Voxeo Acquires VoiceObjects

Voxeo, which produces standards-based voice applications, reported Tuesday that it has acquired VoiceObjects.

Voxeo, which seeks to develop easy-to-use voice products, said VoiceObjects, which provides self-service application development analytics solutions, will assist users in developing phone applications that can be deployed on VoiceXML platforms.

The companies noted that VoiceObjects already has a large portfolio of enterprise and mobile carrier users including Adobe, Citibank, Hershey, IKEA, Kellogg, Postbank, SAP, Swisscom, T-Mobile Vodafone, and Volkswagen. They said VoiceObjects' common standards-based approach, which enables users to develop phone applications on a wide range of VoiceXML platforms, offers a major advantage over competitors' products.

"Voxeo will continue to openly and actively support VoiceObjects' application deployment on multiple Voice XML platforms including those provided by Aspect, Avaya, Genesys, Intervoice, and Nortel," Voxeo and VoiceObjects said in a statement. "VoiceObjects will also be available in extremely cost-effective on-demand and on-premise offerings bundled with Voxeo's own Prophecy Voice Platform."

Michael Codini will continue to lead VoiceObjects and the firm's engineering, support, and training team members will join Voxeo as well. Several products being developed by VoiceObjects are planned for launch in 2009, the firms said.

"With VoiceObjects, Voxeo now offers the most comprehensive phone and unified communication application development solution on the market, addressing every aspect of self-service solution creation, deployment, and management," said Beatriz Infante, VoiceObjects' president and CEO, in a statement.

Earlier this year, Voxeo acquired Micromethod Technologies, which develops Session Initiation Protocol-based communication and collaboration software. In addition to beefing up Voxeo's product portfolio, the two acquired firms will help Voxeo expand. Based in Germany, VoiceObjects will help accelerate Voxeo's drive into European markets while China-based Micromethod will help Voxeo's marketing in Asia.