VoiceXML feature

Type of feature

VoiceXML is an optional feature.

About VoiceXML

The VoiceXML feature provides another way to write IVR applications for the Avaya IR system using the VoiceXML 2.0 standard. VoiceXML (Voice Extensible Markup Language) is a Web language that is similar to HTML. However, instead of working with a graphical browser to interact with users, as HTML does, VoiceXML uses a voice browser.

A voice browser system enables VoiceXML applications to perform many IVR functions, such as:

• Prompting users with text-to-speech (TTS) and prerecorded digitized audio
• Collecting user input with speech recognition and dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) input
• Recording user speech
• Providing basic telephony control, such as transfer and hang up

The support for VoiceXML is important because it is a way to leverage the existing web infrastructure for developing applications and therefore opening the Web for IVR applications as well as provide support for a standardized scripting language.

Like TAS applications, VoiceXML applications can be enabled with speech recognition and TTS, with the following limitations:

• VoiceXML for Avaya IR does not support WholeWord speech recognition. Speech recognition must be provided for VoiceXML applications using the proxy speech packages. For more information, see Natural Language Speech Recognition (NLSR).
• For dynamic speech, that is, speech that converts information from a database, the Proxy Text-to-Speech (PTTS) feature is highly recommended. (The Enhanced Basic Speech feature can be used for dynamic speech in TAS applications, but not in VXML applications.) Avaya IR R1.2 only supports SpeechWorks Speechify for TTS functionality in VoiceXML applications. The following TTS languages are available for VoiceXML:
  • US English
  • UK English
  • Continental French
  • Americas Spanish
  • German
  • Japanese
  • Brazilian Portuguese

    For more information on PTTS, see Proxy Text-to-Speech (PTTS).

VoiceXML is integrated into the IVR Designer development environment. See Avaya IVR Designer Help for more information.

Software requirements

The VoiceXML feature requires the following software:

• VoiceXML package

Application development considerations

IVR Designer includes the capability to create VoiceXML applications.

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