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Examples of Services

Thor Nielsen, Envilogg AB
Tel +46-18-13 59 22
thor.nielsen@envilogg.se


Background about Envilogg, Marvin MMX and the speaker

Envilogg is a Swedish company that develops software for telecommunication services (soft switches, communication management systems, and contact centres). For further information about Envilogg, please review our home page (www.envilogg.com). For further information about Marvin MMX, please review the enclosed datasheet or download information from our website.

Since 1995, Envilogg has provided the technology used by the Swedish Text Relay Service.

Thor Nielsen is Envilogg's sales manager in charge of Marvin MMX. Thor Nielsen has extensive experience in the area of alternative telecom and datacom, from experience with working with textphones, telecommunication equipment for relay services and, most recently, with internet-based multi-media services for alternative communication.


Changing patterns of communication

During the 90s, we faced the challenge was to supply a platform that would enable textphones to call a hearing person via the relay service, or vice-versa. Textphones were then the best suited equipment for alternative telecommunication, and text was the only "supporting" media (in combination with voice, e.g. for deafened people that could speak, or for speech impaired people who could hear).

During the past few years, other ways of communication have become important, such as SMS, email, ISDN videophones, IP-based videophones and 3G phones. Whereas these new equipment present enormous possibilities for communication, e.g. the deaf can communicate using their first language (sign language), it presents us a number of challenges. Two of the major challenges are:

We believe that our multimedia platform Marvin MMX (Multi-media Exchange) is an effective way of solving many of the above problems. Our objective has been to provide a platform allowing for various services to enjoy seamless communication between a range of communication devices currently used in varying degrees by deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired people. The platform is designed to facilitate organisations and service providers that wish to specify their own deaf communications services and then put these services into operation utilising the platform.

The platform is designed to provide the basis for communications involving deaf hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired people, on a direct user to user, or user to provider basis, and also on a user via third party basis, with the objective of providing as direct a service as possible on a cost effective basis.

MMX uses open standards that allows for communication with the following devices and protocols:

Diagram showing communication channels of multimedia platform Marvin MMX


Internet-based services

Marvin MMX is currently being used in Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden and Finland) and Spain, and new services are currently being proposed in the United Kingdom and in Austria.

Below are some examples of services currently being offered and/or proposed

Denmark

TDC is Denmark's largest Internet and Telecom operator. Marvin MMX is currently being used to offer text services for deaf and hard-of-hearing. The platform is integrated into TDC's call centre for Directory Assistance. Two call centres are currently connected to the platform. The services are performed by agents in a traditional way.

The following services are currently being offered:

The call centre handles an average of 280.000 calls/year.

TDC is currently evaluating a text-based solution for GSM/GPRS/3G phones, which will enable textphones to call each other and to call the relay services and emergency services.

Diagram showing textphones calling each other and calling relay and emergency services


Sweden

Text relay services
Eniro is Sweden's Yellow Pages and currently runs the text relay service. Marvin MMX is providing WEB-based services (web/text-to-voice). Envilogg has also supplied the platform used for traditional text relay services.

Video relay services
The County Government of Örebro offers video relay services on a nation-wide basis. Envilogg is currently installing MMX at the Video Relay Centre, which will enable to offer video relay interpreting to ISDN videophones and SIP videophones. Customers that do not own a videophone will be able to access the service from their web, as video application (an applet) can be downloaded onto their computer to access the services.

Deaf Schools - The Swedish Authority for Special Schools

All deaf schools are connected to Marvin MMX, which enables them to communicate with text and/or video from any PC at the schools with is connected to the LAN/WAN. The text feature has been available since 2002, and the video application is being phased in during 2004 in the different locations (the organisation has 6 schools, a head office and approximately 30 dorms for the children). The information below summarizes the current installation.

Diagram showing deaf schools connected to Marvin MMX

The MMX Platform at the deaf schools

Communication


The Swedish Labour Market Authority

The Swedish Labour market authority is remotely connected to a text platform hosted by Envilogg. There are 7 agencies connected to the platform and 1 call centre. The goal of the platform is to enable any employee at the organisation (a total of 15.000 people work at the Swedish Labour Market Authority) to make and receive text calls via the web or from a textphone. Mobile text phones are currently being tested by the organisation, providing for mobility to their employees.

Currently, there are 50 employees using the platform, but the numbers should increase as the organisation has upgraded their computers and data network.


SPRIDA and the County Government of Stockholm

In co-operation with SPRIDA (organisation within the County Government of Örebro), Envilogg is offering deaf users access to a multi-media service from their home PCs. The most important services currently being offered are:


Proposed project for text communication network (IP/PSTN)

Upon request from the County Government of Örebro, Sweden, Envilogg has proposed to set up a network for text and voice communication over the Internet, with a gateway to the telephone network (PSTN).

If approved, the MMX platform will offer the following services in the set-up


Other countries

Finland: text relay services
Spain: web-chat between 3G phones and the internet (using Ericsson's VIG gateway between H.323 and H.324-M 3G).
United Kingdom: a Marvin platform is being set up for service providers and video relay services.


For further information, please contact:
Thor Nielsen, Envilogg AB
Tel +46-18-13 59 22
thor.nielsen@envilogg.se

 

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Last updated: 02.10.2008    © Copyright reserved