Powervoice, a voice recognition company, announced on Aug. 1 that the company and BC Card would be releasing a mobile speaker recognition service within the year.

The speaker recognition service is a program that uses voice biometric software to certify e-payments through a sample of the user’s voice saved on a smartphone instead of a PIN number.

Founded in 2002, Powervoice is a voice and speaker recognition solution company with annual revenues of 5.2 billion won ($4.7 million) as of 2015. Until 2015, it focused on supplying speaker recognition software to domestic home appliance, auto and navigation companies. 

Beginning this year, the company is focusing on development and production of fintech and IoT speaker recognition devices. Powervoice was designated as an incubator company by Shinhan Financial Group in March for its voice biometric technology, and has recently begun collaborating with KT. Powervoice receives support from the Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation for its efforts to enter the global market.

Powervoice’s speaker recognition technology utilizes a voice-print for biometric security as well as linguistic data included in the voice. Built-in recording-prevention technology makes it impossible to forge or use unauthorized voice data. Also in the company’s repertoire is quick-response sound technology, which attaches a specific code or data to sound wavelengths to block inter-device communication, as well as technology that can determine whether a situation is an emergency by picking up ambient sounds.

A Powervoice spokesperson said, “Powervoice has the finest quality voice recognition technology in Korea. In response to the growing IoT smart appliance market, we are getting ready for increased demand for voice recognition UI (user interface) and UX (user experience).”

The company has established a Chinese subsidiary (Shenzhen) and a German subsidiary and is currently negotiating a project to be conducted in China. (jshwang@heraldcorp.com)