The web service you are most likely referring to (or at least one that is very
similar to the one you are referring to) is iDictate. iDictate will data via
telephone, dictation device or fax and transcribe it for 1 cent per word
(although they have a slightly more complicated pricing model than just that).
They can then send it to another person via e-mail or fax. There are no monthly
fees and no minimums per month, plus there is a free trial period. The free
trial allows for up to 100 words and can be initiated by calling 1-877-DICTATE
(3428283). Find more information at http://idictate.com/
Another web service you may have been thinking of is Copytalk and also provides
a similar set of features. Calling the service allows one to send emails,
create appointments, contacts, memos, etc for a Palm handheld. They offer 4
different service plans to meet the exact needs of the customer. The Commuter
Plan allows for 20 dictated items at $9.95 per month and an overage rate of
$0.60 per item. Next is the Professional Plan for 45 items at $19.95 per month
and $0.50 overage fee. Then there is the Executive Plan for 120 items at $49.95
per month and $0.45 overage fee. The most extensive plan is the Road Warrior at
$74.95 per month for 180 items and $0.40 overage fee. You will want to visit
their website for the most up-to-date pricing as it may change. "A dictated
item is one contact, one email or memo (of less than 450 characters), one to-
do, one appointment. Subscribers may dictate multiple items on a single call;
we charge per item dictated." For more information visit
http://www.copytalk.com/index.htm
Zaprobo-ga mentions Dial Dictate as a possibility but this is not what you are
looking for. Dial Dictate is software that you can put on a computer to do
things similar to what the above-mentioned web services do. This may be a
cheaper alternative if one has a computer that is always-on when dictation
needs to be done. System requirements are "Windows 95/NT4/98/2000/Me/XP.
Pentium 233MMX or above with at least 16MB RAM. At least one TAPI compliant
telephony device. The telephone that you use must have tone dialing (DTMF).
DialDictate requires one or more TAPI compliant telephony devices. Some voice
modems are suitable but for professional use we recommend good quality voice
devices such as the Dialogic (www.dialogic.com). If you use a cheap voice modem
you may find small buffering delays or other problems." The price for a
license is $24 for academia and $38 for professionals. Find more information at
http://www.nch.com.au/dialdictate/
Hapanot-ga mentions Unrecord, but again, this is not what your question is
asking for. While Unrecord is a web-based speech to text service, it requires
being installed on a web server (somewhat like Dial Dictate). It also only
accepts dictations from audio clips provided through HTTP or SMTP. For more
information, go to http://unrecord.com/
iDictate and Copytalk are most likely the best services to suit your needs.
Additional information:
Google Directory: Speech Technology
http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Speech_Technology/
Real User's Sample of iDictate's Service
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=idictate.com&hl=en&selm=39DF0794.8BC17804%
40peoplepc.com&rnum=2
Search terms used:
dictation software transcription
transcribe voice mail
"Dial Dictate" |
