History of Stok Software
Stok Software, Inc. has had a unique start in the early 1980's by having shared in the development
of software for home computers when the IBM PC was first announced.
They have developed the hard disk backup procedure that has become part of Concurrent PC-DOS.
As pioneers in the Voice Mail programming field, Stok had written the original Speech Editor, called VBASE/40,
sold by Dialogic Corporation (now owned by Intel) under licensing agreements with Stok.
Stok's specially developed file structure for handling
multi-prompt speech files, and the VBASE (VAP) format, has become an industry standard format.
Companies such as Dialogic, Intel, Expert Systems, Compass Technology, Pika Technologies, Bitworks,
Bicom, Cascade Technologies, and Voice Information Systems had chosen to use Stok's file structure for
Voice and Prompt files in their own software products.
Developing Voice Mail Software in the 1980's has led Stok Software to continue their focus on offering many creative Telephone Communications solutions for small and large businesses, as well as individuals. Stok's partnerships with providers, along with their own programming expertise and problem solving skills, have combined their energies to provide cost effective telecommunications and value-added services.
Here is a history of Stok Software's product launches and distribution channels...
1981 ~ STOK PILOT ~ First Software Product
Stok Software's first product was STOK PILOT, a screen based menu system for the
control of PC resident programs.
Morrow Design, an early pioneer of personal computers, included STOK
PILOT on thousands of their machines under the name MORROW PILOT.
1984 ~ Audio Date ~ First Talking Classifieds
In 1984 STOK PILOT was released with a speech instruction set for speech recording
and playback, allowing the first PC based voice mail systems to be written
using store and forward of digitized speech files.
To put this new technology to use, Stok began the first telephone
dating service, called Audio Date. Audio Date was operated in New York City in 1985 and 1986.
It allowed people to place recorded personal ads,
browse and listen to other ads, and leave private messages for one another with voice mail.
It was before the days of "pay-per-call" such as 900 and 976.
1985 ~ WFAS Radio Interview
Glenn Stok, president of Stok Software, was interviewed on WFAS radio in New York in October 1985 by
news reporter Kathy Karpin for an on-the-air report of "Audio Date" as a new and exciting technology:
the first talking classifieds!
1983 ~ BackRest ~ File Backup Program
Meanwhile, other software development was in the works.
In 1983, BackRest was released to protect critical data on the
growing number of home and business computers.
1984 ~ Stok Software's part in Concurrent PC-DOS
In 1984, Digital Research Corporation (DRI)
licensed BackRest from Stok Software to include it with Concurrent PC-DOS as the operating systems
vital file system backup program.
DRI also contracted with Stok Software for the development of the "Program Manager" routines in Concurrent PC-DOS,
later used on millions of computers.
1984 ~ Sony Sells Computer With Stok's Software
Also in 1984, Sony Corporation chose BackRest to protect their SMC-70 computer's hard drive.
1985 ~ Speech Editor becomes industry standard
By 1985, Stok released VBASE/40,
the first speech editor on the market. Their proprietary VBASE/40 file format quickly became
a worldwide industry standard due to the need for a speech file indexing structure.
It has been used and/or distributed by voice application manufacturers
such as Dialogic Corporation, Expert Systems, Compass Technology, Pika
Technologies, Bitworks, Bicom, Cascade Technologies, and Voice Information
Systems. Stok Software Inc. was, essentially, the software behind the voice!
1985 ~ Voice Mail and Application Toolkits
In 1985, Stok Software began marketing two major voice systems...
- COMET ~
a full-featured PC based voice mail, auto attendant, and audiotex software
package. COMET has grown to include complete support for the
profitable Telephone Answering Service (TAS) Business with many unique and
necessary features. Stok Software knew what was needed since they used
their own software to run a Telephone Answering Service, known as Private Line, in New York City.
- Contact Caller ~ a Programming toolkit for the development
of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) applications with a built in script based language.
It included a ready-to-use Autodialer for Telemarketing and other Message Delivery applications.
1993 ~ Voice Mail Service
Using their own software, Stok began offering an Automated Voice Mail Service
in New York City with custom Automated Attendant features.
1998 ~ Virtual Services Offered
Stok began offering Voice Mail and Automated Attendant services nationwide,
by partnering with vendors who provide great service and customer support.
2000 ~ Y2K Compatibility
Y2K upgrades were made available in advance for all effected software. Stok Software's customers got through
the millennium with no problems at all. Old software was written with Y2K in mind so those who did not upgrade were safe.
2002 ~ All In One Voice Mail/Phone System
In an effort to make it easier and more cost effective for
small business owners to have the same features of a full voice mail automated attendant, without
the expense of a computer and voice hardware, Stok included the VoicePro in their product line.
The VoicePro is a complete Self-Contained Voice Mail, Automated Attendant and
PBX phone switch, supporting up to four incoming lines and 12 extensions.
Stok wrote their own version of the installation manual to better support their customers.
2003 ~ Long Distance and Broadband T1 Pricing Wizards
With direct relationships with over a dozen carriers, Stok was able to offer a method to
shop in one place for best pricing on Long Distance and
Dedicated T1, High Speed DSL, and more.
Allowing customers to get quotes, pick the best, and order on-line.
2005 ~ Software Installation and Programming Manuals Published
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A number of customers have expressed interest in having printed documentation rather than just web-based
on-line access to it. Stok listens. And Stok has responded.
The COMET Installation and Programming Manual (308 page perfect-bound book) is available direct from our
publisher's web-site with free shipping!
This is a useful resource for COMET users as well as other Intel/Dialogic software users.
The Installation and Programming Manual for the Voice Pro is also available from our
publisher's web-site!
The Programming Manual for Contact Caller
and the Manual for the VBASE/40 Speech Prompt Editor
are our latest additions. Click on any of the book icons for details.
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November 2005 ~ Book Publishing
Since we got into the book publishing business for our own manuals, we are now offering
the same service to you. If you have office documentation that you want to convert into
a professionally looking bound book, or if you wrote a manuscript for a personal book
and want to see it in print, see what we can do for you.
February 2006 ~ Low-Cost All-In-One Phone System!
We now provide a new version of the VoicePro All-In-One Phone System manufactured by TCL Communication Int'l Ltd.
The TCL VoicePro is a complete Self-Contained Voice Mail, Automated Attendant and
PBX phone switch, supporting four incoming lines and 12 extensions.
October 2006 ~ Web Hosting
We now offer Web Hosting services with no contract
as part of our web development services.
May 2008 ~ Enhanced Virtual PBX
After a few years of including Kall8 with other services to provide "voice mail to e-mail,"
we now have partnered with Kall8 to offer their Virtual PBX,
as a complete solution all under one account.
"Our philosophy is that we will continue to EARN your business each and every day," says Glenn Stok, President of Stok Software, Inc.
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