Voice Web: The Next Mobile Revolution

Voice communication and its associated revenues are clearly on the decline due to the rise of smartphones and mobile applications. More time today is spent texting, e-mailing and Web surfing from phones rather than using them to talk. And above all, subscriber loyalty has all but disappeared: People will now switch carriers at the drop of a hat in order to get an iPhone or Palm Pre, and care more about the apps on their device than to which carrier they pay their bill.

All this poses a problem for traditional wireless providers. The mobile paradigm is changing, and carriers are being locked out of its fastest growing segment. Are telcos doomed to become “just the plumbing”?

Not if they embrace the idea of a “Voice Web” service, which can allow callers to access the Web with one spoken word, as well as enable Web applications, social networks, or IM to send users a message during a call. These speech-enabled Web services would empower voice calls with the same dynamic, interactive experience of texting but now utilizing the most intuitive interface of all, the human voice.

Bringing Flexibility to Voice

One reason for the reduction in voice calls is that the increased flexibility of texting makes it more fun and productive in comparison. But what if that same flexibility could be brought to plain old person-to-person voice?

The growth of cloud-based applications and open APIs is enabling the swift development of compelling new mashups like Voice Web, and creating a desire to constantly be connected to the Web, including while on a phone call. It may seem cliché, but the possibilities for the service are truly endless. You can imagine, say, telling a friend about your latest favorite song and sharing it right away on the phone by instantly invoking your iTunes account. Setting up appointments and checking Web calendars using only voice would be a revolution. Checking movie times and locations while mulling over choices with a friend on the phone? A no-brainer. And how about GPS? What if directions to a destination could be whispered into a headset while driving to the location? It certainly sounds safer than looking back and forth at a tiny Web browser.

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