AdelaVoice Hires Alex Kurganov as Chief Technology Officer

BOSTON, Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- AdelaVoice, the developer of StartTalking, the award-winning eyes- and hands-free mobile phone solution, today announced that it has hired experienced technologist Alex Kurganov as its new Chief Technical Officer (CTO). As CTO, Kurganov will be responsible for developing the AdelaVoice platform technology, technical strategy, implementation and leading its technology team. This includes expanding the capabilities of StartTalking and developing AdelaVoice's Conversations Services portfolio, as well as creating innovative new speech driven technology, products and services that drive its market growth.

"Alex has the perfect mix of technological brilliance and managerial experience, and his background as a VoIP, Voice XML and IVR expert is particularly important to AdelaVoice," said CEO Chris Hassett. "In order to successfully drive product innovation and market growth, AdelaVoice needs to build partnerships for its technology platforms. I'm counting on Alex to provide that kind of technology prowess and engineering leadership."

Kurganov is responsible for expanding the world of applications and services that provided the basis for StartTalking, the world's first smartphone application that lets motorists send and receive text messages while keeping their eyes on the road and hands upon the wheel.

Kurganov has more than 20 years of telecommunications and Internet industry experience as a software executive, inventor, system architect and developer building advanced software systems for such companies as Motorola, Kodak and Ardis. In 1997 Alex co-founded Webley Systems and, serving in the CTO role, led the development of the first in the industry speech enabled Unified Communications platform and applications.

Kurganov holds nine U.S. Patents. He earned an MS in Computer Science from the Institute of Technical Cybernetics, Academy of Sciences; and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Polytechnical Institute in the former USSR.  Kurganov moved to AdelaVoice's new office in downtown Boston early in October.

"As a long-time enthusiast and supporter of next-generation communications, I'm thrilled by the opportunity to help drive the evolution of AdelaVoice," Kurganov said. "I'm joining a great team, and the challenge is both exciting and daunting!"

About AdelaVoice

Headquartered in Boston, AdelaVoice inspires the development of creative solutions for mobile phones and smart devices by enabling a natural conversation between devices and owners, harvesting intent and initiating action. The company, backed by Stage 1 Ventures, was founded in 2010 and launched StartTalking, the world's first true 100 percent hands-free and eyes-free messaging application for your mobile phone. For more information, visit www.starttalking.com.

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SOURCE AdelaVoice