A number of applications have been introduced for the Apple (News - Alert) iPhone and iTouch devices since the store's opening.

 

Speech-related applications that make it easier to access solutions, or that provide translations in different languages can be helpfully in a number of situations.

 

Not only do these applications increase access and usability for users in more languages, they also increase the value of the iPhone (News - Alert) for users.

 

Reports indicate the global speech technology market can reach $78 billion by 2010.  The largest segment, automatic speech recognition is predicted to grow to about $7.5 billion by 2010 attributed to the increased "power and speed of the standard PC."

 

To further extend the capability of their Speeek! Application, BB Softservice Corp., a Tokyo-based planner and developer of application services under the SoftBank Group, has announced Chinese and English versions of the application will now be made available.

 

Speeek! is an electronic dictionary application for the iPhone 3G that makes it possible to recognize a users voice when they speak as well as translates and speaks back to users.

 

As part of this latest launch, the company is announcing four new titles: Speeek! EJ, which translates English into Japanese; Speeek! EC, which translates English into Chinese; Speeek! CJ which translates Chinese into Japanese and Speeek! CE which translates Chinese into English.

 

Back in December of last year, the company introduced the Speeek! JE and Speeek! CE apps which translate Chinese into Japanese and Chinese into English, respectively.

 

These offerings are available here for $21.99 in 19 countries.