| A voice portal (sometimes referred to as a vortal) is
a Web site or other service that a user can reach by telephone for information
such as weather, sport scores, or stock quotes. For example, a mobile user
with a cellular telephone might dial in to a voice portal Web site and request
information using voice or Touchtone keys and receive the requested information
from a special voice-producing program at the Web site. Whereas a user with
a smartphone can connect to the Internet and get information on a small
visual display (perhaps with a WAP interface), the user of a voice portal
needs only a regular cellular phone. After requesting information by speaking
or pressing keys, the voice portal responds with voice information or, in
some cases, with an e-mail message. |