Speech Server (2007) Pricing Revealed
Many have been asking for it and here it is. As you know Speech Server (2007) is now a part of Office Communications Server 2007. If you are using other features of OCS, you get even more for your money.
Note: This is strictly speaking using Speech Server as there are other considerations for which version to use when you start looking at OCS specific features.
Base Server:
Standard Server $699.00
Enterprise Server $3,999
External Connector:
Standard EC $2,000
Enterprise EC (requires Standard EC) $2,000
Client Access License:
Standard CAL $31
Enterprise CAL (requires Standard CAL) $139
Ok this pricing model is very different than your other IVR platforms, you'll notice you aren't being charged per port, but per server. So what's an External Connector and Client Access License. It depends on if you are going to be using it internally or externally. See the chart below:
Larger Size Version:http://gotspeech.net/photos/blogs/images/3627/original.aspx
So now you may want to compare pricing against a different IVR platforms, which typically charges per port. Well first you need to figure out how many servers you need and how many ports you are using. To do that you need to download the Speech Server Capacity Planning Guide. http://download.microsoft.com/download/a/4/4/a441d741-ff76-40b2-8f7c-c1b799fd94f0/Capacity%20planning%20for%20OCS%20Speech%20Server%202007%20Deployments.docx
Let's give an example here.
If you are running an external application that doesn't use any authenication. Your planning guide tells you that you can get 96 ports out of the hardware you have and you only need one server.
Assuming you aren't going to use any datawarehousing features (Included in Enterprise Edition) you could get away with the following:
Standard Server: $699.00
Grand Total: $699.00
Per Port cost: $7.28 per port
Depending on the type of applications you are running and hardware you have, you could get more or less than 96 ports. It is realistic that a very simple application (DTMF only, yet with the Nuance RealSpeak TTS) could get 200 ports. Which comes to roughly $3.50 per port.
This is insanely cheap compared what is available in the market, even better you get all of the TTS Voices and Speech Recognition Languages included. Again something that the industry currently nickel and dimes you on.
When Microsoft introduced Speech Server 2004 it did say, that it wanted to take speech technology to the mainstream. With this release speech technology is no longer a luxury only affordable for large enterprises. At this price I might just buy one for my home!
Trial Information
Try it out for your self! You can download a free trial of Speech Server (2007):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=BB183640-4B8F-4828-80C9-E83C3B2E7A2C&displaylang=en
To get all of the benefits, download the Visual Studio 2005 Trial as well.
https://www.tryvs2005.com/profile.aspx