Intervoice bulks up IVR with Edify buy

Two established players in the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and voice self-service markets came together last week when Intervoice Inc. revealed its plans to purchase Edify Corp.

Dallas-based Intervoice will pay the Atlanta-based S1 Corp. $33.5 million for Edify, a maker of speech recognition and voice software for the contact center.

The deal is expected to close next month. Bob Ritchey will continue as president and CEO of Intervoice and Mitch Mandich, president and CEO of Edify, will stay on as an adviser through the transition period.

For more information Learn what IVR must do to survive See how Microsoft is getting into the market

"Each company has achieved market success and profitability," Ritchey said in a statement. "We intend to accelerate the delivery of multi-channel solutions that measurably enhance customer satisfaction, creating customers for life."

The merger brings Intervoice's development tools and standards-based applications with Edify's Web-based tools and natural language applications.

Combined, the companies had $200 million in revenue over the past four quarters. The combined company is expected to have more than 850 employees and 5,000 customers.