"Philips has acquired a unique wealth of knowledge and proficiency from its involvement in the world's largest healthcare speech recognition sites which stretch across cities, regions and even countries", said Marcel Wassink, CEO of Philips Speech Recognition Systems. "The service packages now enable our SpeechMagic partners to apply this knowledge and experience directly to their IT applications; specialist technicians, developers and consultants will help them design optimal solutions that boost productivity in hospitals and provide physicians with better information, for improved quality of care."

Four service areas
Philips Speech Recognition Systems' offers four service areas that cover the entire process of bringing accurate, convenient and efficient information capturing to hospitals and medical practices.

First, Philips helps define and integrate the optimal set of SpeechMagic features; this includes input channels and the ability to deploy in Citrix Access infrastructures or on Windows Terminal Servers. The integration consultancy covers a broad range of use cases, such as large scale solutions with more than 500 users who can be working at several locations - on desktop PCs, laptops or even in a wireless set-up.

Deployment services prepare for fast system roll-out with the aim of facilitating user acceptance and minimizing downtime during implementation and set-up. System, network and database configurations as well as training schedules and proactive change management are among the aspects considered in roll-out preparation.

Support services provide the knowledge and tools for optimal system maintenance and fast resolution of technical issues, including training and workshops as well as standby and third-line support. In addition to ensuring optimal system integration, roll-out and operation, Philips also provides productivity services geared towards exploiting the maximum benefits for the end user site. Philips experts analyze end users' working methods, evaluate results and user satisfaction and provide recommendations to optimize workflows and processes.

"We are expecting speech recognition technology to cope with two highly complex issues: first, it has to capture and understand spoken information. Secondly, it has to turn this information into structured text, which takes into account that this is going to be used for sensitive healthcare purposes and life-affecting decisions. Philips Speech Recognition Systems now provide high standard consultancy services, driven by knowledge and the experience of customer use cases in order to achieve the accuracy, convenience and efficiency levels required in the healthcare industry," explained Marcel Wassink.

Philips Speech Recognition Systems' services are available through its global network of integration partners. Further information can be found at www.philips.com/speechrecognition.

About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle, delivering people-centric, innovative products, services and solutions through the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 123,800 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2007, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, as well as lifestyle solutions for personal wellbeing. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.