Telecom or all

The selection of W3 Data, operator of whitepages.com, by Microsoft as a .NET conformant source of listings data within Microsoft Office applications conforms to Zelos Group’s model for pervasive or Next Generation DA. From a user experience perspective, it embeds W3’s online white and Yellow Pages “inside” Microsoft Word and Outlook providing real-time, contextual access to online listings. No synching required.

Verizon's recent $3 billion VoIP initiative with Nortel Networks portends acceleration of efforts to packetize its core network. Verizon will accompany its investment with rollout of advanced call management features and new converged devices that will fuel two directory-related concepts: Network Address Book (NAB), and CNAM (Calling Party Name identification).

The popularization of automated speech takes place one application at a time. The speech-enabled auto-attendant will continue to be a key horizontal application that serves as the foundation for vertically-tailored service bundles. The other heavy-hitters for speech recognition are self-service contact centers, directory assistance and general purpose hosting facilities.

One of the things Google could do with $12 billion in IPO proceeds is severely disrupt the online and phone-based Directory Assistance business. Google is already a formidable player, with its PhoneBook search that includes both DA and reverse directory lookups.