Implix, a provider of online solutions that enhance the way enterprises leverage their online presence in their commercial activities, has announced to expand the media-rich feature set of GetResponse, its e-mail marketing platform for the small and medium business or 'SMB' sector.

In the new development, the company is going to integrate text-to-speech email capability within GetResponse, which will be the first solution of its kind in the industry now. With the help of GetResponse E-mail-to-Speech, small business marketers will have an innovative tool to improve email response rates, fight inbox fatigue, and differentiate their brands among today's increasingly mobile, multi-tasking audiences.

According to an estimate, Americans need 38 hours each day to complete all scheduled daily tasks, while their time spent using TV/Internet simultaneously increased by 34.5 percent during 2008 to 2009. Further, nearly one-third of all Americans or 32 percent of them have used cell or smartphones to access Internet for email, messaging or information.

The new GetResponse Email-to-Speech gives them a cutting edge with a number of advanced features, including no need to set up, install or maintain the service, an easy and convenient GetResponse WYSIWYG editor and clear, natural-sounding voice provided by award-winning IVONA Text-to-Speech. The users of the service just need to click "Play" to listen the email, or they can choose to ignore the message. They can also access the service on mobile phones with MP3 capability, which doesn't make any change to the file size for hassle-free deliverability.

According to Simon Grabowski, CEO of Implix and founder of GetResponse, the GetResponse E-mail-to-Speech service takes the company one step closer to transforming email into a rich media experience, similar to listening to satellite radio or watching TV. Grabowski continued that today's Internet users are media-savvy multi-taskers, with almost 35 percent using the Web and watching TV, while juggling work, social networking, online shopping and, unfortunately, inbox clutter. GetResponse Email-to-Speech lets SMB marketers deliver a more personal, "human-like" email experience, providing a real competitive edge, and with its hands-free and accessible on mobile devices, multi-tasking users can easily and safely respond to the campaigns at home, in the car, wherever they are, Grabowski added.

In the words of Michael Sliwinski, founder of Nozbe, and a beta customer of the GetResponse Email-to-Speech service, the voice of the service is very natural and it's hard to believe the text of the email message is read by a computer and not a real person. Slowinski expressed his assurance that his subscribers will love "reading" his newsletters and productivity tips and tricks by simply listening to them, as it's like having an email newsletter and a podcast episode in one package.

In November 2009, Implix launched GetResponse Developer Zone, a portal dedicated to helping small to large enterprises in integrating the GetResponse e-mail marketing API platform with in-house applications, databases, e-commerce shopping carts, CRM, and CMS systems.