NetByTel

About NetByTel

NetByTel Inc. was established in 1999 by co-founders Paul Robinson, who served as president, and Neal Bernstein, the company's CEO. The firm operated from Boca Raton, Florida, and positioned itself as a provider of speech recognition software solutions specifically for call centers. Its core offering was a Telephone e-Business Platform, which enabled consumers to interact with e-commerce websites using voice commands over the phone, removing the need for computer-based typing.

The company's business model focused on delivering its speech recognition technology as a managed service, structured to make phone-based transactions practical for online businesses. This attracted a diverse client base across sectors such as retail, travel, finance, and manufacturing. Early adopters of its service included prominent companies like Priceline.com, Office Depot, and BigStar.com. Over its operational years, NetByTel secured significant venture capital, raising a total of $26.1 million through multiple funding rounds, including a Series B round of $18.1 million in 2001. Investors included firms like AOL Time Warner Ventures, Accenture Technology Ventures, and Chrysalis Ventures.

A significant event in the company's history occurred on September 30, 2005, when its hosted speech application business and customer base were acquired by TuVox. This acquisition expanded TuVox's portfolio with over 20 new clients, including HandR Block, Shell, Wal-Mart, and 1-800-Flowers. Following the transaction, NetByTel retained its core software and shifted its focus to enabling service providers to develop and market their own speech applications.