Microsoft is making a move to help develop future software and user interfaces for businesses to help with their customer services, especially with what Microsoft calls natural user interfaces (NUIs). Today, the company announced that it was entering a partnership with Campbell, California based 24/7 Inc. The two companies will work together on an R&D program that will include developing future NUI software that will use features like motion gestures and speech for future business products.
Microsoft will also gain an equity stake in 24/7 Inc, although specifics of the financial terms were not disclosed. While not mentioned in the official press release, ZDNet claims that Microsoft will transfer 400 of its employees over to 24/7 Inc. The employees were formerly a part of Microsoft's TellMe voice recognition division; TellMe was purchased by Microsoft back in 2007 for between $800 million and $1 billion.
The business software solutions that have been created by Microsoft and 24/7 Inc's partnership are already being used by companies such as Avis and United Airlines. The press release quotes Zig Serafin, general manager, Online Services Division at Microsoft, as saying:
Microsoft is an industry leader in NUI and established natural, intuitive consumer experiences on mobile and entertainment devices. From speech to touch to gestures, consumers expect and demand more natural and intuitive ways to interact with technology. This same demand will change how consumers interact with businesses, and it creates an inflection point for how people will expect businesses to provide customer service.
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