Voice Assist Introduces Handsfree Two-Way Texting

LAKE FOREST, Calif., Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Voice Assist, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: VSST), a leading developer of hosted speech services and voice "in-application" technology, today announced the commercial release of Voice Assist Standard complete with two-way texting.  Voice Assist empowers consumers to text by voice from any phone or device to any phone or wireless connected device, even mobile phones without a text plan.  This enables individuals who are driving or have their hands busy to receive a text by voice and reply, remaining handsfree for maximum safety.

The number of mobile phone subscriptions worldwide reached 4.6 billion in 2010 and is expected to increase to five billion this year, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).  In addition, about five billion text messages are sent each month in the U.S., up from 2.8 billion a year ago, according to the wireless trade association CTIA.   

Cultural factors also play a role in text messaging's surge. Teenagers have made it a routine way to communicate. About 63 percent of Americans from ages 18 to 27 text message, according to a Pew Internet & American Life Project survey out in March 2010. Those teens are bringing texting to their parents — or are moving into the workforce and texting with older colleagues. Now 31 percent of cell phone owners ages 28 to 39 use text, and 18 percent of those 40 to 49 do, Pew reports.

"We are excited to be eliminating the barriers of communication and the generation gap," said Michael Metcalf, CEO of Voice Assist.  "With over four billion mobile phones, text messaging is becoming the number one data application of all time.  Because Voice Assist is a cloud-based program, the program works on any phone or device and on any network.  Now teens can text their parents and grandparents, and their parents and grandparents can listen and send a text back using any mobile phone or even the same old landline phone they've owned for years.  The executive in the boardroom can send a text using a Blackberry and his wife can receive it by voice while driving the kids to soccer practice.  Now anyone can send a text to anyone else – all by using simple voice commands."

The National Safety Council estimates that at least 28 percent of all traffic crashes – or at least 1.6 million crashes each year – are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting. NSC estimates that 1.4 million crashes each year are caused by drivers using cell phones and a minimum of 200,000 additional crashes each year are caused by drivers who are texting.  With Voice Assist, users can keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road while sending and responding to text messages.

Voice Assist Standard is available for $4.95 per month and enables users to make calls, manage e-mails, send and receive text messages, and post to social networks such as Facebook and Twitter by voice commands.  Voice Assist Premium Plus is available for $14.95 per month and includes all the features of Voice Assist Standard plus Chatter by Voice, enabling users to post to Chatter and Salesforce.com.

About Voice Assist, Inc.

Headquartered in Lake Forest, Calif., Voice Assist is a hosted speech services company that enables voice in any application, network and device.  The company's cloud-based speech platform eliminates the need to use a keyboard or keypad to interact, and enables users to communicate, connect or transact using any application on any phone or device.  The Voice Assist platform includes a fast and safe way to make calls, manage your e-mails, send text messages and post to social networks such as Facebook and Twitter by voice commands and provides a scalable solution for developers to add voice to any application.

For more information on the company, visit http://www.voiceassist.com.

Forward-Looking Statement: The statements in this press release regarding any implied or perceived benefits from the commercial release of Voice Assist Standard with two-way texting or our technology are forward-looking statements. Statements such as "…and is expected to increase to five billion this year, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)."; and "…text messaging is becoming the number one data application of all time."; involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, functionality of our technology, and any other difficulties related to risks and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulation, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, and the ability to manage and continue growth.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include market conditions and those set forth in reports or documents we file from time to time with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE Voice Assist, Inc.