AI voice company Hyper raises $6.3M to help automate 911 calls | TechCrunch https://t.co/zuNetDUUa9 ...

Fraud & Security Concerns - AI voice cloning technology enables scammers to mimic voices of relatives for fraudulent schemes [1] - Scammers exploit trust by impersonating family members in urgent need of funds or access [1][2] - The industry acknowledges the increasing realism and potential success of voice cloning scams [1][2] Technological Capabilities - AI can analyze voice messages to create convincing voice clones [1] - Cloned voices can be used to request funds or access to accounts [1] Potential Impact - Voice cloning scams are effective because victims often react without hesitation [1] - Urgent requests from seemingly familiar voices can bypass typical security concerns [2]

We have another example of signal being not so secure. This time according to reporting from the Washington Post, there is a person out there, people maybe a government impersonating Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, the National Security Adviser. This person or this entity sent out a message to a number of officials over the app, the Signal app, using the username marco.Rubiostate. gov. gov and was able to get into contact with five officials, three foreign ministers, a US governor, and a Congress perso ...

Voice Assistant Opportunity - The industry sees potential in voice-based email management, especially during commute times like a 20-minute drive, aiming for inbox zero upon arrival at work [1] - The industry recognizes the broader use cases of voice agents beyond driving, highlighting their current capabilities demonstrated by existing technologies [1] - The industry acknowledges the limitations of keyboard reliance, particularly for individuals with physical impairments, suggesting email as a prime area for voice assistant development [2] Email as a Central Hub - Email inboxes contain a wealth of personal information, including contacts, plans, and writing styles, making them ideal for building comprehensive personal assistants [2] Call to Action - The company is seeking teams to develop voice-based email processing solutions [1][2]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $174 million, a 7% year-over-year increase, normalized for 2024 cyclical political campaign revenue of $8 million [19] - Cloud communications revenue reached $133 million, reflecting a 6% year-over-year increase, also normalized for 2024 political campaign revenue [19] - Non-GAAP gross profit was $79 million, an 8% year-over-year increase, with a non-GAAP gross margin improvement to 59%, a two percentage point increase [20] - EBITDA grew by 40% to $22 million, exceeding expectations due to higher revenue and stronger margins [20] - Free cash flow performance was as expected, influenced by capital expenditures and working capital timing [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Enterprise Voice revenue grew 26% year-over-year, driven by strong demand from financial services and healthcare customers [21] - Global Voice Plans revenue increased by 4% year-over-year, supported by long-term customer expansions and new business from channel partnerships [21] - Programmable messaging accounted for 19% of cloud communications revenue, with a 9% year-over-year increase, driven by demand in key verticals [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The net retention rate for Q1 was 116%, with customer name retention above 99% [22] - Average annual revenue per customer reached a record $228,000, or $211,000 when excluding the political campaign benefit in 2024 [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on disciplined execution, innovation, and delivering essential communications, with a strong emphasis on core platform growth [16] - The strategy includes expanding partnerships with managed service providers (MSPs) and system integrators to enhance market reach [30] - The company aims for double-digit core platform growth, profit expansion, and strengthening its capital structure for the full year 2025 [24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of the business despite macroeconomic volatility, with no anticipated material impact from current tariff environments [19] - The company raised its full-year revenue outlook to a range of $745 million to $760 million, reflecting increased organic growth expectations [24] - Management highlighted the importance of AI integration in driving growth across all product categories, emphasizing the effectiveness of AI voice solutions [70] Other Important Information - The company received two Gold Stevie Awards for innovation in customer service and customer engagement initiatives [16] - Capital expenditures for the quarter were $10 million, focused on network expansion activities [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on enterprise voice growth and pipeline - Management noted a strong pipeline for enterprise voice customers, with more million-dollar deals signed in the quarter than ever before, indicating robust growth potential [29][30] Question: Confidence in back half of the year amidst uncertainty - Management expressed confidence in continued growth driven by enterprise voice traction and a resilient voice business, while acknowledging potential risks in programmable messaging [35][36] Question: Drivers behind increased average revenue per customer - The increase is attributed to more enterprise voice customers utilizing the Maestro platform and expanding their business, along with cross-selling opportunities [39][40] Question: Future of the partner ecosystem - Management highlighted the growing contribution from partnerships with large MSPs, which are expected to enhance deal cycle efficiency and complexity management [45][46] Question: AI's role in growth across product categories - AI is seen as a significant growth driver, enhancing customer experiences and operational efficiencies across global voice, enterprise voice, and programmable messaging [66][70]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $174 million, a 7% year-over-year increase, normalized for 2024 cyclical political campaign revenue of $8 million [20] - Cloud communications revenue reached $133 million, reflecting a 6% year-over-year increase, also normalized for 2024 political campaign revenue [20] - Non-GAAP gross profit increased to $79 million, marking an 8% year-over-year growth, with a non-GAAP gross margin improvement to 59%, a two percentage point increase [21] - EBITDA grew by 40% to $22 million, exceeding expectations due to higher revenue and stronger margins [21] - Free cash flow performance was as expected, influenced by capital expenditures and working capital timing [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Enterprise Voice revenue grew 26% year-over-year, driven by strong demand from financial services and healthcare customers [22] - Global Voice Plans revenue increased by 4% year-over-year, supported by long-term customer expansions and new business from channel partnerships [22] - Programmable messaging accounted for 19% of cloud communications revenue, with a 9% year-over-year increase, driven by demand in key verticals including e-commerce and financial services [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The net retention rate for Q1 was 116%, with customer name retention above 99% [22] - Average annual revenue per customer reached a record $228,000, or $211,000 when excluding the political campaign benefit in 2024 [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on disciplined execution, innovation, and delivering essential communications, with a strong emphasis on the Maestro platform for enterprise voice and AI integration [6][10] - The strategy includes expanding partnerships with managed service providers (MSPs) and system integrators to enhance market reach and customer engagement [11][31] - The company aims for double-digit core platform growth, profit expansion, and strengthening its capital structure in 2025 [23][25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of the business despite macroeconomic volatility, raising the full-year revenue outlook to $745 million to $760 million [20][25] - The company anticipates continued growth in enterprise voice and global voice plans, with a focus on maintaining strong customer relationships and expanding service offerings [34][36] - Management acknowledged potential risks in programmable messaging due to its exposure to retail and digital engagement markets, but emphasized the essential nature of voice communications [36] Other Important Information - The company received two Gold Stevie Awards for innovation in customer service and customer engagement initiatives, reflecting its commitment to customer satisfaction [17] - The company ended the quarter with a cash and securities balance of $42 million and no borrowings under its credit line [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on enterprise voice growth and pipeline - Management reported a strong pipeline for enterprise voice customers, with more million-dollar deals signed than ever before, indicating robust growth potential [30] Question: Confidence in back half of the year amidst market uncertainty - Management raised the second half outlook, expecting double-digit organic growth driven by enterprise voice and global voice plans, while monitoring risks in programmable messaging [34][36] Question: Drivers behind increased average revenue per customer - The increase is attributed to more enterprise voice customers utilizing the Maestro platform and expanding their business, along with cross-selling opportunities [39] Question: Durability of gross margin performance - Management expects margins to remain stable throughout the year, with confidence in achieving medium-term targets [41] Question: Future of the partner ecosystem and its contribution - Management highlighted the growing importance of partnerships with MSPs and the potential for increased sales through these channels [45][49] Question: Strategies to regain share in the messaging business - The focus will be on driving deliverability and expanding channels, including RCS and RBM, to enhance customer engagement and grow the messaging business [51][54] Question: Success factors in the healthcare vertical - The Maestro platform's ability to integrate innovation into complex healthcare environments is a key differentiator, with opportunities for expansion into other verticals like hospitality and manufacturing [58][60] Question: Key drivers for Global Voice business growth - Management expects Global Voice plans to double its growth rate, driven by onboarding new customers and leveraging channel partnerships [63]

AI-Media Launches LEXI Voice at NAB Show 2025 AI-Media is set to launch LEXI Voice, their new AI voice translation solution, at NAB Show 2025 happening in Las Vegas from 6-9 April. BROOKLYN, N.Y., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AI-Media, a global leader in AI-powered language technology and solutions, is set to make a major impact at NAB Show 2025 in Las Vegas. From April 6-9, attendees can visit Booth #W1915 to explore AI-Media’s suite of industry-leading AI solutions and get an exclusive first lo ...