SK Telecom's T Phone app adds voice-to-text service

SK Telecom made major upgrades to its T Phone app on Monday, which include real-time voice-to-text conversion for people with hearing impairments and automated consultants to assist SK Telecom customers. [SK TELECOM]

SK Telecom made major upgrades to its T Phone app on Monday, including adding a real-time voice-to-text service for people with hearing impairments and automated consultants to assist SK Telecom customers.

Through the update, T Phone users with hearing and speech impediments will be provided with a text transcript of what the other speaker is saying.

They can also communicate by typing in what they want to say to the other person, which will be read out to the listener through machine voice software. The new function is dubbed Voice View.

SK Telecom tested out the new function with the Korea Association of the Deaf in July.

“The voice-to-text conversion function of Voice View is groundbreaking for people with listening and speech impediments,” said Heo Jeong-hun, president of the association. “We look forward to the convenience the app will bring.”

For the time being, Voice View will only be provided to people with hearing impairments or speech impediments who are signed onto SK Telecom for their phone plans. It will later be available for others who wish to use the service.

SK Telecom said it will also roll out “AI phone recording” technology by the end of this year. It will let people record phone calls, have the program separate the two people’s voices and convert voice conversations to text.

Another upgrade made on Monday was Chatty, a one-on-one chatting program that lets customers type in what they need and receive information accordingly. Users can view their monthly bills, send data to friends or buy more data.

If customers need to talk to a real person, they will be connected to consultants upon request.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]