Speech Server 2004 Release 2, an update to Microsoft's platform for interactive voice response (IVR) applications, will be available in June 2005. The new release could prove more attractive to organizations looking to replace older touch-tone IVR systems.

The update adds Canadian French and U.S. Spanish to the list of supported languages. The update also adds a new configuration option for the Enterprise Edition that enables single-server configurations. The previous Enterprise Edition required separate servers for the two key components of Speech Server—Speech Engine Services, which performs all text-to-speech and speech-recognition functions, and Telephony Application Services, which connects the server to the telephone network. A single-server configuration will reduce hardware and management costs, making Speech Server cost-effective in smaller organizations that are looking to replace existing touch-tone menu systems.

For further information on Speech Server, see "Server to Aid Voice Response Applications" on page 12 of the Jan. 2004 Update and "Speech Server for Voice Applications" on page 17 of the May 2004 Update.