(iTers News) – Nuance Communications, Inc. and ZTE Corporation today announced an all new ZTE Car Mode application for ZTE Android devices at CES 2014 in Las Vegas – a result of the two companies’ collaboration to bring advanced voice applications to ZTE Android devices worldwide.

ZTE has already integrated Nuance’s powerful voice recognition technology to create an eyes-free, hands-free mobile app experience for drivers that is accessible from their ZTE smartphone. Now, ZTE is integrating Nuance’s voice biometrics technology for screen unlock. With each different user’s voiceprint, ZTE smartphones will access the general mode or child mode instantly – no swiping, PINS, passwords or hands required.

ZTE is also launching voice-enabled navigation search and music barge-in optimized for ZTE handsets within an automotive environment. The new, intuitive voice-enabled navigation function leverages Nuance’s natural language understanding (NLU) to allow people to easily find points of interest. For example, people could say, “Where is Union Square?” and Car Mode will automatically show you Google Map for POI directions. Or, someone could say, “Take me to the post office” and Car Mode will search for the nearest post office and provide spoken directions.

Car Mode’s music barge-in feature allows people to interrupt the system with spoken commands. People can say “Pause,” “Stop,” “Play next song” or “Play previous song” while music is playing to control their music experience – hands-free and eyes-free to minimize distraction behind the wheel.

“Voice biometrics, natural language navigation and music barge-in are breakthroughs in handset-based telematics, giving people the connectivity they expect as part of a mobile lifestyle, while minimizing dangerous in-car distractions. Nuance’s advanced voice technology provides us with diversified and innovative speech capabilities for our mobile devices, giving users truly intelligent, safe and great mobile experiences,” said Mr. Zeng Xuezhong, executive vice president and head of Mobile Devices of ZTE.

“Working with ZTE, we are transforming the in-car smartphone experience to bring consumers an incredibly intelligent and convenient way to stay connected, informed and entertained behind the wheel,” said Michael Thompson, executive vice president and general manager, Nuance Mobile. “Combing voice biometrics with our voice technologies optimized for the in-car environment results in a smarter, safer – and better - mobile experience for ZTE consumers.”