HEADLINES
JOBS
DISCUSS
POLICY POLICE
ARCHIVES

Tata Infotech unveils email reader programme

Tata Infotech has targeted Internet service providers and corporations with a turnover of Rs 1 billion and above to sell Call-mail, its latest software product.

The software allows the user to receive email over the telephone.

T O D A Y

• TRAI trouble • EnThnik to seek VC • Call-mail launched • Tektronix acquisition

"We are looking at ISPs and infotech companies and corporations with good infrastructure for the product. Call-mail will help these companies to effectively extend the reach of their networks to any telephone instrument in the world," claims Sanjay Deshpande, head of the Software Products Group.

The Call-mail software operates in conjunction with existing mail servers and automatically reads out email messages in a system-generated voice.

"While accessing an email, traditionally a PC and connectivity to the mail server are prerequisites. But anybody on the move finds it difficult to access mail without these facilities. Here, this software plays a major role," Deshpande said.

At present, the software has a limited vocabulary, which the company is expected to improve on soon.

For four channels with fax, the corporations will have to cough up Rs 292,000 for hardware, Rs 99,000 for license fee and per user licence fee of Rs 750.

"Every additional four channels will cost Rs 99,000 each. Only the third component has variables or slabs," Deshpande explains.

This setup will be ideal for 200 users.

Tata Infotech has been experimenting with the product at Tata Steel for some time before deciding to go ahead with the commercial launch.

"We have already received 35 to 40 proposals from various quarters for the product," Deshpande said.

In fact, VSNL has been displaying the software as part of value-addition to its Internet package.

The product gains importance from the fact that the company has been concentrating equally on product development for some time now.

"We want about 40 per cent of our revenue to come from products by 2005," Deshpande said.

The software's interactive voice response technology helps users listen to email messages and perform other functions like receive unread mail, listen to header of the mail, receive a fax of selected mail, delete mail and leave voice notes.

The system has a powerful identification and password system that ensures that email is read out only to the persons authorised to receive it.

Call-mail runs on Windows NT and can easily be added on to practically any existing email system.

Features related to other speech parameters like speed, volume, types of voices can be customised to suit each company's needs. The system also has functions whereby organisations and ISPs can generate customised reports and keep track of the usage of the system. It can handle multiple mail users simultaneously.

Call-mail has been designed to provide a modular object oriented open system architecture that is upgradable according to the changes in technology.

- Compiled from the Indian media

Tell us what you think