Amazon buys Ivona Software text-to-speech firm

PanARMENIAN.Net - Amazon has completed the acquisition of text-to-speech provider Ivona Software for an undisclosed sum.

The move has sparked rumours that future generations of the online retailer's Kindle devices could include the technology in a more prominent way, Digital Spy reported citing Reuters.

Ivona, which boasts a portfolio of 44 voices in 17 languages, has teamed up with Amazon in the past to provide the text-to-speech voice guide and touch features for Kindle iterations.

Amazon's Kindle Fire HD range has proven competitive in the tablet sector, holding its own against Apple's iPad mini and Google's Nexus 7 thanks to their budget price point.

Voice technology is becoming a key feature in the tablet sector with Apple's Siri now on iPad devices and Google introducing sophisticated vocal search with its Android Jelly Bean operating system.

Amazon has also been tipped to enter the smartphone market in the future, a venture that its new acquisition would help facilitate.