Reuters: Technology News: Amazon buys speech-recognition company Ivona

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Amazon buys speech-recognition company Ivona Jan 24th 2013, 16:36 Tweet Share this Email Print Related News EBay tops holiday quarter forecasts on mobile boom Wed, Jan 16 2013 EBay holiday quarter sales jump; 2013 forecast cautious Wed, Jan 16 2013 Amazon offers free digital versions of purchased CDs Thu, Jan 10 2013 Microsoft taps Krikorian to help run its Xbox business Thu, Jan 10 2013 Judge rejects part of Apple App Store suit vs Amazon Wed, Jan 2 2013 Analysis & Opinion Three tech predictions for 2013 Related Topics Tech » Deals » Global Deals Review: 2011 Q3 » Global Deals Review: 2011 Q2 » Global Deals Review » Inflows Outflows » Media » A zoomed image of a computer screen showing the Amazon logo is seen in Vienna November 26, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Heinz-Peter Bader By Alistair Barr SAN FRANCISCO | Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:36am EST SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc said on Thursday that it acquired speech-recognition company Ivona Software, a sign the world's largest Internet retailer may be looking to develop more services similar to Apple Inc's Siri voice-based search product. Amazon did not say how much it paid for Ivona and an Amazon spokeswoman declined to comment on a purchase price. Ivona's technology already supports several features on Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet computers, such as "Text-to-Speech," said Dave Limp, who oversees the Kindle business. "We look forward to building great products to deliver world-class voice solutions to customers around the world," Limp said in a statement. Apple's Siri service on its iPhone smartphones lets users ask questions and delivers answers, suggestions or actions. Ivona's text-to-speech technology on Amazon's Kindle Fire HD tablets reads Kindle e-books aloud to users. "The Ivona acquisition could provide some technology on the Kindle to compete with Siri, although I would argue that Siri has not been all that was expected of it so far," said Kerry Rice, an analyst at Needham & Co. Ivona could also help Amazon expand its e-book market to more people with disabilities, such as the blind, Rice added. Ivona already works with organizations supporting blind and visually impaired people, including the Royal National Institute of Blind People. Amazon shares rose 3.1 percent to $276.61 in morning trading on Thursday and hit a record $276.65 in earlier action. (Reporting By Alistair Barr; Editing by Nick Zieminski) Global Deals Review: 2011 Q3 Global Deals Review: 2011 Q2 Related Quotes and News Company Price Related News Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above.

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