Which development tool is right for you? Commercial Tools

John Fuentes – Principal Solutions Architect

John.Fuentes@intervoice.com

Standards

» Industry Standards– Voice Extensible Markup Language (VoiceXML)

2.0/2.1– Voice Browser Call Control (CCXML) – Call Control– Speech Recognition Grammar Specification (GRXML)

1.0– ECMAScript (JavaScript) 262 – Speech Syntheses Markup Language (SSML) 1.0

» Emerging Standards– SCXML.\/State Chart XML (W3C) – State Control

Engine for create application control flow– xHMI (Nuance)– dialog configuration language for

speech application– XHTML+Voice(VoiceXML.org) – Adding VoiceXML

syntax to HTML for the purpose of Multi-modal

Things to consider

» IDE Features– Graphical– Source Control Support– Difference Tool/Merge Features– Debugger

» Runtime Environment– Java or .NET– Is there an additional runtime required (SCXML, XHMI, other)

» Reusable components– Speech Components (Speaker Verification, Address)– DB Interfaces– Web Service (HTTP,XML, SOAP)– CTI interfaces– Extensibility / SDK– Multimodal

» Skill set of your development team

Avaya Dialog Designer

Dialog Designer provides a standards-based approach to application development of speech and touch-tone applications through a complete IDE.

» Eclipse based drag and drop IDE

» VoiceXML 2.1/CCXML

» Minimal knowledge of VoiceXML and ECMAScript

» Java skills required

» Library of components

» Generates to Avaya Runtime Engine

» SDK to create components

Cisco (Audium)

Server side VoiceXML application creation and management environment

» Eclipse based drag and drop IDE

» VoiceXML 2.0 compliant

» Minimal knowledge of VoiceXML and ECMAScript

» Java skills required

» Library of resuable components

» Generates to audium runtime

» SDK to create components

Envox VoiceXML Studio

Envox 6 is an open, standards-based platform with integrated application development and management components

» Eclipse based drag and drop IDE

» VoiceXML 2.0 compliant

» Minimal knowledge of VoiceXML and ECMAScript

» Library of resuable components

» Generates JSPs

IBM Voice Toolkit

IBM WebSphere® Voice Toolkit is an enhanced collection of technologies for creating sophisticated voice applications

» Eclipse based drag and drop IDE

» VoiceXML 2.1,GRXML, CCXML editors

» VoiceXML, ECMAScript, CCXML and Java skills required

» Library of resuable components

» Generates JSPs

» Debugger

» Simulator

Intervoice Development Studio

Development Studio is a software development environment built on Eclipse that provides the highest level of quality in tools and an extensive ecosystem of plug-ins, or reusable components, that can be utilized to quickly develop intelligent voice solutions.

» Eclipse based drag and drop IDE

» VoiceXML 2.0/2.1 compliant

» Knowledge of VoiceXML, SCXML and ECMAScript» Java skills required

» Library of resuable components

» Generates to SCXML/CCXML and VoiceXML

» SDK to create components

VoiceObjects Desktop

VoiceObjects Desktop is the easy-to-use Web interface for creating, testing, deploying and monitoring voice, video, text and Web channel self-service applications delivered over phone and mobile devices.

» Web based

» VoiceXML 2.0 compliant

» No knowledge of VoiceXML and ECMAScript required

» Library of resuable components

» VoiceObjects Server runtime

» Eclipse SDK to create components

Vocalocity AppCenter

Vocalocity App Center is an integrated development environment that includes a GUI-based application builder and a management server that provides versioning, logging, and dynamic code generation.

» Custom drag and drop IDE

» VoiceXML 2.0 compliant

» No knowledge of VoiceXML and ECMAScript required

» Library of resuable components

» AppCenter runtime or JSPs

» SDK to create custom components

Voxeo Designer

Voxeo Designer is a visual application design tool which allows developers to use a flowchart-based visual tool to develop VoiceXML applications. Management tools

» Thick Client drag and drop IDE. New version is web based

» VoiceXML 2.0/CCXML

» Minimal knowledge of VoiceXML and ECMAScript

» Hosted Runtime

Summary

Make a list of criteria and stick to them. There is no perfect tool. Get a trial versions and write an application.

Items to consider:» Portable to other VoiceXML Platforms. » Skills sets required

– Level of VoiceXML/CCXML/GRXML knowledge– Java vs. .NET

» DTMF and Speech» Multi-lingual» Debugging and Deployment» Tool Portability (Is the tool always required)

References:•The VoiceXML Forum (VoiceXML.org)

•VoiceXML Solution Directory (vxmldirectory.com)

•Developer Network (www.developer.com/voice)