I was chatting with a colleague yesterday, and he was excited about the evolution of Bluetooth devices – specifically how they could eventually become a stand-alone channel for outbound communications from companies to their customers, whispering sweet nothings like stock quotes and package delivery updates into their ears.  After I got over my fear of wifi-induced brain damage, I realized that I probably would wear a Bluetooth earpiece if this happened.

Of course there would have to be an "Important Data Delivery" mode on these devices which users could toggle on and off -- I'm not up for hearing “Darling kiss me” in one ear and “NUAN is up 4 points to $15.23” in the other.  But imagine turning 4 or more steps into one!?!  

For me, a spontaneously speaking voice would be replacement for: 1) hearing my ringing phone, 2) finding it, 3) telling my toddler for the fiftieth time that day that the phone is Mommy’s and not hers, 4) answering the phone, 5) giving my toddler her fifty-first reminder, 6) telling the outbound application that I am indeed a human being, and 7) finally listening to the information.   

That all said, such a day is still some years away.  The reason I bothered to mention it, however, is because our customers need to know that we at Nuance aren’t just thinking about what’s possible today, tomorrow, next month, or just next year.  We’re busy trying to fathom, influence, and optimize the future of communication.  And when members of our Business Consulting Services team sit down with you for a strategic planning session, we’re willing to go as far out of the box as you want us to.