IVVR in Indiaby martinjacob05May
We all know what an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) is, we have used it while calling to our mobile phone customer care. For those who doesn’t know the details I will explain a little. Interactive Voice Response is a phone technology that allows computers to detect voice and touch tones using a normal phone call. The normal use of IVR is to guide large volumes of users by pre-recorded or dynamically generated voice. IVR systems can be used to control almost any function where the interface can be broken down into a series of simple menu choices. But our point of discussion is IVVR (Interactive Voice & Video Response). It evolved from the IVR and takes customer interaction to the next level. From the start we can say this will be huge success.
These are the reasons.
1. 3G
Telecom companies in India have introduced 3g in almost all parts of India. All that you need to use video calling is a 3G enabled hand set with a front camera. Mobile phones with these facilities are available in less than 4000rs. So using video applications or services by large number of users is a reality in India.
2. Video Application
We have seen people glued on to their mobile phone screens to get the update about the ongoing cricket match. Now imagine if this sms is sent as videos. ie whenever batsman hits a six or when bowler takes stunning wicket we can see it as a video message, wont that be stunning.
3. Citizen journalism
TV journalism has bought many changes in the field of news reporting. Now imagine if ordinary people could capture something in their handset and upload it directly. The concept of citizen journalism will be boosted.
4. Video Advertising and Customer care
Video ads of products can be directly sent to the customers mobile. Not only ads, video calling can be used to guide customers in using a product, in which the customer care executive can give the customer step by step instruction.
5. New age Schooling
We have seen the Idea ad in which Abhishek Bachan teaches large no of children in rural areas using his mobile phone. This can be real if video calling and conferencing is made available in the rural areas too. Not only schooling, people can attend any class taken anywhere in the world using 3g video technology.
IVVR Technology
The following figure shows one potential implementation of an IVVR system.
Application Server or Command Interpreter – The application logic is created here and/or interpreted for use by the video media server.
Video Media Server – Video clips and other contents are stored and formatted for delivery. Some device may not recognize certain formats; it’s the duty of the video media server to covert the stored data to a format which the end device recognizes and sending it.
3G-324M Gateway – Some media servers can’t send and receive content directly to the 3G-324M network ,so they use a 3G-324M gateway in order to deliver their content via this type of network.
