Extending Voice Biometrics
to All Channels

PerSay Progresses on Mobile Voice Biometrics

PerSay is developing embedded speaker verification capabilities for cell phones and other devices in an effort to introduce mobile voice biometrics worldwide. An increasing number of mobile handsets now offer sophisticated Web-based smart phone features. Such capabilities demand an increased level of protection for these devices and the information stored on them, similar to what’s required for a PC or laptop. Plus, there’s the added vulnerability associated with mobile phones, given how prone they are to being lost or stolen.

“As cell phones become more sophisticated, we believe every
mobile handset will require voice biometric capability.”

-Almog Aley-Raz
PerSay CEO

PerSay is developing a special version of VocalPassword—Mobile VocalPassword (MVP)—and a new algorithm for mobile handsets, featuring a 10 to 20x reduction in CPU consumption compared to the server-based application.

Why Voice?
Voice authentication enables convenient access to secure services and applications, and it can be applied across all communications channels. Voice offers several advantages over other verification techniques:

• Nothing to remember or lose
• Password phrase does not change
• Recognition is language independent
• No expensive hardware or infrastructure required
• Works from any mobile device

Introducing Voice Biometrics in Sweden
Beginning the MVP effort in Sweden, PerSay is working with TeliaSonera (Stockholm) (www.teliasonera.com), the leading telecommunications company in the Nordic and Baltic region, to maximize data security in the Swedish market. After integrating and testing server-based voice biometric technology in call centers and remote applications in key vertical markets in the country, the TeliaSonera BioVoice project will pilot voice authentication on smart phones and PDAs using PerSay’s new client-based Mobile VocalPassword product. The hybrid approach combining server- and client-based biometric speaker verification enables customers to enroll using a centralized service and perform verification independently on the handset, thereby accelerating adoption of the technology.

“TeliaSonera is taking a smart approach to the introduction of voice biometrics,” says Almog Aley-Raz, PerSay CEO. “By adopting a hybrid approach that combines network-based enrollment and handset deployment, TeliaSonera is able to use voiceprint technology to secure handset, network and enterprise applications.”

BioVoice has been designated a “EUREKA” project. EUREKA is a pan-European research and development funding and coordination organization that aims to integrate the efforts of governments and commercial companies. The project aims to introduce biometric speaker verification technology to the Swedish market, and test its acceptance, performance, and feasibility to become the ubiquitous verification method in Sweden’s Telecom, Financial, Healthcare and Enterprise Security markets.

Technology-specific goals for the project include:

• Define user requirements for securing smart phones using voice biometrics
• Optimize PerSay verification algorithms for smart phone environment
• Develop Web service enabling centralized enrollment using PerSay MVP
• Develop demo to test performance, usability and acceptance

Shared Benefits
PerSay will have the opportunity to introduce voice biometric products in Sweden, as well as develop and test the latest addition to the portfolio, Mobile VocalPassword, via TeliaSonera’s approximately 30 million subscribers. TeliaSonera will provide customers with secure access to and transfer of confidential data on mobile handsets. Using the server-based VocalPassword as a platform and integrating the client-based Mobile VocalPassword presents significant market opportunities.

Mobile Banking… Anywhere, Anytime
PerSay is working with YeSpeech (YES) (Korea) (www.yespeech.com) to deliver advanced technologies to financial services companies that want to offer their customers a full range of mobile banking services available anywhere and anytime.

YES provides IVR and speech recognition systems to leading financial services and telecommunications providers in Korea.

Given the rising threat of identity theft, many consumers are reluctant to engage in online financial transactions involving their bank or credit card accounts. This is bad for business and, hence, economic vitality, so efforts are being made to make transactions initiated from all channels (landline phone, cell phone, desktop, laptop, mobile device) more secure and convenient.

With voice-enabled banking powered by PerSay, customers will be able to securely check account balances, transfer money, or invest in a mutual fund using their cell phones, as well as the Internet accessed from a desktop or laptop. In an out-of-bandwidth situation, before the self-service transaction is initiated, the customer will automatically receive a callback from the bank for speaker verification using PerSay voice biometrics. During the enrollment process, the customer can choose to receive an authentication callback or complete verification via a computer microphone.   

“As enterprises, particularly financial services companies, continue to expand their service offerings to customers through additional channels, including a growing number of mobile devices, the need for multi-factor authentication becomes a necessity to protect the company and the customer from financial fraud, identity theft and privacy breaches,” explains Almog Aley-Raz, PerSay CEO.