScanSoft (below) for VoiceXML testimonials, products.
"As a leading player in speech technologies and voice platforms, Loquendo believes that VoiceXML 2.0 and SRGS 1.0 Recommendations are an essential step forward in promoting the speech application market. Indeed, it will boost the speech market, by enabling service providers, content creators, operators and voice portals to deliver a much richer user experience.Loquendo high-quality, high-performance technologies and platforms power over 2,000,000 calls every day in the telecommunications and enterprise markets throughout the world and guarantee solutions in 15 languages. Loquendo is very pleased to contribute to the development of this specification, and will continue to give a strong support to W3C and VoiceXML Forum activities." -- Daniele Sereno, Vice President Product Engineering, Loquendo (3/2004).
Loquendo and MET France realize the CRM voice portal for Marionnaud perfumeries chain [in VoiceXML 2.0] (4/2004).
Loquendo Releases VoxNauta Lite 6.0 Software Speech Platform. "VoxNauta Lite 6.0 supports the [...] W3C VoiceXML 2.0 Recommendation" (9/2004).
Website proclaims: "Mediaford, VoiceXML and IT Solution Company" on start page. In the About Us section, their business field is "VXML based IVR solutions". They are also "Providing VoiceXML to Korea Telecom". No mention of SALT. (9/2004).
AnyModal 4.0 Telephony supports VoiceXML as well as SALT. "The technology is entirely VoiceXML and SALT compliant and can be easily integrated into existing platforms and browsers."
"Followap chose NMS as its partner for Voice Conferencing because of [its] easy-to-integrate, scalable and highly flexible Open Access platform with VoiceXML support"
n/a: A speech technology company. "Recently launced VoiceNotify outbound hosted notification service."
PipeBeach congratulates W3C and the VoiceXML Forum on their co-operation and the rapid release of the working draft of VoiceXML 2.0. Through our CTO, Dr. Scott McGlashan, PipeBeach leads the world-class W3C team producing the VoiceXML standard. We see this standard as a powerful business enabler for the rapid development of interactive speech services, especially innovative voice portals for the mobile user. The PipeBeach speechWeb platform provides multi-lingual support and we are proud to be the world's first to release a carrier-grade VoiceXML 2.0 platform with support for a number of European languages.
SandCherry introduces Voice4 VoiceXML solutions. "Voice4 platform solutions combine SandCherry's advanced VoiceXML (VXML) browser and SoftServer™ platform with speech technology components from leading vendors." These VoiceXML solutions are for touch-tone, IVR, two-way radio, and multimodal platforms, and for finance, healthcare, transport, retail, and utilities. (9/2004).
n/a: Some activity on mail groups giving advice on VoiceXML.
No mentions of VoiceXML or of SALT.
Purchased Phillips Speech, Lobby7, SpeechWorks: See Founder's section for VoiceXML testimonials and products.
Openscape voice platform. Supports both VoiceXML 2.0 and SALT, comes with Siemens applications, all written in VoiceXML (4/2003).
Have VoiceXML-based high-density media server for telecoms customers (2/2004).
Bought by Brooktrout (3/2004). See Brooktrout for more entries.
Microsoft Speech Server PIN reset application (3/2004).
"TuVox and Softel Partner to Provide VXML and SALT Enabled Packaged Speech Applications"
Softel backing ScanSoft's xHMI tooling initiative, "an XML-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as VoiceXML and CCXML" (11/2004).
An analysis of their skills matrix shows that their applications run on a wide variety of VoiceXML platforms, such as those from Avaya, Cisco, Edify, Genesys, IBM, and Nortel. (12/2004).
"As a member of the Voice Browser Working Group, Telera has been instrumental in the evolution of the standard. Telera is excited to see the general release of the VoiceXML 2.0 Working Draft, enabling the proliferation of the standard and accelerating the adoption of VoiceXML. Telera continues to support the efforts of the Working Group by influencing further innovation of the standard."
"Telera is a VoiceXML middleware maker and host. Its carrier-class Web Application Platform is a collection of software components targeted for generic servers and telephony cards (read Intel/Dialogic). The Voice Web CO module controls media translation and speech processing (both Speechworks and Nuance grammars). It is also the home of its version 2.0 VoiceXML interpreter." (2/2002).
Partners with VoiceGenie to add VoiceXML 2.0 to TEN Voice Services Platform (7/2002).
"Through the efforts of W3C and the VoiceXML Forum, Unisys believes that VoiceXML will spearhead voice-enabling the Web. The exciting opportunities afforded by VoiceXML complement the Unisys strategy to provide open speech-enabled solutions to customers worldwide. Unisys is engaged in VoiceXML projects across the globe, including voice portal solutions, supported by a strong team of professional services experts and enabling technologies."
Unisys backing ScanSoft's xHMI tooling initiative, "an XML-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as VoiceXML and CCXML" (11/2004).
"Five years ago, we launched the VoiceXML Forum with the goals of making voice applications easier to develop and less expensive to deploy by leveraging existing internet standards and infrastructure. Today, as VoiceXML 2.0 becomes a W3C Recommendation, we see widespread adoption of the new standard, sparking a level of innovation in applications never before seen in telephony. At Vocalocity, we have designed and deployed a highly customizable and extensible software platform that would not have been possible without standards like VoiceXML 2.0. As a result, our OEM and System Integrator customers enjoy lower costs and more efficient use of their resources." -- Ken Rehor, Chief Architect, Vocalocity; Co-Editor, VoiceXML 2.0; and Member of Founding Team, VoiceXML Forum (3/2004).
Voice Gateway 2.0 supports VoiceXML 2.0.
"Excel and Vocalocity Redefine Performance and Price Expectations for Large-Scale VoiceXML Deployments" (6/2004).
Vocalocity's Ken Rehor elected to Vice Chair of the VoiceXML Forum (8/2004).
"ScanSoft Selects Vocalocity to Advance Adoption of Open Source VoiceXML Interpreter - OpenVXI" (8/2004).
Vocalocity's John Hibel talks about OpenVXI and VoiceXML: "In just a few short years we’ve seen an astounding adoption rate for VoiceXML". (8/2004).
Using our innovative developer tools, our customers leverage their existing wireless, multimodal and telephony hosting (IVR/VRU) platforms to create and deploy VoiceXML and SALT content" www.voicewebsolutions.net (4/2004).
"Voice Genie Technologies congratulates those who worked so hard to put together this important MoU between the W3C and the VoiceXML Forum regarding a unified VoiceXML standard. The involvement of the W3C and the continued involvement of the VoiceXML forum will ensure that the standard continues to strengthen and avoids fragmentation which could lead to confusion in the minds of our customers. A strong VoiceXML standard will ensure the blossoming of the voice content market and energize this emerging industry. VoiceGenie, with its industry leading VoiceXML gateway, is fully committed to the success of the VoiceXML standard and the benefits it will bring to consumers."
"VoiceGenie Technologies is delighted that the VoiceXML 2.0 Specification has achieved full W3C Recommendation status, and applauds the diligence of the contributors to this effort. As a participant in the W3C Voice Browser and Multimodal Interaction Working Groups, and as a board member of the VoiceXML Forum, VoiceGenie remains strongly commited to the support of open standards such as VoiceXML 2.0, SRGS and SSML. The VoiceGenie framework provides complete support for VoiceXML 2.0 and integrates a selection of industry-leading ASR and TTS resources. World-class customers including AT&T, Verizon, Oracle, Scotiabank and hundreds of others have selected the VoiceGenie framework for critical applications including customer care, directory assistance automation, retail services, voice activated dialing and more. VoiceGenie fully supports the work of the W3C and the VoiceXML Forum, and looks forward to continued rapid growth in the deployment of applications based on the open standards delivered to industry by the W3C." -- Stuart Berkowitz, President and CEO, VoiceGenie Technologies. (3/2004).
"ScanSoft introduces SpeechPAK 1.0 for utilities". "SpeechPAKs accelerate R.O.I. gains by delivering a fast, high-quality deployment on a variety of VoiceXML 2.0 platforms from industry leaders such as [...] VoiceGenie [...]" (4/2004).
VoiceGenie backing ScanSoft's xHMI tooling initiative, "an XML-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as VoiceXML and CCXML" (11/2004).
Focuses on both VoiceXML and SALT solutions (9/2004).
VoiceObjects and VoicInt Sign Agreement [regarding VoiceObjects' VoiceXML application framework]. (12/2004).
"The release of the W3C VoiceXML 2.0 specification is another significant milestone in the explosive growth of VoiceXML. Prior to VoiceXML, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platforms were proprietary IT islands - disconnected from mainstream IT infrastructure. VoiceXML and the W3C CCXML standard efforts bring IVR into the world of modern, integrated IT solutions. As a result of this progress, over 200 enterprise customers have already replaced proprietary IVR platforms with Voxeo VoiceCenter VoiceXML and CCXML platforms and hosting services." -- Jonathan Taylor, President and CEO, Voxeo Corporation (3/2004).
"VoxSurf strongly supports the standardisation of voice technologies by the W3C and in particular W3C's work on the VoiceXML 2.0 standard. We see this as key to the development of the next generation of telephone based web applications which are independent of proprietary hardware and software configurations. VoxSurf is committed to the use of VoiceXML, having recently released a fully VoiceXML compliant Unified Messaging application which combines voicemail with the ability to access multiple email accounts from any phone using voice" commands, as well as providing access via WAP and iMode devices.
"VoxSurf was the first company to realize the importance of the VoiceXML standard in the mobile messaging marketplace and in particular its role in Next Generation Voicemail and in general the future success of IP based messaging services - we are a market leader in the implementation of open speech technology in the field of messaging."
"ScanSoft introduces SpeechPAK 1.0 for utilities". "SpeechPAKs accelerate R.O.I. gains by delivering a fast, high-quality deployment on a variety of VoiceXML 2.0 platforms from industry leaders such as [...] West Interactive [...]" (4/2004).
West's Bruce Pollock elected to Chair of the VoiceXML Forum (8/2004).
West backing ScanSoft's xHMI tooling initiative, "an XML-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as VoiceXML and CCXML" (11/2004).
"The ability to develop interactive voice applications using the W3C Voice Browser Working Group's recommendations [VoiceXML 2.0, SRGS, SSML] will contribute to further growth in the rapidly expanding VoIP market and will enable the delivery of innovative value-added communication services over a single packet network."
Cisco Expands Customer Contact Portfolio. The Internet Service Node is a voice portal that drives apps written in VoiceXML (3/2004).
"ScanSoft introduces SpeechPAK 1.0 for utilities". "SpeechPAKs accelerate R.O.I. gains by delivering a fast, high-quality deployment on a variety of VoiceXML 2.0 platforms from industry leaders such as [...] Cisco [...]" (4/2004).
Cisco Targets CRM Integration. "The company plans to release Customer Voice Portal Version 3.0 at the end of the year. [...] The CVP supports speech-enabled and touch-tone applications that can be integrated with back-end data and business rules accessible through the Web, using Java 2 Enterprise Edition and VoiceXML standards. [...] The CVP provides a VoiceXML based IVR and the ability to create a unified virtual contact center using an IP-based network to integrate the technologies." No mentions of SALT. (10/2004).
Cisco backing ScanSoft's xHMI tooling initiative, "an XML-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as VoiceXML and CCXML" (11/2004).
Cisco and IBM Target Speech-Enabled Contact Centers. "IBM and Cisco plan to launch a joint speech-enabled solution set later this year [...] The two companies plan to provide a joint service using IBM's WebSphere Voice Server for Multiplatforms middleware and Cisco's Customer Voice Portal (CVP), which converts PSTN and IP-based telephone calls into VoiceXML events and documents."
"The voice portal--with its natural voice user interface--provides subscribers quick and easy access to content and services through their mobile phone. The VoiceXML standard is key to accelerating the growth of this worldwide market. As such, Comverse is strongly committed to VoiceXML as a key element of our strategy to deliver complete voice portal solutions to network operators."
Comverse and Angel.com form partnership for business productivity services suite to run on Comverse Media Server. (9/2003).
"VoiceXML and related tools for developing VoiceXML applications will enable web developers to easily voice enable their e-business websites without the use of cumbersome, proprietary IVR equipment. Intel supports VoiceXML 2.0 and its related speech synthesis and speech grammar markup language standards as defined by W3C to foster continued development of innovative voice web applications."
"VoiceXML Solution from VoiceGenie and Intel Delivers Open, Standards-Based Voice Services Platform" (6/2004).
Microsoft Speech Server 2004 supports SALT only.
"VXML is just not technically good enough and it doesn't matter what you do. You can beat a dead horse for a long time but no matter how you beat it is still dead," Huang said.
"Philips Speech Processing is pleased with the progress on developing the VoiceXML standard. As a leader in speech recognition technology, Philips appreciates all advances that enable people to use their voices as an interface."
"SPWX is extremely pleased with the publication of the VoiceXML 2.0 spec and congratulates W3C on a landmark achievement. As a key contributor to the 2.0 specification, SPWX is committed to evolving the standard and delivering products, like the VoiceXML-optimized OpenSpeech line, as well as services and programs that bring the powerful benefits of VoiceXML to a global customer base. This much-anticipated standard heralds unprecedented portability of speech applications and creates new opportunities and growth for all who embrace it."
"ScanSoft congratulates the W3C Voice Browser Working Group on reaching the Recommendation milestone for VoiceXML 2.0. It is clear that these developing standards are integral to the development of advanced technologies that change the way we communicate, from interactive voice response solutions to in-vehicle automotive applications. Businesses and consumers alike will benefit from the VoiceXML-based speech-enabled applications. ScanSoft is committed to VoiceXML and the W3C processes for standardization. Our SpeechWorks Family of ASR, TTS, and dialog solutions are uniquely optimized to support VoiceXML 2.0 and enable our partners to deliver industry-leading platforms, solutions,and services that are revolutionizing the business of speech."
-- Steve Chambers, Senior Vice President and General Manager Network, Speech Solutions, ScanSoft (3/2004).
"ScanSoft wins prestigious speech industry award for `Best Packaged Application' from AVIOS". "With SpeechPAKs, healthcare organizations can rapidly deploy speech applications on a variety of VoiceXML 2.0 platforms." (4/2004).
"ScanSoft introduces SpeechPAK 1.0 for utilities". "SpeechPAKs accelerate R.O.I. gains by delivering a fast, high-quality deployment on a variety of VoiceXML 2.0 platforms from industry leaders such as Aspect, Avaya, Cisco, Edify, Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Intervoice, Nortel Networks, VoiceGenie Technologies and West Interactive." (4/2004).
"ScanSoft Releases OpenSpeech DialogModules 2.0 to Accelerate Deployment of Powerful Speech Applications". "The first standards-based VoiceXML building blocks available on the market, OpenSpeech DialogModules free software developers from programming frequently occurring speech recognition tasks in new speech applications. When used in conjunction with OpenSpeech(TM) Recognizer 3.0, OpenSpeech DialogModules provide leading recognition accuracy, efficiency, and caller satisfaction on the industry's broadest selection of telephony platforms." (6/2004).
"ScanSoft Introduces OpenSpeech Attendant, a Field-Proven Auto-Attendant Application for VoiceXML-Based Telephony Platform Providers." (6/2004).
"Frost & Sullivan Names ScanSoft Leader in Asia Pacific Speech Recognition Market for Second Year."
ScanSoft announces xHMI tooling initiative, "an XML-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as VoiceXML and CCXML" (11/2004).

lowercased:
note [april 2007]: i stopped updating this page in 2005 as voicexml made huge gains and news of salt began to dry up. microsoft has since added voicexml 2.0/2.1 support to microsoft speech server, joined the voicexml forum, and has successfully completed the forum's voicexml 2.0 platform certification process. and now with its acquisition of tellme networks about to be completed, microsoft stands poised to become the largest voicexml company in the world!
we used to hear a great deal from the press about a standards battle between salt and voicexml. it made for good copy, but the marketplace reality is that w3c's voicexml 2.0 standard predominates. this is most evident when you look at how salt forum member companies are behaving -- most are making huge commercial bets on voicexml 2.0. the average salt forum company is more fervently behind voicexml 2.0 than the average voicexml forum member company!
here is a sampling of recent pro-voicexml press releases and public statements from salt forum companies (www.saltforum.org/members/members.asp). an "n/a" entry means i haven't yet found any publically-available information on the company's usage of voicexml or salt. if you have any corrections or additions, please drop me a line at ferrans at yahoo.com. while i don't explicitly track salt-only news here, salt forum companies make three times as many announcements relating to voicexml as they do regarding salt.
"sharing the risks and rewards of outsourcing" an article on the crm outsourcing deal (6/2002).
"atr is a leader in the development and adoption of new technology that advances business capability. vxml based speech recognition systems that integrate call centers and other data. with over five years of company history and a proven track record of customer satisfaction, atr is leading the way to usable, implemented internet and telephony based business solutions." (12/2004). also have expertise in salt.
n/a: www.aliant.ca web site has no references to salt or voicexml. are they just monitoring?
n/a: no information available for voicexml or salt. just monitoring? see www.alliance-infotech.com.
"bevocal views voicexml 2.0 as the standard that provides a complete solution for developing sophisticated voice applications. the w3c candidate release of voicexml 2.0 is a significant milestone which is the culmination of actual implementations from w3c member companies and public input. voicexml 2.0 is ready for prime-time and widespread adoption. our developers on bevocal café and our hosted customers have seen the benefits of the rapid web-based development and deployment of their voice applications. the simultaneous release of the w3c test suite gives consumers the confidence that voicexml 2.0 solutions will have compatibility into the future."
-- ralf i. pfeiffer, manager, voicexml technology group, bevocal, inc. (3/2004).
voicexml forum supporter, renewed in 2/2004.
brooktrout buys [voicexml media server company] snowshore (3/2004).
collaborating with voicegenie and bludis to develop a voicexml-based voice server (8/2004).
deployment options based on "voicexml dial tone" (2003).
have voicexml studio development tool.
note: web site no longer available. (4/2004).
openvxi open source voicexml 2.0 browser (10/2003).
now named getvocal. they have a "high-density voicexml 2.0 platform", the "first voicexml 2.0 implementation from a computer telephony provider". "getvocal is an award winning voicexml solution provider - known world-wide for it's proven and pioneering solutions."
edify received 2003 "product of the year" award from customer interaction solutions. this was for the edify 8.5 voicexml 2.0 browser (12/2003).
edify joins voicexml forum (2/2004).
"edify banks on natural-language apps." "[the] edify voice banking [application] is scalable from 4 to 9,000 ports. conforming to voice xml 2.0, it is deployable to a native edify environment, edify's voicexml, or voice xml products by avaya and other vendors. wahn said that a future release will support microsoft's speech server." (10/2004).
the formerly salt only encue voice.net server now describes as supporting voicexml, and has a voicexml interpreter (9/2004).
envox backing scansoft's xhmi tooling initiative, "an xml-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as voicexml and ccxml" (11/2004).
genesys awarded 2002 "product of the year" by customer interaction solutions magazine. genesys [voicexml] voice portal selected for its technological excellence and vision (1/2003).
product profile: genesys voice platform. "gvp is based on solid, leading technology." "genesys has years of experience with voicexml, the new de facto standard." (3/2004).
"genesys and ibm to deliver enterprise-wide speech-enabled self-service solutions" on ibm websphere [voicexml] voice server (4/2004).
versera intelligent communications environment is architected with java, linux, and voicexml technologies [no mention of salt] (8/2004).
"glenayre announces first commercial deployment of new versera intelligent communications environment." architected with java and voicexml technologies, versera ice enables carriers to consistently live up to their subscribers' expectations -- and even set them -- now and in the future." (9/2004).
"we develop open, platform-neutral applications using vonetix - which allows for application data integration across heterogeneous computing environments. to ensure your competitive advantage, gold systems helps you harness the power of java, xml, voicexml, salt, wap and others."
"open standards such as voicexml are critical to the widespread adoption of interactive media solutions, especially speech technology. the voicexml forum effectively promotes awareness of voicexml both as a technology and as a business enabler, is an authoritative source for voicexml information and is now driving innovative education and certification programs for both application developers and platform vendors. hp fully supports voicexml in its telecom products: our opencall media platform product is the most complete and mature voicexml platform for service provider." -- dr. scott mcglashan, chief technologist, interactive media products, hewlett-packard (9/2003).
"hp has invested heavily in voicexml technology and the development of a best-of-class platform to support new voicexml offerings."
"voicexml is broadly supported by a majority of vendors. approximately 80 percent of voice services developers have provided or are currently developing voicexml applications, giving service providers a large choice of applications."
"voicexml 2.0 provides an open standard for writing speech gateways and applications in a truly ubiquitous manner. it also promotes speech as the viable access mechanism for web-based content. heyanita’s freespeech platform version 4.0 allows companies to develop voice applications in the programming language of their choice while taking advantage of the voicexml 2.0 standard to achieve interoperability with leading gateway servers." -- sanjeev kuwadekar, ceo, heyanita inc (3/2004).
"hitachi welcomes the collaborative relationships between w3c and voicexml forum. this makes voicexml a global standard and we believe it strongly encourages the access to the internet via voice. we plan to develop voice portal systems for drivers with voicexml technologies and also plan to contribute to internationalization issues of voicexml as a japanese company."
note: in july 2002, ibasis sold its ivr hosting business to convergys, a voicexml proponent.
voicexml forum supporter, renewed 2/2004.
infotalk - vbrowser platform: "infotalk-vbrowser is a voicexml interpreter that is fully integrated with other infotalk products to form the infotalk-vbrowser platform. (9/2004).
intervoice awarded 2003 "product of the year" award by technology marketing zcorporation's customer inter@ction solutions magazine. invision(r) studio for voicexml 2.0 singled out for its technological excellence and vision (12/2003).
intervoice 'opens' legacy constraints of voice messaging [in voicexml] (2/2004).
"scansoft introduces speechpak 1.0 for utilities". "speechpaks accelerate r.o.i. gains by delivering a fast, high-quality deployment on a variety of voicexml 2.0 platforms from industry leaders such as [...] intervoice [...]" (4/2004).
"intervoice teams with apptera to offer applications to financial services". intervoice is reselling apptera's voicexml financial application suite. (5/2004).
"30-month managed services order valued at approximately $5m; continuing partnership with firm exemplifies both technology and solutions reliability and value" a global financial services firm and existing partner of intervoice is deploying an intervoice solution centered on omvia voice framework and a voicexml-based electronic benefits transfer system written by intervoice. this voicexml-based system will be used by welfare recipients in 35 states! (10/2004).
"award-winning intervoice customer to discuss deployment success in joint presentation at speech technology conference". " intervoice will showcase its [...] invision(r) studio for voicexml standards-based development environment" (2/2005).
"intervoice secures $6m expansion order from a european network provider for a voice portal solution" the order is an additional voice extensible mark-up language (voicexml)-based extension to the network provider's existing portal as a core element of the company's omvia(r) portal offering. the expansion order, totaling nearly 3,000 ports, includes two years of maintenance from intervoice. (2/2005).
"intervoice launches new multimedia enhanced services solution for network operators that delivers compelling, innovative applications to drive subscriber demand" " built around a powerful core known as home zone, omvia media exchange offers an attractive new universe of voice extensible mark-up language (voicexml)-based multimedia applications -- such as voice-navigated messaging, custom ringback tones, email, images and video -- all from a single subscriber mailbox." (2/2005).
kirusa congratulates the w3c and applauds the effort of the voice browser working group in developing voicexml 2.0. kirusa strongly supports the evolution of the speech interface framework by the w3c and welcomes further standardization efforts to support enriched voice interfaces. this will also have strong implications for multimodal platforms which allow voice and visual interfaces to be integrated to create a very compelling experience for the end user. kirusa looks forward to supporting the w3c in activities that further this vision.
voxpilot and kirusa showcase kirusa's voicexml-based sms multimodal application. the kirusa application is deployed on voxpilot's carrier-grade open media voicexml platform.
see scansoft (below) for voicexml testimonials, products.
"as a leading player in speech technologies and voice platforms, loquendo believes that voicexml 2.0 and srgs 1.0 recommendations are an essential step forward in promoting the speech application market. indeed, it will boost the speech market, by enabling service providers, content creators, operators and voice portals to deliver a much richer user experience.loquendo high-quality, high-performance technologies and platforms power over 2,000,000 calls every day in the telecommunications and enterprise markets throughout the world and guarantee solutions in 15 languages. loquendo is very pleased to contribute to the development of this specification, and will continue to give a strong support to w3c and voicexml forum activities." -- daniele sereno, vice president product engineering, loquendo (3/2004).
loquendo and met france realize the crm voice portal for marionnaud perfumeries chain [in voicexml 2.0] (4/2004).
loquendo releases voxnauta lite 6.0 software speech platform. "voxnauta lite 6.0 supports the [...] w3c voicexml 2.0 recommendation" (9/2004).
website proclaims: "mediaford, voicexml and it solution company" on start page. in the about us section, their business field is "vxml based ivr solutions". they are also "providing voicexml to korea telecom". no mention of salt. (9/2004).
anymodal 4.0 telephony supports voicexml as well as salt. "the technology is entirely voicexml and salt compliant and can be easily integrated into existing platforms and browsers."
"followap chose nms as its partner for voice conferencing because of [its] easy-to-integrate, scalable and highly flexible open access platform with voicexml support"
n/a: a speech technology company. "recently launced voicenotify outbound hosted notification service."
pipebeach congratulates w3c and the voicexml forum on their co-operation and the rapid release of the working draft of voicexml 2.0. through our cto, dr. scott mcglashan, pipebeach leads the world-class w3c team producing the voicexml standard. we see this standard as a powerful business enabler for the rapid development of interactive speech services, especially innovative voice portals for the mobile user. the pipebeach speechweb platform provides multi-lingual support and we are proud to be the world's first to release a carrier-grade voicexml 2.0 platform with support for a number of european languages.
sandcherry introduces voice4 voicexml solutions. "voice4 platform solutions combine sandcherry's advanced voicexml (vxml) browser and softserver™ platform with speech technology components from leading vendors." these voicexml solutions are for touch-tone, ivr, two-way radio, and multimodal platforms, and for finance, healthcare, transport, retail, and utilities. (9/2004).
n/a: some activity on mail groups giving advice on voicexml.
no mentions of voicexml or of salt.
purchased phillips speech, lobby7, speechworks: see founder's section for voicexml testimonials and products.
openscape voice platform. supports both voicexml 2.0 and salt, comes with siemens applications, all written in voicexml (4/2003).
have voicexml-based high-density media server for telecoms customers (2/2004).
bought by brooktrout (3/2004). see brooktrout for more entries.
microsoft speech server pin reset application (3/2004).
"tuvox and softel partner to provide vxml and salt enabled packaged speech applications"
softel backing scansoft's xhmi tooling initiative, "an xml-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as voicexml and ccxml" (11/2004).
an analysis of their skills matrix shows that their applications run on a wide variety of voicexml platforms, such as those from avaya, cisco, edify, genesys, ibm, and nortel. (12/2004).
"as a member of the voice browser working group, telera has been instrumental in the evolution of the standard. telera is excited to see the general release of the voicexml 2.0 working draft, enabling the proliferation of the standard and accelerating the adoption of voicexml. telera continues to support the efforts of the working group by influencing further innovation of the standard."
"telera is a voicexml middleware maker and host. its carrier-class web application platform is a collection of software components targeted for generic servers and telephony cards (read intel/dialogic). the voice web co module controls media translation and speech processing (both speechworks and nuance grammars). it is also the home of its version 2.0 voicexml interpreter." (2/2002).
partners with voicegenie to add voicexml 2.0 to ten voice services platform (7/2002).
"through the efforts of w3c and the voicexml forum, unisys believes that voicexml will spearhead voice-enabling the web. the exciting opportunities afforded by voicexml complement the unisys strategy to provide open speech-enabled solutions to customers worldwide. unisys is engaged in voicexml projects across the globe, including voice portal solutions, supported by a strong team of professional services experts and enabling technologies."
unisys backing scansoft's xhmi tooling initiative, "an xml-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as voicexml and ccxml" (11/2004).
"five years ago, we launched the voicexml forum with the goals of making voice applications easier to develop and less expensive to deploy by leveraging existing internet standards and infrastructure. today, as voicexml 2.0 becomes a w3c recommendation, we see widespread adoption of the new standard, sparking a level of innovation in applications never before seen in telephony. at vocalocity, we have designed and deployed a highly customizable and extensible software platform that would not have been possible without standards like voicexml 2.0. as a result, our oem and system integrator customers enjoy lower costs and more efficient use of their resources." -- ken rehor, chief architect, vocalocity; co-editor, voicexml 2.0; and member of founding team, voicexml forum (3/2004).
voice gateway 2.0 supports voicexml 2.0.
"excel and vocalocity redefine performance and price expectations for large-scale voicexml deployments" (6/2004).
vocalocity's ken rehor elected to vice chair of the voicexml forum (8/2004).
"scansoft selects vocalocity to advance adoption of open source voicexml interpreter - openvxi" (8/2004).
vocalocity's john hibel talks about openvxi and voicexml: "in just a few short years we’ve seen an astounding adoption rate for voicexml". (8/2004).
using our innovative developer tools, our customers leverage their existing wireless, multimodal and telephony hosting (ivr/vru) platforms to create and deploy voicexml and salt content" www.voicewebsolutions.net (4/2004).
"voice genie technologies congratulates those who worked so hard to put together this important mou between the w3c and the voicexml forum regarding a unified voicexml standard. the involvement of the w3c and the continued involvement of the voicexml forum will ensure that the standard continues to strengthen and avoids fragmentation which could lead to confusion in the minds of our customers. a strong voicexml standard will ensure the blossoming of the voice content market and energize this emerging industry. voicegenie, with its industry leading voicexml gateway, is fully committed to the success of the voicexml standard and the benefits it will bring to consumers."
"voicegenie technologies is delighted that the voicexml 2.0 specification has achieved full w3c recommendation status, and applauds the diligence of the contributors to this effort. as a participant in the w3c voice browser and multimodal interaction working groups, and as a board member of the voicexml forum, voicegenie remains strongly commited to the support of open standards such as voicexml 2.0, srgs and ssml. the voicegenie framework provides complete support for voicexml 2.0 and integrates a selection of industry-leading asr and tts resources. world-class customers including at&t, verizon, oracle, scotiabank and hundreds of others have selected the voicegenie framework for critical applications including customer care, directory assistance automation, retail services, voice activated dialing and more. voicegenie fully supports the work of the w3c and the voicexml forum, and looks forward to continued rapid growth in the deployment of applications based on the open standards delivered to industry by the w3c." -- stuart berkowitz, president and ceo, voicegenie technologies. (3/2004).
"scansoft introduces speechpak 1.0 for utilities". "speechpaks accelerate r.o.i. gains by delivering a fast, high-quality deployment on a variety of voicexml 2.0 platforms from industry leaders such as [...] voicegenie [...]" (4/2004).
voicegenie backing scansoft's xhmi tooling initiative, "an xml-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as voicexml and ccxml" (11/2004).
focuses on both voicexml and salt solutions (9/2004).
voiceobjects and voicint sign agreement [regarding voiceobjects' voicexml application framework]. (12/2004).
"the release of the w3c voicexml 2.0 specification is another significant milestone in the explosive growth of voicexml. prior to voicexml, interactive voice response (ivr) platforms were proprietary it islands - disconnected from mainstream it infrastructure. voicexml and the w3c ccxml standard efforts bring ivr into the world of modern, integrated it solutions. as a result of this progress, over 200 enterprise customers have already replaced proprietary ivr platforms with voxeo voicecenter voicexml and ccxml platforms and hosting services." -- jonathan taylor, president and ceo, voxeo corporation (3/2004).
"voxsurf strongly supports the standardisation of voice technologies by the w3c and in particular w3c's work on the voicexml 2.0 standard. we see this as key to the development of the next generation of telephone based web applications which are independent of proprietary hardware and software configurations. voxsurf is committed to the use of voicexml, having recently released a fully voicexml compliant unified messaging application which combines voicemail with the ability to access multiple email accounts from any phone using voice" commands, as well as providing access via wap and imode devices.
"voxsurf was the first company to realize the importance of the voicexml standard in the mobile messaging marketplace and in particular its role in next generation voicemail and in general the future success of ip based messaging services - we are a market leader in the implementation of open speech technology in the field of messaging."
"scansoft introduces speechpak 1.0 for utilities". "speechpaks accelerate r.o.i. gains by delivering a fast, high-quality deployment on a variety of voicexml 2.0 platforms from industry leaders such as [...] west interactive [...]" (4/2004).
west's bruce pollock elected to chair of the voicexml forum (8/2004).
west backing scansoft's xhmi tooling initiative, "an xml-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as voicexml and ccxml" (11/2004).
"the ability to develop interactive voice applications using the w3c voice browser working group's recommendations [voicexml 2.0, srgs, ssml] will contribute to further growth in the rapidly expanding voip market and will enable the delivery of innovative value-added communication services over a single packet network."
cisco expands customer contact portfolio. the internet service node is a voice portal that drives apps written in voicexml (3/2004).
"scansoft introduces speechpak 1.0 for utilities". "speechpaks accelerate r.o.i. gains by delivering a fast, high-quality deployment on a variety of voicexml 2.0 platforms from industry leaders such as [...] cisco [...]" (4/2004).
cisco targets crm integration. "the company plans to release customer voice portal version 3.0 at the end of the year. [...] the cvp supports speech-enabled and touch-tone applications that can be integrated with back-end data and business rules accessible through the web, using java 2 enterprise edition and voicexml standards. [...] the cvp provides a voicexml based ivr and the ability to create a unified virtual contact center using an ip-based network to integrate the technologies." no mentions of salt. (10/2004).
cisco backing scansoft's xhmi tooling initiative, "an xml-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as voicexml and ccxml" (11/2004).
cisco and ibm target speech-enabled contact centers. "ibm and cisco plan to launch a joint speech-enabled solution set later this year [...] the two companies plan to provide a joint service using ibm's websphere voice server for multiplatforms middleware and cisco's customer voice portal (cvp), which converts pstn and ip-based telephone calls into voicexml events and documents."
"the voice portal--with its natural voice user interface--provides subscribers quick and easy access to content and services through their mobile phone. the voicexml standard is key to accelerating the growth of this worldwide market. as such, comverse is strongly committed to voicexml as a key element of our strategy to deliver complete voice portal solutions to network operators."
comverse and angel.com form partnership for business productivity services suite to run on comverse media server. (9/2003).
"voicexml and related tools for developing voicexml applications will enable web developers to easily voice enable their e-business websites without the use of cumbersome, proprietary ivr equipment. intel supports voicexml 2.0 and its related speech synthesis and speech grammar markup language standards as defined by w3c to foster continued development of innovative voice web applications."
"voicexml solution from voicegenie and intel delivers open, standards-based voice services platform" (6/2004).
microsoft speech server 2004 supports salt only.
"vxml is just not technically good enough and it doesn't matter what you do. you can beat a dead horse for a long time but no matter how you beat it is still dead," huang said.
"philips speech processing is pleased with the progress on developing the voicexml standard. as a leader in speech recognition technology, philips appreciates all advances that enable people to use their voices as an interface."
"spwx is extremely pleased with the publication of the voicexml 2.0 spec and congratulates w3c on a landmark achievement. as a key contributor to the 2.0 specification, spwx is committed to evolving the standard and delivering products, like the voicexml-optimized openspeech line, as well as services and programs that bring the powerful benefits of voicexml to a global customer base. this much-anticipated standard heralds unprecedented portability of speech applications and creates new opportunities and growth for all who embrace it."
"scansoft congratulates the w3c voice browser working group on reaching the recommendation milestone for voicexml 2.0. it is clear that these developing standards are integral to the development of advanced technologies that change the way we communicate, from interactive voice response solutions to in-vehicle automotive applications. businesses and consumers alike will benefit from the voicexml-based speech-enabled applications. scansoft is committed to voicexml and the w3c processes for standardization. our speechworks family of asr, tts, and dialog solutions are uniquely optimized to support voicexml 2.0 and enable our partners to deliver industry-leading platforms, solutions,and services that are revolutionizing the business of speech."
-- steve chambers, senior vice president and general manager network, speech solutions, scansoft (3/2004).
"scansoft wins prestigious speech industry award for `best packaged application' from avios". "with speechpaks, healthcare organizations can rapidly deploy speech applications on a variety of voicexml 2.0 platforms." (4/2004).
"scansoft introduces speechpak 1.0 for utilities". "speechpaks accelerate r.o.i. gains by delivering a fast, high-quality deployment on a variety of voicexml 2.0 platforms from industry leaders such as aspect, avaya, cisco, edify, genesys telecommunications laboratories, intervoice, nortel networks, voicegenie technologies and west interactive." (4/2004).
"scansoft releases openspeech dialogmodules 2.0 to accelerate deployment of powerful speech applications". "the first standards-based voicexml building blocks available on the market, openspeech dialogmodules free software developers from programming frequently occurring speech recognition tasks in new speech applications. when used in conjunction with openspeech(tm) recognizer 3.0, openspeech dialogmodules provide leading recognition accuracy, efficiency, and caller satisfaction on the industry's broadest selection of telephony platforms." (6/2004).
"scansoft introduces openspeech attendant, a field-proven auto-attendant application for voicexml-based telephony platform providers." (6/2004).
"frost & sullivan names scansoft leader in asia pacific speech recognition market for second year."
scansoft announces xhmi tooling initiative, "an xml-based dialog configuration language for advanced speech applications", "leveraging existing industry standards such as voicexml and ccxml" (11/2004).


text:
Before I lost my hair, I very rarely wore any makeup. I liked a very natural look and just didn’t feel like I needed or wanted it. But after getting alopecia universalis, everything changed. When one loses facial hair as a result of having alopecia, makeup becomes a very important aspect of looking and thus, feeling “normal”. Without eyebrows and eyelashes, the face becomes a blank canvas. Brows express emotions while the eyes are the window to the soul. It is well worth your time researching the best ways to replicate what nature originally designed for your face and in some cases, improve upon it. After finding your best hair replacement, having nice eyebrows will make a huge difference in helping you accept your alopecia. It’s so much easier when you can smile at that image in the mirror.
Because you’ve asked, I will describe in detail my process, but please consider this a template for you to further experiment with until you develop your own technique. I highly recommend making an appointment with a good makeup artist. Explain that you have alopecia and need to recreate the facial hair that is missing and play up your best features. A reputable department store or salon will welcome the challenge to create your beautiful face. Educate yourself by reading a good book like Bobbi Brown’s Living Beauty or her latest, Makeup Manual. I became a huge fan of Bobbi’s way of looking at beauty. She has a very natural and timeless style that looks great on everyone. Her site, bobbibrown.com provides a 5 minute routine that can range from minimal to dramatic.
Concealer is a must at any age and can work wonders for older skin with darker areas that need lightening like under eyes, the upper inner lid area, the corners of the nose and mouth and any spots. I’m currently in love with the Amazing Cosmetics Concealer. Foundations offer all kinds of options with SPF and semi-matte finishes. They smooth out the complexion and provide a seamless palette for whatever is to come. Blush color always had me stumped until I found a powdered bronzer that doubles as a blush. It sculpts the sides of my face and gives me a healthy glow without adding any particular color. Sometimes I will use a hit of pink on the apples of the cheeks just to makes them “pop”.
Play up your eyes and lips with liner! I recommend a lid foundation or cream shadow that does not migrate into the lid crease. Bobbi Brown makes a Long-wear Cream Shadow that you apply with a wide, flat brush. This could be enough to accent the lids but I usually like to add a darker contour color in the crease and the “v” at the outer corner of the eye. A small angled brush works nicely for this effect. Eyeliner is VERY important because most of us have no lash line and we need the eye definition. Eyeliner will automatically make your eyes appear larger as well. But the key here is to find a liner that stays in place throughout the day and into the evening. My favorite is Bobbi Brown’s Long-wear Eye Gel – I like sepia ink. It comes in a little glass jar and you apply it with a small flat brush. It tends to dry out before it is used up so I just add a touch of eye makeup remover to the pot to thin it out. Use your brush to mix up a tiny area. My last trick to add drama to the eye (and erase any sign of the white lid where hair is NOT growing, is to line the inner eye lid with a brown or black soft pencil made specifically for this purpose. If you are feeling like going all out, then apply false eyelashes. This is a case where the time you take to practice will pay off in the end. With the right lash and adhesive you can do this in a few minutes! Ultimate Hold Eyelash and Eyebrow Adhesive is the absolute best. You’ll have to experiment with the lashes, but I have been using Cheryn International’s “My Lash” in Sultry/ Charcoal. They are holding up really nicely! Nothing feels quite as feminine as having long eyelashes – after having great hair, of course. With black lashes you will never need to use mascara (my choice). I suppose if you want a very natural look and aren’t wearing much eye makeup, brown will be the right color.
After applying a lip plumper (or moisturizer) and a lip liner, my choice for lipstick is MAC’s, Twig, because it is a warm neutral color that goes with everything. I love topping it off with MAC’s Lustreglass in Beaux.
I finish with Amazing Cosmetic’s Powderset applied all over the face with a large brush to set everything and keep the shine at bay. My skin tends toward the oily side, so you may have a different problem and need to adjust this.
Each of these solutions are worthy of a trial period.

lowercased:
before i lost my hair, i very rarely wore any makeup. i liked a very natural look and just didn’t feel like i needed or wanted it. but after getting alopecia universalis, everything changed. when one loses facial hair as a result of having alopecia, makeup becomes a very important aspect of looking and thus, feeling “normal”. without eyebrows and eyelashes, the face becomes a blank canvas. brows express emotions while the eyes are the window to the soul. it is well worth your time researching the best ways to replicate what nature originally designed for your face and in some cases, improve upon it. after finding your best hair replacement, having nice eyebrows will make a huge difference in helping you accept your alopecia. it’s so much easier when you can smile at that image in the mirror.
because you’ve asked, i will describe in detail my process, but please consider this a template for you to further experiment with until you develop your own technique. i highly recommend making an appointment with a good makeup artist. explain that you have alopecia and need to recreate the facial hair that is missing and play up your best features. a reputable department store or salon will welcome the challenge to create your beautiful face. educate yourself by reading a good book like bobbi brown’s living beauty or her latest, makeup manual. i became a huge fan of bobbi’s way of looking at beauty. she has a very natural and timeless style that looks great on everyone. her site, bobbibrown.com provides a 5 minute routine that can range from minimal to dramatic.
concealer is a must at any age and can work wonders for older skin with darker areas that need lightening like under eyes, the upper inner lid area, the corners of the nose and mouth and any spots. i’m currently in love with the amazing cosmetics concealer. foundations offer all kinds of options with spf and semi-matte finishes. they smooth out the complexion and provide a seamless palette for whatever is to come. blush color always had me stumped until i found a powdered bronzer that doubles as a blush. it sculpts the sides of my face and gives me a healthy glow without adding any particular color. sometimes i will use a hit of pink on the apples of the cheeks just to makes them “pop”.
play up your eyes and lips with liner! i recommend a lid foundation or cream shadow that does not migrate into the lid crease. bobbi brown makes a long-wear cream shadow that you apply with a wide, flat brush. this could be enough to accent the lids but i usually like to add a darker contour color in the crease and the “v” at the outer corner of the eye. a small angled brush works nicely for this effect. eyeliner is very important because most of us have no lash line and we need the eye definition. eyeliner will automatically make your eyes appear larger as well. but the key here is to find a liner that stays in place throughout the day and into the evening. my favorite is bobbi brown’s long-wear eye gel – i like sepia ink. it comes in a little glass jar and you apply it with a small flat brush. it tends to dry out before it is used up so i just add a touch of eye makeup remover to the pot to thin it out. use your brush to mix up a tiny area. my last trick to add drama to the eye (and erase any sign of the white lid where hair is not growing, is to line the inner eye lid with a brown or black soft pencil made specifically for this purpose. if you are feeling like going all out, then apply false eyelashes. this is a case where the time you take to practice will pay off in the end. with the right lash and adhesive you can do this in a few minutes! ultimate hold eyelash and eyebrow adhesive is the absolute best. you’ll have to experiment with the lashes, but i have been using cheryn international’s “my lash” in sultry/ charcoal. they are holding up really nicely! nothing feels quite as feminine as having long eyelashes – after having great hair, of course. with black lashes you will never need to use mascara (my choice). i suppose if you want a very natural look and aren’t wearing much eye makeup, brown will be the right color.
after applying a lip plumper (or moisturizer) and a lip liner, my choice for lipstick is mac’s, twig, because it is a warm neutral color that goes with everything. i love topping it off with mac’s lustreglass in beaux.
i finish with amazing cosmetic’s powderset applied all over the face with a large brush to set everything and keep the shine at bay. my skin tends toward the oily side, so you may have a different problem and need to adjust this.
each of these solutions are worthy of a trial period.


text:
For many years, you have wanted to substitute that heavy beef curry with maybe a version of a grilled lean meat, or use baked crisps instead of fried food, but have always worried about the outcome for the taste of the food.
So you have finally taken the dive and are now actively trying to cook and eat healthy meals, but unfortunately the water is icy cold; you can barely see anything and have no clue in which direction you should swim; or maybe you are standing on the edge of the cliff staring at the water down below, scared of taking the dive, maybe because the cliff is just too high, what if there are rocks hidden under the water?
A: The good fats are the monounsaturated fats and the polyunsaturated fats. Some examples are the fats found in natural foods like walnuts, avocados, olives, nuts (peanuts, almonds, macadamia nuts), flaxseed, tofu, sunflower pumpkin and sesame seeds, and fatty fish, rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, such as tuna, salmon, trout, herring, mackerel, sardines.
Q: Dips tastes so good. Is there a way to cut the fat?

lowercased:
for many years, you have wanted to substitute that heavy beef curry with maybe a version of a grilled lean meat, or use baked crisps instead of fried food, but have always worried about the outcome for the taste of the food.
so you have finally taken the dive and are now actively trying to cook and eat healthy meals, but unfortunately the water is icy cold; you can barely see anything and have no clue in which direction you should swim; or maybe you are standing on the edge of the cliff staring at the water down below, scared of taking the dive, maybe because the cliff is just too high, what if there are rocks hidden under the water?
a: the good fats are the monounsaturated fats and the polyunsaturated fats. some examples are the fats found in natural foods like walnuts, avocados, olives, nuts (peanuts, almonds, macadamia nuts), flaxseed, tofu, sunflower pumpkin and sesame seeds, and fatty fish, rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, such as tuna, salmon, trout, herring, mackerel, sardines.
q: dips tastes so good. is there a way to cut the fat?


text:
My config files lists 60+ custom sessions – when I set Edit/Apply BuiltIn Auto Rule / Session – sometimes the sessions are added to the console – sometimes not … ???
Also, is it possible to save View->Categories and the Sessions added to those categories in the config file.
Thanks for your posting and my apologies for the delayed response. The “Apply Built-in AutoView Rule | Session” feature only adds new views for the sessions you currently have in the Console (i.e. the sessions of the log entries in the Console) and this is independent of the client configuration. I recommend creating a manual, live AutoView rule for the sessions (under Edit | AutoView Rules, with Session as trigger) which automatically adds a new view for every new session the Console sees.

lowercased:
my config files lists 60+ custom sessions – when i set edit/apply builtin auto rule / session – sometimes the sessions are added to the console – sometimes not … ???
also, is it possible to save view->categories and the sessions added to those categories in the config file.
thanks for your posting and my apologies for the delayed response. the “apply built-in autoview rule | session” feature only adds new views for the sessions you currently have in the console (i.e. the sessions of the log entries in the console) and this is independent of the client configuration. i recommend creating a manual, live autoview rule for the sessions (under edit | autoview rules, with session as trigger) which automatically adds a new view for every new session the console sees.


text:
We serve all of Huntington County, including Roanoke, Markle, Andrews, and Warren, as well as Huntington. We are also in reasonable driving distance from Fort Wayne, Bluffton, Ossian, Decatur, Wabash, Columbia City, and Marion, and handle cases in Adams County, Allen County, Grant County, Wabash County, Wells County, and Whitley County.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Because we respect the fact that you may wish to discuss a confidential matter, please do not send us any information about the substance of any matter that may involve you or your business until you have talked with one of our lawyers. If you elect to submit any information that is confidential, then by sending us an e-mail to the address listed above, you agree that your submission will not preclude the firm from representing another client in a matter adverse to you where that information could be used against you. However, the firm agrees that it will not make such use of such information and will hold it confidential. Contacting our firm by e-mail or otherwise does not create a lawyer-client relationship.

lowercased:
we serve all of huntington county, including roanoke, markle, andrews, and warren, as well as huntington. we are also in reasonable driving distance from fort wayne, bluffton, ossian, decatur, wabash, columbia city, and marion, and handle cases in adams county, allen county, grant county, wabash county, wells county, and whitley county.
important notice: because we respect the fact that you may wish to discuss a confidential matter, please do not send us any information about the substance of any matter that may involve you or your business until you have talked with one of our lawyers. if you elect to submit any information that is confidential, then by sending us an e-mail to the address listed above, you agree that your submission will not preclude the firm from representing another client in a matter adverse to you where that information could be used against you. however, the firm agrees that it will not make such use of such information and will hold it confidential. contacting our firm by e-mail or otherwise does not create a lawyer-client relationship.


text:
If you are a Neocate parent, then you may know how unique the Neocate formula smells and tastes. I, personally, have tried them all! What makes Neocate so special is also what gives it that unique flavor – the amino acids. We have lots of experience of families calling saying their little one is not really digging the taste of Neocate. Time is usually the best tool in getting a child used to the flavor of Neocate. As noted in a study, it can take up to 15-20 trails of a certain new food or formula in order for the child to accept it. One question we often get is “Can I add flavoring to the formula to make it taste better?” This is where the answer may vary. For children over 1 year of age, the answer is yes. Of course, the flavoring component you add has to fit into the acceptable foods for your child. It’s also good to check in the healthcare team before doing so. If your child is less than 1 year, then this is where discussions need to take place between you and your doctor.
Here is a previous blog we did on some ideas for flavoring unflavored elemental formulas for kids over 1 year of age. We tend to encourage families to work on behavioral tactics versus changing the formula if it seems like the child didn’t like it the first time, especially when feeding an infant. Instead of tweaking the flavor of the formula right away, try changing the feeding times to see if that will help intake. Here is a link to find more very helpful tips when getting a child to drink nutritional elemental formulas such as Neocate. With a product like Neocate Junior, it helps to know that in addition to unflavored option we have 4 different flavor options that you can work with: Chocolate, Tropical, Strawberry and Vanilla. We are always happy to help in finding handy tips that can help your little one with drinking Neocate.

lowercased:
if you are a neocate parent, then you may know how unique the neocate formula smells and tastes. i, personally, have tried them all! what makes neocate so special is also what gives it that unique flavor – the amino acids. we have lots of experience of families calling saying their little one is not really digging the taste of neocate. time is usually the best tool in getting a child used to the flavor of neocate. as noted in a study, it can take up to 15-20 trails of a certain new food or formula in order for the child to accept it. one question we often get is “can i add flavoring to the formula to make it taste better?” this is where the answer may vary. for children over 1 year of age, the answer is yes. of course, the flavoring component you add has to fit into the acceptable foods for your child. it’s also good to check in the healthcare team before doing so. if your child is less than 1 year, then this is where discussions need to take place between you and your doctor.
here is a previous blog we did on some ideas for flavoring unflavored elemental formulas for kids over 1 year of age. we tend to encourage families to work on behavioral tactics versus changing the formula if it seems like the child didn’t like it the first time, especially when feeding an infant. instead of tweaking the flavor of the formula right away, try changing the feeding times to see if that will help intake. here is a link to find more very helpful tips when getting a child to drink nutritional elemental formulas such as neocate. with a product like neocate junior, it helps to know that in addition to unflavored option we have 4 different flavor options that you can work with: chocolate, tropical, strawberry and vanilla. we are always happy to help in finding handy tips that can help your little one with drinking neocate.


text:
The number of endangered insects is large and growing. The rate of destruction and degradation of natural habitats currently is so great that there are not nearly enough biologists to even catalog, much less study, the species that are suddenly on the edge of extinction. In Indonesia, approximately 1.3 million hectares of tropical forest were cut in 2001. In Argentina, 7964 metric tons of insecticides were used in 1998. In the United States, imported red fire ants have infested over 260 million acres in the southeast. These examples of threats to endangered insects continue to mount across the world. The time is now for agencies, scientists, conservationists, and land managers to promote the conservation of imperiled insects.
Bean, J. M. (1993). Invertebrates and the Endangered Species Act. Wings, Summer.
Buchmann, S. L., and Nabhan, G. P. (1996). "The Forgotten Pollinators."
Insects and Their Habitat." Academic Press, London. Deyrup, M. (2001). Endangered terrestrial invertebrates. In "Encyclopedia of Biodiversity" (S. A. Levin, ed.), Vol. 2. Academic Press, New York. Deyrup, M., and Eisner, T. (2001). Interviews at the edge of a cliff. Wings, Fall.
Hoffman Black, S. C., Shepherd M., and Mackey Allen, M. (2001). Endangered invertebrates: The case for greater attention to invertebrate conservation. Endangered Species Update 18, 41—49. Kellert, S. R. (1993). Values and perceptions of invertebrates. Conservat. Biol. 7, 845-855.
Opler, P. (1995). Conservation and management of butterfly diversity in North America. In "Ecology and Conservation of Butterflies" (A. S. Pullin, ed.). Chapman & Hall, London. Pyle, R. M., Bentzien, M., and Opler, P. (1981). Insect conservation. Annu.
Rev. Entomol 26, 233-258. Samways, M. J. (1994). "Insect Conservation Biology." Chapman & Hall, London.
Stein, B. A., Kutner, L. S., and Adams, J. S. (eds.) (2000). "Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States." Oxford University Press, Oxford. Wilson, E. O. (1992). "The Diversity of Life." Norton, New York.

lowercased:
the number of endangered insects is large and growing. the rate of destruction and degradation of natural habitats currently is so great that there are not nearly enough biologists to even catalog, much less study, the species that are suddenly on the edge of extinction. in indonesia, approximately 1.3 million hectares of tropical forest were cut in 2001. in argentina, 7964 metric tons of insecticides were used in 1998. in the united states, imported red fire ants have infested over 260 million acres in the southeast. these examples of threats to endangered insects continue to mount across the world. the time is now for agencies, scientists, conservationists, and land managers to promote the conservation of imperiled insects.
bean, j. m. (1993). invertebrates and the endangered species act. wings, summer.
buchmann, s. l., and nabhan, g. p. (1996). "the forgotten pollinators."
insects and their habitat." academic press, london. deyrup, m. (2001). endangered terrestrial invertebrates. in "encyclopedia of biodiversity" (s. a. levin, ed.), vol. 2. academic press, new york. deyrup, m., and eisner, t. (2001). interviews at the edge of a cliff. wings, fall.
hoffman black, s. c., shepherd m., and mackey allen, m. (2001). endangered invertebrates: the case for greater attention to invertebrate conservation. endangered species update 18, 41—49. kellert, s. r. (1993). values and perceptions of invertebrates. conservat. biol. 7, 845-855.
opler, p. (1995). conservation and management of butterfly diversity in north america. in "ecology and conservation of butterflies" (a. s. pullin, ed.). chapman & hall, london. pyle, r. m., bentzien, m., and opler, p. (1981). insect conservation. annu.
rev. entomol 26, 233-258. samways, m. j. (1994). "insect conservation biology." chapman & hall, london.
stein, b. a., kutner, l. s., and adams, j. s. (eds.) (2000). "precious heritage: the status of biodiversity in the united states." oxford university press, oxford. wilson, e. o. (1992). "the diversity of life." norton, new york.