IVR App - Electronic Media

Electronic Media

• Interactive Television

  A computer telephony system is programmed to receive calls from viewers who wish to vote on issues raised by a television program; or the outcome of a program is determined by viewer choice. A per-call charge can be used to generate revenue from these services.

• Pay-Per-View Selection

  Cable television stations can provide their viewers with an easy way to select and pay for pay-per-view programming. Viewers call a number and are connected to a computer that prompts them for customer information and takes their order. This information is forwarded to the cable company's computer which "unscrambles" the signal for the subscriber at the proper time and prepares the bill.

• Radio Contests

  Radio stations can use computer telephony systems to handle the large volume of calls generated by talk show formats and on-air contests. For example, listeners dial into a system that asks them to record a joke of the day; or they are asked to record their opinion on a topic of current interest. Responses are reviewed by personnel at the radio station when they have free time and the best answers are edited for airing at a later date.

• Home Shopping

  Televised home shopping programs can automate their order taking by using computer telephony. Customers dial a toll-free number and enter the order number of the item they are interested in purchasing by pressing touch tone digits. The system verifies their entry by playing a recording describing their selection. They are prompted to enter a credit card number and shipping information in the same way. Callers are given the option of transferring to an operator at any time if they are uncomfortable with the system or if they have any questions.

• Interactive Videos

  Cable television systems are beginning to experiment with video-on-demand services that allow viewers to order and watch selected movies from a library of videos maintained by the cable company. The ordering, selection, and billing procedures for such services can be automated via computer telephony. Viewers dial a number and are presented with a menu of available movies. They can select a movie by entering the appropriate touch tone digit or by speaking. Billing is automated by identifying the calling party's telephone number (Automatic Number Identification) and associating it with an existing account.

• Electronic Yellow Pages

  The Yellow Pages is a listing of businesses categorized by products and services that is normally distributed by the local telephone company free of charge to all homes with a telephone. Businesses pay a fee to be included in the Yellow Pages. Each listing contains the phone number and address of the business and some information and advertising about available products and services. Because these listing are updated annually, they do not include time-sensitive information about sales or new products.

  An electronic Yellow Pages can provide this kind of information and be updated more easily. Each listing in the printed Yellow Pages can provide an associated telephone number. Callers who dial this number hear a customized message that contains information about current sales or special events.