Nuance Brings Voice Capability to Virgin Media Mobile App

Nuance Communications said Virgin Media is using its Dragon TV voice technology to help power the U.K.-based operator’s TV Anywhere App.

The integration lets app users search for TV shows and movies with their voice by clicking the microphone icon located in the app.

Virgin Media, part of Liberty Global, is using Nuance’s voice tech for the app initially in Ireland, with plans to roll it out to all Virgin Media customers with a Virgin TV package and an Android or iOS mobile device.

"We want our subscribers to have easy access to all of their favorite content - and it needs to be simple to find and use,” Mark Giesbers, VP of entertainment products at Liberty Global, said in a statement. “With all the content we offer across sources like live TV, replay TV and on demand, we need to ensure our subscribers can easily discover their next favorite show or movie.  By developing a voice interface in partnership with Nuance, we've created a new conversational interface that is intelligent and intuitive. We believe voice will grow to become an important means for our subscribers to interact with our entertainment products and services going forward, from apps to devices and smart home appliances.”

Nuance said its Dragon TV technology, part of its Smart Home portfolio, is used in more than 60 million homes.