Asterisk & Speech Server (2007)
Many have asked for it and after a little research there is a way to get Asterisk. I'm not a big fan of large Open Source projects, Linux or even Asterisk. (I'm not going to go into that much right now) I found a business card that I think sums up my feelings on it.
Ok enough ranting about open source. I found an interesting blog on how to get Exchange UM to work with Asterisk.
http://blog.lithiumblue.com/2007/04/accessing-exchange-2007-unified_29.html
Now knowing that if it works with Exchange UM it will work with Speech Server, you can take this guide and setup your Asterisk implementation to work with SipX Server (Runs on Linux and again is open source) Ignore the Exchange 2007 stuff.
Using this I was albe to have Asterisk place call to Speech Server. Now this also solves problems for those who have a provider that they want to have Speech Server communicate with directly. Here you use SipX Server (Again runs on Linux) and have it handle the whole UDP to TCP issue for you.
I've heard rumors that Vocalocity supports SIP over TCP directly. I am still in the progress of trying to verify that. I'll keep every one updated.