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Voice Biometrics IntelliviewSolutions to Optichannel Challenges »
Published June 2017 © Opus Research, Inc. All rights reserved.
»June 2017Dan Miller, Lead Analyst & Founder, Opus ResearchRavin Sanjith, Program Lead, Intelligent Authentication
Opus Research, Inc.350 Brannan St., Suite 340San Francisco, CA 94107
www.opusresearch.net
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| Report »
Voice Biometrics IntelliviewSolutions to Optichannel Challenges »
In this report, Opus Research provides enterprise executives competitive context
for 19 firms offering authentication solutions that include voice biometrics. In recent
years, dramatic changes have taken place in both technology capabilities and market
dynamics for voice biometrics solution providers. This document, with a comprehensive list of company dossiers, provides a single point of reference to
understand the competitive differences for companies offering software, services or
platforms for voice-based authentication.
Voice Biometrics Intelliview
Table of Contents
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»Meeting the Optichannel Authentication Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Understanding the Need for Optichannel Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Optichannel’s Impact on Authentication Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Comparison of Authentication Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Roster of Solutions Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Seamless Authentication for Better User Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
New Intelliview Maps: Criteria for Competitive Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Solution Maps by Application Domain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Contact Center Authentication: Where It All Began . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Contact Center Fraud Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Device-based and Embedded Mobile Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Why Now? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Appendix A - Company Dossiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Auraya Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
BioTrust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Daon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
ImageWare Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Interactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
iovation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
NICE Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Nuance Communications, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
OneVault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Phoenexia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Pindrop Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Sensory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
SESTEK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Spitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
STC Group | SpeechPro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Verint Systems, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Voice Biometrics Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
VoicePIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
VoiceVault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Table of Tables
Figure 1: The Optichannel Evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Figure 2: Options Evolving in Parallel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Figure 3: Firms included in this report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Figure 4: Contact Center Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Figure 5: Contact Center Fraud Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Figure 6: Device-Based/Mobile Auth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
Meeting the Optichannel Authentication Challenge
In October 2012, Opus Research issued the first “Voice Biometrics Vendor Survey and Intelliview” to provide
enterprise executives a single document with dossiers describing the companies offering software, services or
platforms for voice-based authentication . In May of the following year, we updated the document to capture
significant changes in the competitive landscape and to present information on competing solutions providers
in a structured way .
In the past four years, we’ve witnessed dramatic changes in technological capabilities and requirements, as well
as market dynamics . The group of companies offering their own “voice biometric engines” to support
“enrollment” of voiceprints for speaker identification and authentication is much shorter, thanks to consolidation
and attrition . At the same time a community of solutions providers; many are resellers, integrators or channel
partners to core engine providers, have emerged to define and fulfill new requirements and grow the market .
Understanding the Need for Optichannel AuthenticationLet’s start with defining “Optichannel .” It is a term that evolved over the years as individuals require trusted
communications links to support transactions and commerce that they carry out using their preferred, personal
devices (usually smartphones) at the times of their choosing .
Figure 1: The Optichannel Evolution
Source: Opus Research (2017)
At the dawn of the 21st century, both marketing and customer care executives recognized that customers
and prospects were using a multiplicity of devices and modes of communications to contact their personnel
and resources . They launched their first “multichannel” offerings in fully defensive mode, to make sure that
they didn’t miss an opportunity to make contact with individuals .
Roughly five years into the new century, leading brands launched “omnichannel” marketing and support
strategies, using such techniques as predictive analytics and “warm transfer” from virtual chat to live chat
agents, to live reps in a call center to provide a consistent and pleasing experience as individual customers
pursued their personal path or “journey .”
MultichannelDevice of Choice
Channel of Choice Voice or Text
OmnichannelIntegrate mobile apps
“Warm Transfer” Orchestration of Activity
Optichannel“Opt” means Choice“Opti” means Best
Authenticated individuals
=====> =====>
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
The next step in customer engagement evolutionary ladder is “Optichannel” . The word’s first syllable is “Opt,”
meaning “to choose .” This is because each individual, by his or her action, makes a choice of preferred device,
medium and mode of communication . The word also includes “Opti-“ as in “Optimum” (Latin for “best”)
indicating that they, by definition, choose the best channel to suit their immediate context and situation .
Optichannel’s Impact on Authentication RequirementsOptichannel marketing and commerce drive demand for voice-based authentication because a growing
proportion of digital commerce starts by conversing with a virtual assistant, traditionally IVR, but more recently like Alexa or Google Assistant; where they appear to live “inside” a wireless speaker, car radio or smart phone .
Voice biometrics will enable them to identify and authenticate individual users to both simplify and personalize
search, shopping and purchasing .
Figure 2: Options Evolving in Parallel
Source: Opus Research (2017)
As depicted in Figure 2 above, applications and deployments of voice biometric resources have evolved in
parallel, related universes . Contact centers and IVRs were the starting point and over 150 million
individuals have enrolled their voiceprints primarily shorten authentication-time on phone calls . Still, as we
enter 2017 there are over 2 billion smartphones in use around the world and each is capable of supporting
a wide spectrum of biometric-based authentication; primarily fingerprints, face and voice . Solution
providers in the Mobile space fall into two categories: Remote and Embedded . Remote matching
predominates in voice biometrics today, which means that voiceprints are stored in a centralized
database . The device captures spoken words and transmits them to the remote resource for comparison
to a stored template .
Under an “Embedded” architecture, voiceprints are stored on the device . Matching and scoring takes
place locally . Sensory is the longest standing provider of embedded voice-based authentication .
Hybrid
Cloud
Premises-based
Agent-assisted
IVR-prompted
Contact Center
Com
ple
xity
Embedded
Activate+ Authenticate
Voice +Face
Single-Factor
Mobile
Market Segments
Del
iver
y O
ptio
ns Friction Free
Continuous
Risk aware
Rules-based
Personal
Optichannel
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
Another consideration is whether a solution provider relies on internally-developed voice biometrics resources .
In our first Intelliview, we looked exclusively at the providers who built products and services, and deployed
their own voice biometric engines . At that time, we looked primarily at the use of those engines for caller
authentication . Today, some of the largest solutions providers for Contact Center-based authentication and fraud
detection are resellers or integrators of other company’s engines .
Comparison of Authentication OptionsThe range of authentication methods has evolved continuously over time, with ever-increasing options as
technologies continue to emerge . As can be expected, these evolutions are accompanied by terminology and nomenclature that often confuses and complicates matters . The comparison chart below provides a
comprehensive schedule of the key elements to contextualize the realtionships between the most basic
authentication factor (something you HAVE), to simple second factor like PINs and passwords (something you
KNOW) through to biometrics (something you ARE) .
National ID's/Drivers Licenses/Cards& Other Docs
Physical Tokens PIN/Pwd Challenge Questions Finger Voice Facial Eye/Iris/Retina
Theft High High None None None/Low None None None/LowCloning/Copying High Low/Med High High Med Low/Med Med LowDiscovery/Guessability None Low High High None Low/Med None None/LowBrute Force None Low High Med Med Low Med MedEavesdropping None Low High Med None Low None NoneHacking/Cracking/Breach Med (Images) Low/Med High Low Med Low Low LowPhishing None Low Med High Low None Low LowVishing None Low High High None Low None NoneSmishing/Malware Med None High High None None None NoneSharing High Med High High Low Low Low LowSocial Engineering None None Low High Low None Med LowFalse Positive Risk Med None None Med Low Low Low/Med Low
Error Drivers/Weaknesses Counterfeiting Inconvenience Guessability Easily Obtainable Dirt, Aging Noise, Twins & Multiples
Lighting, Age, Glasses
Lighting, Proximity, Glasses
Enrolment/Registration Difficult Difficult Difficult/Med Med Easy Easy Easy Easy/MedVerification Difficult Easy Med Med Easy Easy Easy EasyMemorability N/A Easy Difficult Difficult N/A N/A N/A N/ADigital Channel (Mobile) Difficult Difficult/Med Med Med Easy Easy Easy MedDigital Channel (Other) Difficult Easy Easy Easy Med Med Difficult DifficultTelephone Channel Not Available Not Available Difficult Difficult Not Available Easy Not Available Not AvailableHardware Costraints N/A Med Easy Easy Bespoke Microphone Camera Lens Camera LensEnvironment Constraints N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Med Med MedUser Effort Difficult Easy Med Difficult Active Active/Passive Passive Active
Notes:1. You cannot 'steal' an identity or password as it still exists - you can however clone/copy it2. The schedule relates to commercial applications; excludes e-Government (law enforcement, etc) which would include DNA, Dental etc.
1st Factor 2nd Factor 3rd Factor
Secu
rity/
Vuln
erab
ility
t o F
raud
Ease
of U
se /
C o
nven
ienc
e
something you HAVE something you KNOW something you ARE
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
Roster of Solutions Providers
Figure 3: Firms included in this report
Source: Opus Research (2017)
It is in the contact center that big financial services companies, telcos and government agencies were shown that the technologies are reliable at scales that can exceed 20 million customers for a single installation . Figure
2 illustrates that many of the firms whose engines power solutions in the “core” contact center domain and also have offerings that support mobile authentication .
Some have developed SDKs that support voice authentication on mobile devices through secure links to their
authentication engines, such as Biotrust, Nuance, Sestek and VoiceVault do . SpeechPro, with its VoiceKey line
of products supports speaker authentication in Contact Centers as well as mobile based authentication as part
of a two-factor approach called OnePass, which integrates face recognition . Biotrust and Nuance voice
authentication services have been integrated into mobile devices as a single factor, or as part of multifactor
approaches . VoiceVault has offered a package of mobile voice authentication capabilities under the name ViGo
since 2014 .
Nuance’s VocalPassword has been integrated into a number of mobile apps, and it has also been part of
multi-factor approaches such as the one offered by USAA for members using its mobile app .
Company Notes
Auraya/ArmorVox Global voice biometrics OEM
BioTrust VoiceTrust plus USoft
Daon IdentityX platform for multiple biometrics
Interactions IP is AT&T Watson
iovation Device-based fraud prevention network
NICE Ltd . Incorporates “passive” VB into Real Time Auth
Nuance Largest population of voiceprints
OneVault South African SaaS-based VB Specialist
Phonexia Eastern European VB solutions provider
Pindrop Systems Patent on “phoneprinting” technology
Sestek Speech Processing
Spitch Swiss-based, focus on work automation
Verint Acquired Victrio for fraud prevention
Voice Biometrics Group Small-medium use cases
VoicePin Broad offerings: Contact Center, IoT, Mobile
VoiceVault Presence in mobile and Contact Center
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
Self-described “biometric innovator” Daon provides the framework that enables end-users to choose among
fingerprint (through Apple’s TouchID), face recognition or voice as the most convenient authentication factor .
Convenient choice among multiple factors is also the hallmark of Sensory, a long-time provider of “embedded”
resources for speech recognition, speaker identification and face recognition . Indeed, Sensory is unique among
the companies under investigation in this report because it is the only one that does on-device pattern matching,
meaning that the templates reside in the devices' memory and comparison takes place without relying on a data
communications link to a remote authentication application . Sensory has also been able to integrate its “wake
up word” technology with its embedded suite of capabilities, thus enabling a single utterance, initially “Hello
Blue Genie” to initiate a server while authenticating the end-user .
Biotrust offers voice-based authentication on mobile devices either as a single factor or taking a multi-factor
approach that includes face recognition . Authentication takes an API-based approach to its authentication
engine that is reached through a secure data connection . Nuance supports a multi-factor approach to mobile
authentication
The next wave of solutions, which we refer to as “Mobile & Multifactor” were represented in our earlier Intelliview
in the course of discussing go-to-market partners and product specialists, like Sensory, whose software and
firmware were designed specifically to be embedded in mobile devices with a small “footprint” for additional
code and low tolerance for functions or applications that consumed battery life .
Seamless Authentication for Better User ExperienceThere are dozens of companies in the Identity and Access Management domain that have more than a passing
interest in voice biometrics . RSA, Oracle, Microsoft, Cisco and IBM Security stand out as companies that are
major players in the secure identity space . Likewise, Facebook, Google, Twitter, Amazon and a handful of
large e-commerce firms with millions of users and a need to promote simple establishment of secure, trusted
communications links have an active interest in this space, also known as “social sign-on” .
They are also joined by specialist firms like Jainrain, Gigya, OneLogIn, Centrify, Ping Identity and a few others
that promise “consumer-facing” log-in services . While these companies will, in Opus Research’s opinion, have
to embrace some form of biometric authentication in the near term, they do not have products that explicitly
include voice biometrics among the authentication factors that they support .
New Intelliview Maps: Criteria for Competitive Evaluation To assist decision makers in evaluating competing solutions providers, Opus Research represents their
positioning in a series of “Intelliview Maps,” that reflect the relative position of solution providers based on
a number of key criteria . Voice is now one of many factors (biometric and other) that banks, brands and
service providers use to support friction-free, risk and context-aware authentication across a multiplicity of
communications channels . As depicted in Figure 1, authentication solutions that include voice biometrics have
necessarily changed, and are no longer dedicated exclusively to voice biometrics-based solutions .
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
Even so, the criteria that Opus Research originally employed to support comparisons of market participants
remain highly relevant, even though the meanings have, in all cases, shifted to put emphasis on a technology
provider’s ability to integrate into context-aware, multichannel environments .
In reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6 that follow, the x-axis of the maps reflects “Market Position,” which, looking
exclusively at voice biometrics, reflects the success that the company has had in building an impressive roster
of corporate customers and a correspondingly large number of enrolled “protected users” or a database of
voiceprints .
The y-axis refers to “Breadth of Offering” . In the original Intelliview (Opus Research, October 2013), this term
referred almost exclusively to the robustness of voice processing capabilities, constrained to text-dependent
authentication and imposter detection . Today the wingspan of voice biometric-based offerings includes passive
(text-independent) enrollment and authentication, integration with “Risk Engines” or other rules-based analytic
resources that set thresholds based on massive amounts of contextual data and metadata .
The size of the ovals on the Intelliview reflect two, all-important factors:
Financial Strength – Solution providers in these secure, mission-critical environments must show staying
power and the wherewithal to indemnify their customers should failure lead to fraud loss or have other negative impact on a company’s reputation . In our dossiers, we pay attention to the longevity of a company, the size of its employee base and technical support staff and revenues (if available) . All have an
impact on the company’s ability to fulfill on commitments and all-important SLAs (Service Level
Agreements) .
Partnerships and Positioning – This category takes on special importance as successful implementations reflect seamless integration with IVR, Contact Center, Web, Mobile and Digital Commerce software
infrastructure . “Friction-free” authentication, interactions and transactions result from deep integration with existing resources that result from working relationships that are the product of strong business
relationships .
As decision makers evaluate their options, they do so in the context of the explosive growth of digital
commerce carried out over conversational platforms by a sophisticated set of customers . They seek holistic
solutions that support “optichannel authentication”, meaning that customers choose (“opt for”) the best
(“optimal”) device or medium to support their immediate needs .
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »Solution Maps by Application DomainIn this section, Opus Research provides graphics below that depict the relative size and positioning of solution
providers in specific domains for voice biometrics . The three principal areas under study are:
Contact Center Authentication (Figure 4): including both text-dependent (active) and text-independent(passive) enrollment of voiceprints to be matched with spoken utterances from callers into contact center settings .
Contact Center Fraud Detection (Figure 5): comparing spoken words from callers against a database or
“watchlist” of known or suspected fraudsters for the purpose of reducing or eliminating contact center-
based fraud losses .
Device-based/Mobile Authentication (Figure 6): fast-growing sector that includes employing voice prints to
replace or augment user name/password combos, PINs or facial recognition for device or service activation .
(In our graphic, we put solutions providers into three categories: “With Own Engine,” “Integration Frameworks” and “Embedded” .)
Contact Center Authentication: Where It All BeganAll of the solution providers in the original Intelliview offered authentication solutions to be deployed in contact
centers . This year’s map reflects the fact that, over the years, Nuance has successfully acquired and integrated
the product lines, personnel and intellectual property developed by PerSay, Agnitio and Loquendo with its other
voice biometric, mobile and intelligent assistant resources to put it solidly in the “up-and-to-the-right” sector .
As the Figure 4 map depicts, Nuance is now challenged by NICE Systems, which has found success for its Real
Time Authentication products and services, especially in the Asia-Pacific region . For its largest installations, NICE
licenses its core engine from Nuance, but has a wide range of call recording and speech analytics resources that
it has developed over the years and incorporating internally-developed voice authentication is a possibility .
The next wave of competitors is a group of seven companies led by Biotrust, the company created by the merger
between enterprise software integrator USoft and long-time voice biometrics specialist VoiceTrust; and by Verint,
NICE Systems’ chief rival in the call recording and analytics domain .
They are joined by Interactions, which acquired its voice biometrics assets as part of the AT&T Watson portfolio .
All are integrated into Interactions Curo platform which supports automated speech recognition, text-to-speech
and virtual agent software, as well as long-standing, but relatively smaller companies, including Turkish speech
technology specialist SESTEK, which has enrolled millions of voiceprints for telecommunications companies and
banks in Turkey and the Middle East and is now gearing up for global expansion; and Armorvox, which takes a
highly flexible approach to solutions implementation and an aggressive strategy on pricing .
In the “Niche Players” sphere is VoiceVault, which has its own voice biometrics engine but most aggressively
pursues mobile opportunities . Spitch, VoicePIN and OneVault are voice biometrics specialists that have
established significant market share in their chosen geographic regions .
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
Figure 4: Contact Center Authentication
Source: Opus Research (2017)
Contact Center Fraud DetectionThe number of firms offering products and services in this market segment attests to the perception that this is
the largest area of opportunity . A number of large financial companies have built their business plan for Voice
Biometrics based on eliminating fraud .
A number of solutions providers have obliged by building solutions that integrate voiceprints for known and suspected fraudsters with a number of other unique attributes for a call, such as line characteristics, device
profiles, automated number identification and the like .
These solution providers do not always have their own engines and will rely on voice biometric technologies
from other solutions providers . Leadership is determined by market share and span of services offered . The Challengers category reflects both span of product, geographic footprint and network of resellers and
integrators . Niche players have confined their efforts based on product and geographic focus .
Market Position
Bre
adth
of O
fferin
g Niche Players LeadersChallengers
NICE
Nuance
Verint
InteractionsBiotrust
Voicevault
SESTEK
Phonexia
ArmorvoxOneVault
Spitch
VoicePIN
Strong/Substantial Standard Limited/Local
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
Figure 5: Contact Center Fraud Detection
Source: Opus Research (2017)
Device-based and Embedded Mobile AuthenticationMobile is a fast-growing demand driver for voice based authentication . Ideally, in an “optichannel” delivery
model, end-users are given the ability to choose which factor to invoke . Sometimes it is a matter of common
sense . You don’t use voice in a noisy room or facial recognition in the dark . There is also a demand for solutions
that work even when a device is not connected to a network, hence the pattern matching and scoring
resources are “embedded” as hardware or firmware on the device itself .
Nuance, with NINA ID, is a leader in the non-embedded category while Sensory is the undisputed leader among
embedded category with hundreds of millions of installations . In between are leaders like Daon, which has a
number of high-profile “wins” among commercial banks, challenger banks and financial services companies
around the world .
Each is joined in their category by innovative companies that have frameworks or mechanisms for including
voiceprints as an authentication tool on mobile devices .
Market Position
Bre
adth
of O
fferin
g
Niche Players LeadersChallengers
Spitch
OneVault
Interactions
Verint
Strong/Substantial Standard Limited/Local
Pindrop
NICE
Nuance
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
Figure 6: Device-Based/Mobile Auth
Source: Opus Research (2017)
Why Now?2017 represents a “Triple Witching Hour” for voice biometric implementations . Usually that term refers to the
last hour of certain Fridays (in March, June, September and December) when the price of a company’s stock is
impacted by the expiration of three related derivatives (stock options, stock market index options and
stock market index futures) . For voice biometrics, the three external factors are:
high growth of mobile/digital commerce on a global basis,
rapid-fire move into large scale contact center implementation at major financial companies, and
geographic expansion and a drive toward rapid, seamless authentication of individuals talking to agrowing number of microphone-equipped devices in homes, autos and public venues .
Intelligent Assistance to support mobile and digital commerce drives demand for technologies that promote
simple authentication of end-users and rapid recognition of fraudsters and imposters . As illustrated by the slope
of the curve portraying the number of individuals who have enrolled their voiceprints to support voice-based
authentication, a growing number of banks, telecommunications companies, government agencies and brands
have found that the unique attributes of an individual’s utterances are very much up to those aforementioned
tasks .
Market Position
Bre
adth
of O
fferin
g
Embedded With Own EngineIntegration Frameworks
Nuance
Verint
DaonSensory
Biotrust
VBG
VoicevaultImagewareSystems
Iovation
Veridium
Cirrus
Strong/Substantial Standard Limited/Local
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
Appendix A - Company Dossiers
Auraya (ArmorVox)
BioTrust
Daon
ImageWare Systems
Interactions
iovation
NICE
Nuance
OneVault
Phonexia
Pindrop
Sensory
Sestek
SpeechPro
Spitch
Voice Biometrics Group
VoicePin
VoiceVault
Verint
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
Auraya Systems
Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
Total number of employees: 10 (part of a business with over 200 employees)
Revenues: private
Year founded: 2006
Web Site: http://armorvox .com/
Company Description:
Auraya Systems, developers of ArmorVox™ Speaker Identity System, is a global expert on voice authentication
solutions . Its voice biometrics software and services are delivered worldwide to government agencies, financial
services, healthcare, mobile and telecommunications companies, in partnership with a network of resellers and
systems integrators .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics:
Auraya sees voice biometric available as “a standard feature” of systems supporting customer service across all
channels . Adoption will be driven by business cases for the various verticals . Banking/financial services lead the
way with compliance and fraud in call centers driving adoptions, but also increased demand for good customer
service . Fraud and identity authentication could become service offerings from new age “over-the-top” (OTT)
telecom platforms .
Product Offerings:
Core offering is Amorvox™16, which it terms “the world’s only Universal Core Voice Biometric Engine” for
system integrators . A single license for the ArmorVox™16 engine supports either “passive” or prompted
authentication, Using either text-independent or text-dependent protocols . It also supports speaker identification
and gender detection .
Its network of resellers and distribution partners includes: Salmat (AU), Connect Managed Services (UK) .
Identico (UK), Inference (AU), Shadowtrack (US), Core Security (US), Telstra (AU), Nuamedia (AU), EasySol (US),
Voice Innovate (CA), Maximum Network Solutions (UK) .
Pricing
Annual software license . No transaction charges . Pricing flexible depending on commercial/business commercial
requirement (i .e . value pricing) and varies by size of implementation .
Intellectual Property
Auraya Systems owns all technology and intellectual property with 20 patents; some granted, some pending in
U .S ., Australia, Canada, UK, and China .
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
Auraya Systems Key Differentiators:
One Product focus: Single software system licensed for all anticipated modalities,
applications and use cases.
Global Channel partnering strategy: Low cost for support and maintenance. Optimized for
multiple languages
Proprietary speaker adaptive core voice biometrics algorithms set the optimum threshold
for each individual voiceprint enrolled in the system automatically.
Part of a partner-friendly community, refer partners, and offer flexible pricing models.
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Voice Biometrics Intelliview »
BioTrust
Headquarters: Naarden, The Netherlands (Additional offices in UK, Serbia)
Total number of employees: 50+ employees (50% dedicated to R&D)
Revenues: Not reported, privately-owned company
Year founded: BioTrust is part of USoft Group (founded in 1986) . BioTrust brand established 2012
Web Site: http://www .biotrustid .com
Company Description:
BioTrust is a global provider of multimodal biometric authentication solutions, combining contextual awareness
with physical properties such a voice and facial features to verify users’ identities . in the context of improving
customer experience while protecting personal data and identity . Seamless integration with parent company
USoft’s integration platform allows for easy implementation of multi-factor authentication solutions across
existing processes, systems and infrastructures .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
Biometrics is the way forward for smart authentication . Multiple biometric factors are moving further toward
mainstream implementations in predictable patterns:
• Face and finger will dominate mobile devices
• Voice will dominate off-line and “non-face-to-face” use cases (e.g. call centers)
Primary reasons for using biometrics will go far beyond traditional fraud prevention and cover the range from
security to user convenience . As a result, user name and password will be phased out due to increased security
risks and growing perception that they are cumbersome . Multi-factor authentication comprised of one or more
biometrics as primary factor combined with rich varieties in step-up and continuous authentication applications
will become the standard . Authentication as a Service (AaaS) will start to receive more attention by organizations
reconsidering their authentication strategies
Product Offerings
BioTrust Authentication Technology platform is biometric agnostic, with standard biometric face and
voice solutions . Additional verifiers such as fingerprint, iris scan and any other type of biometric and non-
biometric verifiers can be plugged into the platform . Applications that are supported include IVR-based caller
authentication, passive and active voice authentication, transaction and identity provisioning application, mobile/
smartphone app authentication and stand-alone face biometrics . BioTrust supports both on premises and cloud
based implementations . Most implementations are on premises .
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PricingBioTrust applies a software-as-a-service (SaaS) pricing model such as a pay use or pay per user . On-premise
models are determined on a case-by-case basis . Partners: Capgemini, IBM, Avertim, Ilionx, Schiphol . More
in-depth information on the pricing structure will be provides upon request by potential clients .
Intellectual Property
BioTrust utilizes IP and patents for transactional and identity provisioning platform, including multimodal
biometric authentication, as well as standard biometric verifiers .
Biotrust Key Differentiators:
Single platform for easy management of all authentication requirements and factors,
existing and new.
Open multimodal biometric transaction and identity provisioning platform provides
complete integration with existing processes, systems and architecture.
Comprehensive identity provisioning capability (based on SAML 2.0), seamless integration
with our own face and voice verifiers. Fingerprint, iris scan and other biometric and non-
biometric verifiers can be easily plugged into the platform.
Special attention to privacy and guidance on compliance to laws and regulation surrounding
use of biometric data.
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Daon
Headquarters: 11911 Freedom Dr ., Reston, VA (offices in Dublin, Canberra)
Total number of employees: 95 full time + contractors
Revenues: Not reported, privately-owned company
Year founded: 2000
Web Site: https://www .daon .com/
Company Description:
Daon is a provider of identity assurance software products focused on government and commercial
organizations worldwide . Its software has been selected to manage more than 500 million identities worldwide .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
No single security factor is a silver bullet and different contexts may call for a variety of protective measures,
including a choice of biometric . Daon therefore recommends that its clients use IdentityX as a platform in which
technologies of today and future innovations can easily and flexibly be applied to the right solution at the right
time . Currently, Daon offers face, voice, fingerprint and eye vein modalities with IdentityX, but can quickly and
easily add new biometrics as they are commercially available .
The IdentityX Platform provides choice of modalities that best fit strategic and situational needs . Voice
biometrics in particular is well suited to use-cases in which customers are in quiet environments .
Product Offerings
Of special interest in the context of this report is Daon’s IdentityX Platform, which provides its customers
freedom to integrate existing security systems into an overall security scheme with the choice to add new
technologies as they become available .
Pricing
Charges an annual per user license, actual amounts not disclosed but it declines based tiers of end-users .
Publicly-known resellers or go-to-market partners include: CSC, NAFCU, EyeVerify, Equiniti, SMFG, SMBC, NTT
Data and KoSAC . There are many others
Intellectual Property
Daon holds 16 patents associated with IdentityX . Its approach is “algorithm agnostic”, which means it enables
its customers to use the best biometric algorithms available on the market . Its actions are dictated by its own
proprietary algorithms .
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Daon Key Differentiators:
Software platform is device agnostic and algorithm agnostic.
IdentityX Platform comes standard with multiple biometrics, with ability to add additional
biometrics as they become available.
Multiple deployment options: on-premises or on-device matching options to fit customer’s
needs, as well as a hosted cloud-based service if requested.
Longevity and geographic span: Large-scale deployment experience with customers on 5
continents, excluding only Antarctica; has been using biometrics to establish trust for more
than 15 years and have managed hundreds-of-millions of identities worldwide.
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ImageWare Systems
Headquarters: San Diego, CA (offices in Portland, OR, Mexico, Ottawa
Total number of employees: 51-100
Revenues: Estimated $4 million
Year founded: 2000 (initial public offering 2012)
Web Site: https://www .iwsinc .com/
Company Description:
ImageWare Systems develops identity management solutions by providing biometric, secure credential and law
enforcement technologies . ImageWare’s identification products are used to manage and issue secure credentials
including national IDs, passports, driver’s licenses, smart cards and access control credentials . Products reside
at the intersection of cloud computing, smart devices and ID management .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
ImageWare’s products support multi-modal biometric authentication supporting (but not limited to) face, voice,
fingerprint, eye, DNA, and others .
Product Offerings
GoVerifyID Suite is flagship product . Latest packaging, GoVerifyNow, leverages the companies long-standing
experience with biometric capture (primarily “selfies” for face recognition) and offers it on a Software as a
Service (SaaS) basis . On-device and “in-the-cloud” matching are both offered .
Pricing
Flexible pricing . Both annual licenses and activity/match based .
Intellectual Property
Lists nine patents describing several aspects of multifactor and biometric authentication, including anonymous
enrollment, identification and authentication; remediation of datasets; and database search and management . It
does not have its own voice biometrics engine .
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ImageWare Systems Key Differentiators:
� Mobile-workforce friendly - User authentication logins are possible for a tablet or laptop even when disconnected from a corporate network. Additionally, offers a consistent user authentication experience across all login environments.
� Hybrid cloud - Linked from the cloud to an enterprise’s Microsoft infrastructure and is backward compatible with Windows 7, 8 and 10. As an SaaS-based solution, it can scale to process hundreds of millions of transactions and store just as many biometrics.
� Seamless integration - Suite is a snap-in to the Microsoft Management console and can be centrally managed at the server. Additionally, the solution allows for seamless movement as it integrates with Active Directory using an organization’s existing Microsoft security infrastructure.
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Interactions LLC
Headquarters: Franklin, MA (USA)
Total number of employees: 345
Revenues: Private company
Year founded: 2004
Web Site: http: //www .interactions .com
Company Description:
Interactions combines Adaptive Understanding™ technology with Virtual Assistant solutions and human
intelligence to improve the way businesses and their customers communicate . It helps people have natural,
open conversations with the brands they trust – when, how and where they want .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
Interactions believes that Voice biometrics will replace fingerprints for biometric authentications . Its strategic
vision is to enhance the usability and effectiveness of its full portfolio of Intelligent Voice Virtual Assistant to
provide secure and convenient caller authentication across industries and channels, including web, mobile
apps and others . It will add fraud detection (Blacklist/ANI spoofing detection), as well as voice signatures, either
through internal development or partnerships .
Product Offerings
Interactions Voice Biometrics is integrated with the flagship Curo platform . It provides fast, simple and safe
authentication for enterprise customers and eliminates the need for cumbersome passwords and PINs . The
combination of Interactions Intelligent Virtual Assistant and Voice Biometrics provides brands with a secure
authentication layer for account access and making everyday transactions both easy and convenient .
Pricing
Software license fee based on number of unique enrollments .
Intellectual Property
The company has its own voice biometrics engine, via CURO speech and natural language platform . It also has
seven patents issued or pending .
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Interactions Key Differentiators:
Natural Complement to Voice Virtual Assistant. Platform build with unified interactions to
Curo Speech and Language Platform. Voice biometrics technology developed in concert
with Curo ASR. Paring both brings high levels of accuracy and performance.
Simple integration – After collecting user consent to enroll, no IT involvement/equipment
purchase required
Passive enrollment with less than 10 seconds of audio needed to enroll new users and the
same to authenticate callers
� Adaptive technology “makes the voiceprints stronger with every call”, to combat
temporary voice changes, aging etc.
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iovation
Headquarters: Portland, OR
Total number of employees: ~140
Revenues: Not reported, privately-owned company
Year founded: 2004
Web Site: www .iovation .com
Company Description:
Iovation provides online businesses and their global end users with device-based authentication and mobile
security solutions for fraud and risk prevention . It protects its customers through a combination of advanced
device identification, shared device reputation, and real-time risk evaluation . It helps online businesses reduce
financial losses from fraud and abuse while increasing operational efficiency . The company also provides a
shared platform which enables businesses to benefit from the collective experience of others . It offers its
services to the retail, financial services, insurance, social network, and other sectors .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
End-to-End Layered Authentication: iovation sees voice biometrics as an important part of comprehensive
device-based, dynamic multi-factor authentication solutions
Product Offerings
• Fraud Prevention Suite: Stop online fraud and abuse in real-time
• Dynamic Authentication Suite: Multi-factor security with exceptional user experience
o Customer Authentication
o LaunchKey MFA
• Global Device Intelligence Platform
• Device Recognition, Device Associations, Contributed Evidence, Deep Analytics, Machine Learning
Pricing
N/A
Iovation Key Differentiators:
End-to-end layered authentication: device-based, multifactor, authorization
Cloud-based security solutions to meet customer needs at the growing intersection of fraud
and authentication
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NICE Systems
Headquarters: Ra’anana, Israel
Total number of employees: >4,800
Revenues: $1+ Billion
Year founded: 1986
Web Site: http://www .nice .com
Company Description:
NICE provides enterprise software that enables its customers to “operationalize big data,” which means
capturing, analyzing and applying these data elements to improve business performance, increase operational
efficiency, prevent financial crime, ensure compliance, and enhance safety and security .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
NICE sees voice as a proven technology that is fulfilling its potential for real-time authentication in contact
centers . To reach full potential it should be delivered as part of a more holistic solution addressing the specific
needs of the contact center such as getting and managing end-customer consent, managing vast amounts
of voiceprints and connecting to agents’ desktop . Consistent with IT consolidation trends, it expects it to be
standard for voice biometrics to be delivered as an add-on to core contact center systems such as recording
and call analytics . leveraging those to provide more value more quickly .
NICE’s objective in regard to voice biometrics is to be the leader in real-time authentication solutions for contact
centers providing a holistic solution for both on premises and cloud applications using a single voiceprint for
multiple channels .
Product Offerings
NICE Real Time Authentication is a single platform that supports voice authentication solution for live agent
calls, IVR and mobile interactions . It employs a Seamless™ Passive Enrollment process that creates and a single
voiceprint to be used for authentication or fraud detection across multiple channels . It also integrates with NICE
contact center resources for agent guidance, desktop applications, risk case management, among others .
Pricing
Customers can choose to license on a per seat basis or a per processed call basis . Price varies based on the
size of the contact center .
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Intellectual Property
NICE has its own authentication engine, which was designed to work smoothly with NICE recording platform
and supports multiple authentication methods for enrollment, authentication and fraud detection across
channels . It also Nuance’s FreeSpeech . The company does not disclose the size of its patent portfolio .
NICE Key Differentiators:
First into the market with passive enrollment for self-service channels, leading to improved
customer experience, unprecedented enrollment rates and quicker ROI. A voiceprint
created passively based on conversation with live agent or recording is used to authenticate
the same individual on self-service channels.
A “holistic solution”: the first true multi-channel voice authentication solution streamlining
all authentication related processes in one product. No need for complex integrations or
prolong implementation processes.
Leverage of NICE recording, customers can enroll most of their end-customers based on
historical calls before go live and start saving from day one.
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Nuance Communications, Inc.
Headquarters: Burlington, MA (USA)
Total number of employees: 13,200 (incl . 6,800 in transcription/editing)
Revenues: $1 .9 Billion (FY ended 11/2016)
Year founded: 1992 (as Visioneer)
Web Site: http://www .nuance .com/index .htm
Company Description:
Nuance is a leading, global provider of voice recognition and natural language understanding solutions. Its solutions and technologies help its customers create better experiences for their customers and their users by enhancing the interaction using a mix of technologies that offer high accuracy in automated speech recognition, natural language understanding, dialog and information management, biometric speaker authentication, text-to-speech, optical character recognition (“OCR”). Looking exclusively at voice biometrics and related technologies, it is the global leader in terms of installed base with implementations that account for over 130 million registered individuals.
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
Voice biometrics will be the standard authentication method within contact centers, both for self-service and agent-assisted service. Furthermore, voice biometrics will be a standard fraud prevention solution within the contact center. Finally, voice biometrics will be a commonplace authentication method within mobile device (for device unlock) as well for mobile app authentication, as part of a wider set of authentication factors, providing consumers with choice and enterprises with the ability to deliver step-up authentication.
Nuance’s strategic objective for its security business is to leverage leadership in voice biometrics to become the leading authentication and fraud prevention vendor for enterprises, effectively becoming the standard platform that manages all authentication and fraud prevention solutions within customer care channels.
Product Offerings
Nuance supports contact center and IVR-based authentication through the Nuance Security Suite, VocalPassword (“active”, text-dependent), FreeSpeech (“passive”, text-independent) and FraudMiner for real-time fraud prevention and offline fraud analysis. For mobile authentication there are embedded, connected and hybrid deployments of VocalPassword, including deployment of Nina ID, which brings multi-factor authentication, both voice and “selfie,” into text-based conversations (both messaging apps and SMS).
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Pricing
Tiered pricing, based on volume:• Per-throughput (perpetual voice biometric license)• Per-transaction (term voice biometric license)• Per-faceprint (perpetual facial recognition license)
Intellectual Property
Nuance develops its own voice biometrics engines, and has been issued 59 patents for voice biometrics.
Nuance Key Differentiators:
Comprehensive solution: Covers all voice biometric use-cases, while also providing
a unified platform to manage other biometric credentials. Unique features include AI-
based adaptation, AI-based risk decisioning, risk engine that supports multiple biometric
credentials, DNN-based algorithm.
Experience in deploying voice biometrics, which ensures that our customers derive the
most value from the technology.
Advanced technology, based on continuous investments in core technology that ensures
superior results to alternatives.
Ability to deliver end-to-end customer experience. When biometrics is combined with
artificial intelligence (in the form of virtual assistants), a human like customer experience
can be delivered across any channel.
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OneVault
Headquarters: Bryanston, South Africa
Total number of employees: 14
Revenues: Private Company
Year founded: 2011
Web Site: http://onevault .co .za
Company Description:
OneVault is focused on a vision of developing innovative voice authentication solutions using best of breed
technology platforms . It is an OEM partner for Nuance™ and Nice® and employs their global, best-of-breed
voice technology engines, platforms and solutions . It distinguishes itself by enhancing core voice technology
engines, platforms and solutions from OEM partners (Nuance and NICE) to enhance its own, purpose-built,
South African-developed, voice biometric authentication solutions .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
OneVault has a strategic vision to offer a cloud-based service for both active and passive voice-based
authentication and fraud detection . To reduce friction both for business customers and their customers (end-
users) it will rely on “pre-integrated” solutions that support many telephony systems and a shared or federated
database of voiceprints for known fraudsters . That presumes the development of a comprehensive background
model (BGM); easier UBM/BGM creation processes, interoperability of voiceprints, high-accuracy of on-
device (embedded/offline) matching and seamless integration with speech recognition and Natural Language
Processing resources .
Product Offerings
Solutions include cloud-based Caller Authentication, Automated Password Reset, “Certificate of Existence”
(proof-of-life), Instant Messaging Authentication, Voice Login, Sim Swap Detection, Time Management .
Pricing
Value based pricing, combining CAPEX (licenses) and OPEX (authentications); varies primarily by implementation
architecture (on premises, cloud-based or hybrid)
Sells through channels, including Dimension Data, Bytes Technology Group, ATIO Corporation, TransUnion
Intellectual Property
Company is a reseller, primarily of Nuance and NICE platforms and engines .
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OneVault Key Differentiators:
The only fully focused VB reseller and integrator in region
Invested immense resources in understanding and overcoming telephony and other
|channel impacts (G.729, half-rate for GSM etc.)
Pre-built solution: Rapid deployment of PASSIVE through an Agent ‘pop-up’
Full life-cycle implementation, including change management, user training
help-desk training
Legal and compliance experience: e.g. personal data management
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PhonexiaHeadquarters: Brno, Czech Republic
Total number of employees: ~40
Revenues: Not reported, privately-owned company
Year founded: 2006
Web Site: www .phoneixa .com
Company Description:
Phonexia develops technologies for data mining from speech, speech analytics and voice biometry . The
technologies include language identification, speaker identification, gender identification, keywords spotting
and speech transcription . Phonexia builds complex solutions using these technologies and offers them to
intelligence agencies, call centers, broadcast companies and to everyone who needs to process and analyze
large quantity of speech data .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
Speaker identification and authentication factor in all personal voice assistants, identification and authentication
factor for smart homes, internet of things, one of several factors for multifactor authentication in bank
applications, part of anti-fraud technology used by financial institution, part of big data analytics in contact
centers, routinely used by governmental law enforcement agencies .
Product Offerings
Product Offerings
Phonexia Speech Platform for Enterprise
• Speech Analytics
• Voice Biometrics
Phonexia Speech Platform for Government
• Speech Analytics GOV
• Voice Biometrics GOV
Pricing
Volume-based, license-based, depends on size of implementation
Intellectual Property
No patents, but does own voice biometrics engine
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Phonexia Key Differentiators:
Speech data mining, vendor of large variety of speech technologies (speaker/gender
identification, language/dialect identification, age estimation, speech transcription, keyword
spotting, speech quality estimation, speaker segmentation)
Big data analytics
Very simple on premise deployment
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Pindrop Security
Headquarters: Atlanta, GA
Total number of employees: 250+
Revenues: Private Company
Year founded: 2011
Web Site: https://www .pindrop .com/
Company Description:
Pindrop is a provider of enterprise solutions to secure phone and voice communications . It holds a patent on
“Phoneprinting” technology, which can identify, locate and authenticate phone devices uniquely based solely
on attributes of the audio and line quality . Its technology detects fraudulent calls as well as verifying legitimate
callers and is in use at many of the world’s largest banks, insurers, brokerages and retailers .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
Pindrop Security sees voiceprints as one of many factors and audio attributes that are taken into account to
detect and prevent phone-based fraud . Its core, patented technology is Phoneprinting™, which reveals a call’s
true geo-location, device type, and unique identifying audio “fingerprint .” Then other factors, including caller
behavior, phone number reputation and voiceprints can be applied to reduce risk and losses further .
Product Offerings
Pindrop’s Call Center Anti-Fraud solution suite includes an Identity Assessment Engine that starts with Pindrop’s
patented Phoneprint™ technology, which, in 30 seconds, takes an audio call and breaks it down into 147 unique
call features to create a distinctive identifier for each caller .
Pricing
Pricing is value based, looking at the exposure to fraud loss through the contact center .
Intellectual Property
Phoneprinting™ is a patented technology . The company turns to 3rd parties for voice biometrics-based
identification of fraudsters .
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Pindrop Security Key Differentiators:
Phoneprinting™ is a proven, patented technology for detecting fraud in the contact center
Installed base and testimonials across banks, insurance companies, and beyond financial
services into healthcare, retailing and government
Addresses real-world use-cases like account re-exposure, where agents are used to re-
instate an fake account that may have been detected online
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Sensory
Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA
Total number of employees: 60 (R&D/engineering: 45)
Revenues: private
Year founded: 1994
website: www .sensory .com
Company Description:
Sensory offers speech technologies for consumer electronics applications including mobile phones, automotive,
wearables, toys, IoT and various home electronics . To date, Sensory’s technologies have shipped in over a
billion units of leading consumer products . Sensory integrates “wake-up word” technology with its embedded
suite of capabilities, thus enabling a single utterance to initiate a server while authenticating the end-user .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
Sensory see voice biometrics as important in multifactor solutions with a focus on ease-of-use applications .
Sensory technology provides on-device pattern matching, meaning that the templates reside in the devices
memory and comparison takes place without relying on a data communications link to a remote authentication
application .
While modalities such as fingerprint biometrics and touchID have become commonplace with many devices,
voice and face applications provide a hands-free method for secure, successful access . Sensory sees a direct
need of adding embedded biometrics to IoT devices and supports the FIDO Alliance . .
Product Offerings
TrulyHandsfree: Voice control technology that offers multiple phrase technology that recognizes, analyzes and
responds to dozens of keywords
TrulySecure: SDK for application developers to deploy multi-modal voice and vision authentication solutions for
mobile phones, tablets, and PCs .
TrulyNatural: Embedded, on-device speech recognizer system, utilizing neural network and incorporating speech
date to achieve acoustic models .
Intellectual Property
35 patents total
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Delivery Model
Direct
Partners
• Samsung SDS
• VeraTran (Latin America)
Pricing
Pricing is on per unit royalties or software-as-a- service (SaaS) . Every deal varies with flexibility options based on
client relationship .
Sensory Key Differentiators:
Accuracy
Ease of use
� Real world experience, 22 years using deep networks to build engines for speech rec
Vision for embedded use of voice biometrics in IoT
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SESTEK
Headquarters: Istanbul, Turkey
Total number of employees: 70 (R&D: 51)
Revenues (if publicly available): private
Year founded: 2000
website: www .sestek .com
Company Description
SESTEK is focused on the speech and communication technologies, call center applications, and customer
services automation . Sestek is targeting telecom and banking industries in Turkey for largescale voice
verification projects . The company’s technology solution is language independent, can be integrated in various
IVR platforms . Mobile platforms and embedded systems are seen as a potential growth area .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
With the aim of increased automation and cost reduction, contact centers will continue to have the largest share
in voice biometrics market . The proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) will also contribute to the growth
of voice biometrics . Since voice commands make more sense than touch interfaces in many situations; voice
biometrics will be the main security measure for connected devices and will continue to grow in parallel with IoT .
Product Offerings
SESTEK voice biometrics solutions include: Forensic Voice Analysis; Vocal Passphrase; Blacklist Identification;
Speech- Enabled Password Reset; Verification On-The-Go
The company also offers a suite of contact center and customer care products including: call recording, speech
analytics, and automated quality management . The natural language understanding technology (Natural Dialog)
is integrated in speech-enabled self-service solutions for IVR systems and intelligent assistants .
Intellectual Property
SESTEK owns its own voice biometrics engine and US Patent no: 9,462,134: “A Method Enabling Verification of
the User Id by Means of an Interactive Voice Response System .”
Delivery Model
SESTEK pursues both direct and indirect sales channels, which includes a 24x7 technical support team .
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Partners
Sistas
Pricing
SESTEK charges a fee per verification not per enrollment with a flexible structure; discounts are available .
SESTEK Key Differentiators:
Full speech technology provider including speech analytics, call recording, speech
recognition.
Proprietary background noise level estimation
Combination of voice biometrics + speech recognition: Passphrase is verified with speech
recognition technology which leads to rejection of different phrases from users other than
the prompted words
Multi-Channel support
Group voiceprint (if the customer prefers multiple people can share the same voiceprint)
HSM integration for increased security
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Spitch
Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
Total number of employees: 56 (R&D: 12)
Revenues: n/a
Year founded: 2014
website: www .spitch .ch
Company Overview
Spitch is a Swiss provider of solutions based on Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Voice User Interfaces
(VUI), and natural language voice data analytics . Spitch technologies are focused on facilitating knowledge work
automation — one of the most promising IT trends of the next decade .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
VB to be used in call centers and as one of the factors in optichannel especially in combination with chatbots
and AI-powered personal assistants with voice user interface (VUI) . It is highly probably that it will be one of the
preferred factors in mobile MFA in combination with knowledge-based password and face . Fraud detection/
prevention will just be one of the use cases . VB will also be used for identification .
Product Offerings
Spitch CodyFi - Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) Platform . Guarantees highly accurate speech recognition
in real time for analytics, QA, and other needs
Spitch SignyFi - Semantic Interpretation Solution . Supports topic discovery, sentiment analysis, and customer
behavior analysis
Spitch VeryFi - Voice Biometrics Platform . Supports speaker verification and speaker identification, fraudsters
detection, voice signature, and authentication
Spitch Lingware Development Portal - provides customers and partners with a complete set of tools to develop
their own speech solutions
Spitch SentyFi - Sentiment analysis (cascaded
Spitch IdentyFi - Spitch identification solution makes it possible to identify a caller comparing the voice with an
entire database of voiceprints in real time
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Pricing
Perpetual licenses, SAAS, pay as you go, revenue-sharing; varies by size of implementation
Partners
7 partners (integrators, telco, professional services)
Spitch Key Differentiators:
Full speech technology provider including speech analytics, call recording, speech
recognition.
Reliable high accuracy and speed of authentication in a live/natural conversation thanks
to acoustic modelling based on Neural Networks used to accurately discriminate between
phonetic contexts in which speakers differ from each other
Continuous verification over the course of conversation
Instantaneous/real-time identification for fraudster/black-listed callers (for lists up to several
thousand people) and near real-time identification on large populations
Convenient visualization of probability indication and authentication results in our
customizable UIs
Bespoke solutions in enterprise-class segment with unlimited scalability
Adapted PLDA (Probabilistic Linear Discriminant Analysis) algorithm used for modelling
channel variability
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STC Group | SpeechPro
Headquarters: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Total number of employees: 350
Number of employees dedicated to R&D: about 150
Revenues: 1 billion RUR
Year founded: 1990
website: www .speechpro .com
Company Description
STC Group is a developer of innovative systems in multimodal biometrics, speech synthesis and recognition,
multichannel recording, processing and analysis of audio and video data .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
As one of key biometric modalities for real-time authentication . Voice biometrics will grow in popularity, as it
does not require any additional equipment to be utilized . Key trends include:
• Embed technology in mobile devices
• Become the leading cloud-based authentication engine
• Become the leading supplier of VB solutions for contact centers (banks, telecom, security sectors etc .)
• Embed technology in smart houses, integrate it into IoT
Product Offerings
released a new version of multimodal biometric authentication software complex VoiceKey .PLATFORM and
solutions for remote voice identification and verification VoiceKey .AGENT 2 .8 and VoiceKey .FRAUD . (March
2017)
VoiceKey: Solutions-based platform that includes active and passive voice verification for contact centers, IVR,
and mobile applications .
VoiceGrid: Real-time speaker identification and automated voice biometrics system . Both network and single-
server based for 1:N searches with voice database up to 10,000 records .
Intellectual Property
STC owns its voice biometrics engine, and is in the process of receiving a patent for liveness detection – a
technology that allows determining if the person is live, not photographed or recorded (during voice and face
verification) .
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Pricing
Price depends on the number of voiceprints to be stored in DB . The larger is the number of voiceprints, the
higher is the total price of the project . However, the price per voiceprint decreases with larger volume .
STC Group | SpeechPro Key Differentiators:
Language independent technology
Free speech and pass phrase (text-dependent) verification
Usage of voice/face as the only authentication parameter or in addition to classical passwords
and PIN codes
Products for specific business scenarios (e.g. authentication in contact centers), as well as a
platform to perform a set of biometric operations
Liveness detection – a unique technology developed by STC that allows determining if the
person in front of the camera is live, not photographed or recorded.
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Verint Systems, Inc.
Headquarters: Melville, NY
Total number of employees: 5,000
Revenues: $1 .1 billion
Year founded: 1994
website: www .verint .com
Company Description:
Verint® is a global leader in Actionable Intelligence® solutions with a focus on customer engagement optimization,
security intelligence, and fraud, risk and compliance . Today, more than 10,000 organizations in approximately 180
countries—including over 80 percent of the Fortune 100—count on intelligence from Verint solutions to make
more informed, effective and timely decisions .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
Verint has more than 25 years of experience delivering solutions for the contact center . With the addition of
the Identity Authentication and Fraud Detection (IAFD) solution, Verint has extended this to include improved
customer experience and frictionless customer authentication as part of the Customer Engagement Optimization
(CEO) suite . The solution also delivers reduced average handle time and improved security for the enterprise .
Verint has built a Real-Time Analytics Framework of which, Identity Authentication and Real-Time Speech
Analytics are the initial offering . We are now looking to expand this framework by simply plugging in new
functionality to extend our IAFD offering .
Product Offerings
As the leading vendor in providing holistic, enterprise-wide, intelligence-driven solutions for customer
engagement, Verint continues to innovate the Verint Identity Authentication and Fraud Detection solution . This
solution provides two key advantages . First is a streamlined approach to enrollment and real-time authentication .
Over the phone, the quickest way to identify someone is by voice, and with biometrics the identification occurs
via the unique characteristics of a person’s voice . Verint IAFD can passively analyze a caller’s “voiceprint” during
interactions to help verify his or her identity . The solution can passively enroll or screen customers’ voices in the
background without asking them to provide specific passphrases, and can accurately match a caller’s voice to
the voiceprint on record within seconds .
Secondly, Verint IAFD simultaneously provides the ability to screen for potential fraudsters who repeatedly
contact the call center . The solution offers the ability to identify and reduce fraud losses and protect the contact
center from fraud in the future .
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Verint IAFD is a license enabled feature of Verint Recording, which is an integral part of the Customer
Engagement Optimization suite and avoids additional costly and time consuming integrations to the telephony
infrastructure .
Pricing
Licensing is based on Named Employee .
Intellectual Property
Verint integrates voice biometrics technology with its Customer Engagement Optimization platform, which
incorporates a formidable portfolio of more than 800 patents and patent applications worldwide .
Verint Key Differentiators:
Voice biometrics is natively embedded in Verint Recording as part of the Customer
Engagement Optimization platform enabling fast and cost-effective deployment and real-time
authentication.
“Passive” (text independent) voice biometrics that does not require active involvement of end
consumer during each authentication cycle.
Dual screening of calls for both identity authentication and fraud detection in a single solution.
With over 25 years of experience in the capture of real-time data in the call center, Verint is
uniquely positioned to provide a cost effective biometric solution as an integral part of its
recording platform.
Ability to uniquely combine the conversational indicators with biometric analysis providing
enhanced security and agent guidance.
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Voice Biometrics Group
Headquarters: Newtown, PA
Revenues: private
Year founded: 2009
website: www .voicebiometricsgroup .com
Company Description
Voice Biometrics Group™ (VBG) is a leading provider of voice biometric identification and verification software,
delivery systems, and related consulting services . Simply stated, their technology is used by companies to
identify their customers based on the unique characteristics of their voices .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
The areas where Voice Biometrics solves important problems and enables new value are likely the following:
• Consumer IOT apps such as home automation, car automation, Alexa, and Siri-like systems, where
voice bio will identify the speaker to customize the individual user experience, as well as provide
authentication
• Both Authentication and Fraud Detection in Contact Centers, if made easier to implement and
easier to adopt
• Additional factor in applications protecting access to important resources, such as moving money,
entering information into critical databases, and accessing private health information
• Fraud prevention and detection with randomized biometric checks in consumer and employee
business processes, such as time clock entry, reporting, online education
• Additional factor in online application security directly through the web browser
Intellectual Property
Own voice biometrics engine, developed 100% internally; no patents to date
Product Offerings
• VBG Verifier: Tools for enroll and verify users
• VBG Identifier: Provides 1:N or M:N matching
• VBG Dashboard: Real-time reporting tool
• VBG Classifier: Classify speech samples (e .g . gender, age, accents)
• VBG Mobile App: Integrate into existing native mobile app
• VBG IVR / SMS Add-ons: Provide telephony, IVR, SMS to Verifier
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Pricing
Cloud and on-premise subscription models with per user, per transaction, and/or per voiceprint; Pricing is
adapted based on the customer’s business model
Voice Biometrics Group Key Differentiators:
SMB focus for authentication and fraud detection over telephony, mobile, and web channels
Pricing flexibility compared to the more well-known providers
Support and fast response
VBG platform handles all voice biometric modes (static and random, active and passive, text
dependent and independent) from a single system, runs in Linux or Windows, requires only
150 new samples (split 50/50 male and female) to support a new language, and includes ASR
for content checking of the voice sample
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VoicePIN
Headquarters: Cracow, Poland
Total number of employees: 25 (R&D: 20)
Revenues: private
Year founded: 2011
website: www .voicepin .com
Company Description
VoicePIN offers advanced voice biometrics solutions to clients around the world, designed to provide complete
security to end users of banks, call centers and interactive voice response help desks . Using unique voice
characteristics, VoicePIN’s voice biometrics technology allows authorized users to access very personal data
without having to remember logins or passwords, and lowers the risk of data compromise and identity theft .
Offered as an on-premise and SaaS solution, VoicePIN’s platform is designed for banks, call-centers, insurance
industry, healthcare stakeholders
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
Important factors to consider for voice biometrics:
• Component of real-time authentication
• Multi-factor authentication
• Ubiquitous mobile authenticator
• Strictly for fraud detection
• Password Reset
• Emotion Detection
• IoT personalization
• Automotive
Intellectual Property
Own engine
Pricing
Variable pricing based voiceprints, daily verifications and channels, with a monthly subscription payment
available for every on-premise model; pricing also depends on size of implementation .
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VoicePIN Key Differentiators:
First voice biometrics producer with SaaS model
Language Independent Lexmatch
Multichannel
Fast & Easy Deployment
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VoiceVault
Headquarters: El Segundo, California
Revenues: <5 million
Total number of employees: 20+ (R&D: 4)
Year founded: 2003
website: www .voicevault .com
Company Description
VoiceVault provides voice biometric solutions for mobile, on-device and telephony applications . The solutions
focus on ease of use along with convenience for customers and end-users while providing unparalleled levels of
security . Solutions are developed and delivered through partners or direct to client organizations and these can
be deployed through a range of hosting models including cloud, on premise or via managed service providers .
VoiceVault’s technology is proprietary to them and is 100% in-house developed .
Strategic Vision for Voice Biometrics
Enabling technology for multi-modal active consumer authentication .
Intellectual Property
Own VB engine, proprietary and 100% in-house developed
Product Offerings
• ViGo® Mobile Identity Verification - Biometric Identity solution pre-configured for simplicity, designed for
mobile app developers and 100% focused on mobile security
• ViGo® Wear for Wearables — Voice biometric authentication solution to provide high-level security for
wearable devices .
• Fusion Enterprise - Ultimate in voice biometric customization; no restrictions on where it is deployed,
hosted, how it is configured or, what it is used for .
• Identity and Access Management—ViM — VoiceVault’s Identity Manager is a powerful password reset
automation tool, simplifies the process for customers and employees .
• VoiceSign — Legally binding equivalent of a hand-written signature, provides voice biometric evidence to
greenlight a transaction .
Pricing
Multiple pricing models that are dependent upon number of transactions and users
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VoiceVault Key Differentiators:
100% focused on voice biometrics with military grade proprietary algorithms
Rapid and simple deployment with an easy to use API for ease of developing applications as
well as a free developer trial
Collaborative and flexible development with clients, highly configurable to exactly meet even
the most complex security requirements
99% success rate in production deployments
Ongoing innovation through in house R&D
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About Opus ResearchOpus Research is a research-based advisory firm providing critical insight and analysis of enterprise implementations of software and services that support multimodal customer care and employee mobility strategies. Opus Research calls this market “Conversational Commerce” with tailored coverage and sector analysis that includes: Self-Service & Assisted Self-Service, Voice & Call Processing, Web Services, Personal Virtual Assistance, Mobile Search and Commerce and Voice Biometrics.
For sales inquires please e-mail [email protected] or call +1(415) 904-7666This report shall be used solely for internal information purposes . Reproduction of this report without prior written permission is forbidden . Access to this report is limited to the license terms agreed to originally and any changes must be agreed upon in writing . The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believe to be reliable . However, Opus Research, Inc . accepts no responsibility whatsoever for the content or legality of the report . Opus Research, Inc . disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information . Further, Opus Research, Inc . shall have no liability for errors, omissions or inad-equacies in the information contained herein or interpretations thereof . The opinions expressed herein may not necessarily coincide with the opinions and viewpoints of Opus Research, Inc . and are subject to change without notice . Published June 2017 © Opus Research, Inc . All rights reserved .