RealNetworks Adds Video to Interactive Voice Reponse with IME

By Editor Wireless and Mobile News on September 11, 2008 1:22 PM

Yesterday at CTIA Wireless I.T. and Entertainment 2008, RealNetworks, Inc. announced the upcoming global availability of Interactive Multimedia Experience (IME), adding video dimension to Interactive Voice Response (IVR).

Utilizing an operator's 3G network and video-telephony capable handsets, IME combines the reliable simplicity of a voice call with multimedia, providing subscribers with a dynamically-generated, visual interface for finding information, content and entertainment using video call minutes on a per-minute basis rather than using data minutes.

Once IME is deployed in an operator's network, a subscriber with a video-calling plan would simply dial a phone number (like 411) and be presented with a menu of dynamic visual options, like movie trailers & times, traffic, music, shopping and more. Further, because the interaction takes place via a video call session, it is charged at per-minute fee, vs. eating into a subscriber's data allowance. Subscribers elect video-calling plans, an extension of the voice and data minute plans widely used, when a video-telephony capable phone is purchased

"Working with mobile operators and their partners, RealNetworks looks forward to providing subscribers with an easy-to-use, visually rich method of accessing information and entertainment on their mobile phones," said Vern Poyner, senior vice president, TPS Americas and Global Operations for RealNetworks. "Everyone knows how to make a phone call, and by offering this new feature via video telephony, we believe it will help operators see a return on the significant investments they've made in deploying 3G networks."

IME will be available for deployment to Mobile Operators globally in Q209, enabling them to create compelling new services for subscribers, attract partners who want new ways to reach consumers, and increase the ROI on their 3G networks.

Real's services are currently available through 88 different carriers in 44 countries worldwide, making them available to 884.3 million subscribers. Real offers wireless providers a comprehensive selection of mobile services including Music-On-Demand, Video-On-Demand, mobile games, personalization features such as RTs, RBTs and Multimedia Ringback Services, and messaging services.