Experian and VoiceVault partner to create fully hosted biometric authentication system 

---

Experian®, the global information services company, and VoiceVault, a leader in voice-based biometric identity verification, have entered into a partnership to create a hosted, pay-as-you-go biometric identity verification service. The Voice Check service, secured by VoiceVault, will dramatically reduce the time and cost associated with validating contact centre callers.

The new service from Experian and VoiceVault will enable the identity of contact centre callers to be securely verified in a matter of seconds by comparing callers' voices against a previously recorded voice print. By replacing the time-consuming manual verification process with a fully automated system, contact centre agents will be presented with a validated identity at the start of a call and can dedicate a greater proportion of their time to assisting callers.

Once a contact centre organisation has identified a new customer, they will be invited to register with Voice Check, typically by speaking a phrase or account number. The voice print that is created will be held on Experian's secure databases, and used to match against a caller's voice when they use the contact centre again.

As the system is fully-hosted by Experian and priced on a per-check basis, contact centre clients will benefit further from low set-up costs and no fixed fees. Clients will benefit further from a number of added value components to the service, including batch authentication services to help validate customers' identities, and analysis to identify whether individual voice-prints are already attributed to other identities on the database.

Jim Lound, Director of Trust Services at Experian, comments: "VoiceCheck provides fast, effective and more user friendly method of securely validating a caller's identity, it is the next generation in identity validation technology. By using voice biometrics to re-verify that the person coming back to a contact centre is who was registered for the service in the first place, contact centre agent talk time can be reduced by around 30 seconds per call, resulting in a reduction in the cost associated with verifying the identity of callers by up to 75 per cent."

John Colgan, Head of Business Development at VoiceVault, comments: "We are delighted and excited to announce this partnership with Experian. Voice biometrics is a proven and highly secure technology that is able to pinpoint callers due to the uniqueness of their voice. Contact centres will benefit greatly from its use." The voice biometric software used in Voice Check measures more than 130 characteristics of an individual's voice and is able to detect and prevent the use of a voice recording to gain access. It is the only biometric technology in the world that has EU Certification for Advanced Digital Signatures. By eliminating the human interaction in the re-verification of callers, it removes the possibility for a fraudster to 'con' the agent using stolen information or for any form of collusion to take place.

About Experian

Experian® is a global leader in providing information, analytical and marketing services to organisations and consumers to help manage the risk and reward of commercial and financial decisions.

Combining its unique information tools and deep understanding of individuals, markets and economies, Experian partners with organisations around the world to establish and strengthen customer relationships and provide their businesses with competitive advantage.

For consumers, Experian delivers critical information that enables them to make financial and purchasing decisions with greater control and confidence. Clients include organisations from financial services, retail and catalogue, telecommunications, utilities, media, insurance, automotive, leisure, e-commerce, manufacturing, property and government sectors.

Experian Group Limited is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. It has corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and operational headquarters in Costa Mesa, California and Nottingham, UK. Experian employs approximately 15,500 people in 38 countries worldwide, supporting clients in over 65 countries around the world. Continuing sales for the year ended 31 March 2008 were $4,059m (£2,020m / ?2,858m)

For more information, visit the Group's website on www.experiangroup.com. 

Contact for Experian

James Taylor, Corporate PR Manager, Experian

Tel: +44 (0)115 934 4547,

E-mail: james.taylor2@uk.experian.com  

About VoiceVault

VoiceVault is a specialist and leader in the provision of voice-based biometric identity verification solutions and services. With operations in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland, the company has a global customer base of public and private organizations, such as government agencies, banks and insurers.

VoiceVault is the only voice verification service certified and accredited to issue Advanced Electronic Signatures (voice digital certificates) and to be ISO 27001 rated.

VoiceVault provides a more convenient, practical and secure alternative to PINs, passwords or security tokens. As well as verifying an individual's identity over the phone or the Internet, VoiceVault can be employed across a diverse range of business applications, including procurement, payment authorization and corporate security. Organizations that deploy VoiceVault can deliver enhanced levels of service to their customers, increase security while optimizing identity verification costs. 

Contact for VoiceVault

Nigel Phillips, Head of Product Marketing, VoiceVault

Tel: +44 (0)1932 895399,

E-mail: media@voicevault.com

Date - 19/06/2008