The voicemail-to-text service Spinvox has applied for two patents which describe the service as being operated by humans, the BBC has learned.

Spinvox has previously claimed that state-of-the-art speech recognition technology is the basis of its service.

However, its patent applications claim the approach is accurate precisely because it employs human operators.

Spinvox’s head of social media said that the patents were just two among many for which the firm had applied.

The BBC has also learned that an employee of a call centre in Pakistan tagged his own appeal onto a Spinvox message sent to a US customer, claiming that workers there had not been paid.

Spinvox has always maintained that humans only play a minor role in converting voice messages into text.

Both patent applications were lodged in the United States in the name of Daniel Doulton, the company’s co-founder. The first, which was filed originally in 2004, describes a “method of providing voicemails to a wireless information device” .

It says an operator “intelligently transcribes the actual message from the original voice message”, and concludes that “because human operators are used instead of machine transcription, voicemails are converted accurately, intelligently, appropriately and succinctly into text messages.”

The second application, which appears to be dated July 2nd 2009, describes a similar system, but goes into more detail .

It says “the task of constructing voice recognition software that can reliably and accurately recognise natural speech…remains a daunting one.” But it says Spinvox’s invention challenges the orthodoxy by using human operators.

Spinvox has spoken several times to the BBC about its technology

When queried about one of these patents by a commentator on the firm’s blog, Spinvox’s head of social media James Whatley said it was just one among many.

“Spinvox has an entire family of over 70 patents currently residing at international patent offices and many of them have different purposes for their application/submission,” he said.

“The one you quote sits firmly under the umbrella of ‘the strategic patent’. Generic patents help us build different combinations - i.e.: Humans interacting with machines - to prevent any other companies doing similar things in the long term.”

‘Real trouble’

Meanwhile Jason Lovell, a Spinvox customer from Virginia in the US, said he received an email from the service this March that included an audio file of a voicemail message for him.

The text read: “We are employees of Spinvox. Since voicemail to text message service has started by Spinvox we are converting your messages here in Pakistan.”

It invited him to ring a number in Pakistan and concluded “You can confirm please we are in real trouble. Please for God sake.”

Mr Lovell told BBC News that a friend rang the number on his behalf and was told the workers at the call centre were angry because they had not been paid for two months.

The BBC has asked Spinvox to comment on the patent issue and on Mr Lovell’s story.

Manufacturers are being asked to cut the size of chocolate bars, confectionery and cans of fizzy drink to tackle rising rates of obesity.

By 2012, the Food Standards Agency wants chocolate-based snacks such as Mars bars to be no bigger than 50g compared with the current 58g size.

Bars of chocolate should be no larger than 40g, a draft consultation warns.

Industry representatives said they were disappointed by continued moves to set “arbitrary targets”.

The voluntary proposals also call for manufacturers to reduce the amount of saturated fat and added sugar in biscuits, cakes, pastries, chocolate confectionery and soft drinks.

A report from the FSA said there had been some progress - such as moves by United Biscuits to cut saturated fat in Digestives, Hob Nobs and Rich Tea biscuits by 50%.

What we want to do is to make it easier for people to make healthier choices Gill Fine, FSA

Tesco was also highlighted for removing 110 tonnes of saturated fat from its cakes by the end of 2008.

But when it comes to chocolate bars, EU rules restrict sugar and fat reductions, making reformulation difficult, the FSA said.

Reductions are however possible through cutting portion sizes, it added.

Chocolate bars, such as Dairy Milk and Yorkie, including those with added fruit and nuts, should weigh no more than 40g, the FSA said.

And chocolate products with “fillings” such as Mars bars, Twix and Snickers, should weigh no more than 50g and their saturated fat content be cut by at least 10%.

Cans of fizzy drinks should be cut from 330ml to 250ml by 2015, the FSA recommended.

And single portions of sugar-containing still and juice drinks should also be no more than 250ml.

Obesity epidemic

On current trends around 60% of Britons will be obese by 2050.

Health problems associated with obesity already cost the NHS £4.2bn a year, a figure that is set to double by 2050.

Almost nine out of 10 children aged seven to 14 drink fizzy drinks and 34% of 11-16 year-olds consume chocolate at least once a day, figures show.

CURRENT CHOCOLATE SIZES Mars bar 58g Snickers 58g Kit Kat Chunky 50g Dairy Milk 49g Galaxy 46g Yorkie 68g

Gill Fine, director of consumer choice and dietary health at the FSA, said they recognised the achievements already made by some manufacturers.

“But to make even greater progress it’s important that everybody gets behind our recommendations on saturated fat, added sugar and portion sizes.

“What we are not doing is telling people what to eat.

“What we want to do is to make it easier for people to make healthier choices - to choose foods with reduced saturated fat and sugar - or smaller portion sizes.”

Julian Hunt, director of communications at the Food and Drink Federation, said manufacturers had been working on cutting sugar and fat in their products for a number of years but there were significant technical, financial and consumer challenges that companies have to overcome.

“Policy makers need to be realistic about the pace at which our members can be expected to keep delivering new innovations - particularly in the current recession,” he said.

He added that they were committed to working with the FSA but reformulation was just one option.

“We are disappointed that it appears to remain committed to setting arbitrary targets for specific nutrients in certain foods, rather than focusing on the need for everyone to achieve a balanced diet and lifestyle.”

Organic food is no healthier than ordinary food, a large independent review has concluded.

There is little difference in nutritional value and no evidence of any extra health benefits from eating organic produce, UK researchers found.

The Food Standards Agency who commissioned the report said the findings would help people make an “informed choice”.

But the Soil Association criticised the study and called for better research.

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine looked at all the evidence on nutrition and health benefits from the past 50 years.

Without large-scale, longitudinal research it is difficult to come to far-reaching clear conclusions on this, which was acknowledged by the authors of the FSA review Peter Melchett, Soil Association

Among the 55 of 162 studies that were included in the final analysis, there were a small number of differences in nutrition between organic and conventionally produced food but not large enough to be of any public health relevance, said study leader Dr Alan Dangour.

Overall the report, which is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found no differences in most nutrients in organically or conventionally grown crops, including in vitamin C, calcium, and iron.

The same was true for studies looking at meat, diary and eggs.

Differences that were detected, for example in levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, were most likely to be due to differences in fertilizer use and ripeness at harvest and are unlikely to provide any health benefit, the report concluded.

Choice

Gill Fine, FSA director of consumer choice and dietary health, said: “Ensuring people have accurate information is absolutely essential in allowing us all to make informed choices about the food we eat.

“This study does not mean that people should not eat organic food.

“What it shows is that there is little, if any, nutritional difference between organic and conventionally produced food and that there is no evidence of additional health benefits from eating organic food.”

She added that the FSA was neither pro nor anti organic food and recognised there were many reasons why people choose to eat organic, including animal welfare or environmental concerns.

Dr Dangour, said: “Our review indicates that there is currently no evidence to support the selection of organically over conventionally produced foods on the basis of nutritional superiority.”

He added that better quality studies were needed.

Peter Melchett, policy director at the Soil Association said they were disappointed with the conclusions.

“The review rejected almost all of the existing studies of comparisons between organic and non-organic nutritional differences.

“Although the researchers say that the differences between organic and non-organic food are not ‘important’, due to the relatively few studies, they report in their analysis that there are higher levels of beneficial nutrients in organic compared to non-organic foods.

“Without large-scale, longitudinal research it is difficult to come to far-reaching clear conclusions on this, which was acknowledged by the authors of the FSA review.

“Also, there is not sufficient research on the long-term effects of pesticides on human health,” he added.

Extras star Ashley Jensen is expecting her first child with husband Terence Beesley, her agent has confirmed.

The actress, 39, who also stars as Christina McKinney in hit US TV show Ugly Betty, is reportedly due to give birth in the autumn.

Jensen married actor and writer Beesley in Big Sur, California, in a private ceremony in 2007.

The couple got together after they appeared in a London stage production of King Lear.

The actress sparked pregnancy rumours earlier this month when she was pictured with a swollen belly while walking her dog.

Her Ugly Betty character became pregnant herself after she was blackmailed into becoming a surrogate mother for the villainous Wilhelmina Slater.

Jensen was nominated for an Emmy for her role on Ricky Gervais’s series Extras in 2008.

Her work in the show also saw her win two British Comedy awards in 2005.

US actress Bryce Dallas Howard is to play evil character Victoria in the third Twilight film, Eclipse.

The screen star will replace Rachelle Lefevre, who took on the role in the first two instalments of the franchise, its makers have said.

Lefevre quit because production on a film with Dustin Hoffman is due to start in another part of Canada at the same time.

Howard’s other screen credits include Terminator Salvation and Spider-Man 3.

‘New dimension’

Her father is Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, whose films include Frost/Nixon and A Beautiful Mind.

The character of Victoria in the vampire saga is the sworn enemy of the story’s heroine, Bella.

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart play Twilight’s leads

The first film in the series was released last year, and its follow-up, New Moon, is due to hit cinemas in November.

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are the stars of the franchise, which - to date - has proved a box office success.

The third film, also based on the books by Stephanie Meyer, is due to begin production next month and is scheduled for release next June.

A fourth movie based on Meyer’s novel Breaking Dawn is also due to be produced.

Summit Entertainment’s Erik Feig said: “Rachelle brought Victoria to great screen life and Bryce will bring a new dimension to the character.

“The franchise is lucky to have such a talented actress as Bryce coming in to fill the role.”

Police have searched the Las Vegas home and offices of Michael Jackson’s doctor as part of a manslaughter investigation into the singer’s death.

Dr Conrad Murray’s lawyer, Edward Chernoff, said officials were looking for the star’s medical records.

The search is the second in a week following a similar operation at the doctor’s Houston clinic on 22 July.

Dr Murray, who was with Jackson and tried to revive him before he died, has not been named as a suspect.

In a statement, Dr Murray’s lawyer Edward Chernoff said the warrant “authorised investigators to look for medical records relating to Michael Jackson and all of his reported aliases”.

He added Dr Murray was present during the search of his home and assisted the officers, who seized mobile phones and a computer hard drive.

Toxicology results

Reports suggest the investigation around Jackson’s death is focusing on his use of powerful painkilling drugs.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has been involved in the investigation because the agency licenses doctors to administer controlled pharmaceuticals.

Searches at the clinic and another site rented by Dr Murray in Houston, Texas, were carried out last Wednesday after a warrant was issued by a judge in the city.

Dr Murray has already been interviewed twice by police

The warrant, filed in Harris County District Court, said authorities were looking for “items constituting evidence of the offence of manslaughter that tend to show that Dr Conrad Murray committed the said criminal offence”.

Such charges against a doctor for the death of a patient are extremely rare and require authorities to show there was a reckless action that created a risk of death.

Items seized during the searches included 27 tablets of the weight loss drug Phentermine, a tablet of the muscle relaxant Clonazepam, two hard drives, notices from the Internal Revenue Service and a registration for controlled substances.

Police have said Dr Murray is co-operating in the investigation.

Paramedics were called to Jackson’s Los Angeles mansion while Dr Murray was performing CPR on the singer on the day he died, according to a recording of a 911 call.

Speaking a few days after Jackson’s 25 June death, Mr Chernoff, denied his client administered painkilling drugs that could have contributed to the singer’s death.

An official determination of what killed Jackson will not be made until the results of a toxicology report are disclosed.

British Airways is to scrap all meals, except breakfast, on its short-haul flights in a bid to save £22m a year.

Passengers on flights after 10am, which last less than two-and-half hours, will only be served drinks and snacks. They will not have the option to buy food.

The measure, starting next week, comes as the airline is trying to trim costs.

It is raising more than £600m to help weather the recession, while thousands of staff have agreed to take pay cuts or work part-time.

‘Avoid waste’

Currently passengers on short-haul flights typically get a sandwich. This will be replaced by a bag of nuts or another snack.

Axing meals on short-haul flights will reduce BA’s differentiation from the no-frills carriers Laurie Price Airline analyst

But the carrier insisted it was still a “full service” airline, with those flying before 10am continuing to be served breakfast.

“When you fly with British Airways, the in-flight catering is top-class and, unlike some other airlines, it is free,” a BA spokesman said.

“It is not unusual to make small changes to avoid waste and save money where it makes sense and it meets customers’ changing tastes.”

Its research suggested that it was only after two-and-a-half hours in the air that passengers require more substantial refreshments, the airline said.

The British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA) - a union for BA cabin crew - said the airline had informed them of other cuts that it was considering.

These include removing chocolates and Jacobs crackers from first class passengers, taking away hot towels in Club Class, and axing complimentary packets of pretzels in economy.

Revenue stream

Budget carriers have always sold food and drink as an optional extra.

And Easyjet has revealed that the average passenger pays £10 per flight in so-called “ancillary revenues” - which includes items sold on board as well as checked-in baggage charges.

BA will be looking at all of its business and “some sacred cows could go”, said Laurie Price, director of aviation strategy at Mott MacDonald.

“Axing meals on short-haul flights will reduce BA’s differentiation from the no-frills carriers,” he warned.

In-flight catering has changed considerably in recent times

“But with things like not charging for checking in at a desk and free drinks, passengers are still getting more elements of a full service.”

He said that during the day, most passengers would have the opportunity to buy food at the airport, and so there would only be “marginal” profits if BA decided to sell food on board, after taking into account costs including transportation and cleaning.

BA has been in negotiations for several weeks with unions over its wider plans to cut costs and has asked thousands of employees to take pay cuts or work for nothing.

Earlier this month, BA pilots voted overwhelmingly to accept a 2.6% pay cut. Talks with unions representing cabin crew and ground staff are continuing, but if no resolution is reached, there are fears that the firm could face strikes by its 14,000 cabin crew.

Carmakers PSA Peugeot Citroen, Daimler and Nissan have all reported big losses in the face of continuing declines in global vehicles sales.

Peugeot, France’s biggest car firm, made a net loss of 962m euros ($1.4bn; £830m) between January and June. A year ago it reported a profit of 733m euros.

Daimler, the owner of Mercedes-Benz, made a net loss of 1bn euros in the April to June quarter.

Meanwhile, Nissan’s quarterly loss totalled 16.5bn yen ($170m; £104m).

Honda also reported results on Wednesday. Although it avoided a quarterly loss, its profits fell 96%.

Limited scrappage impact

Peugeot said its sales for the first half of the year were down 22%, and that its losses would continue for the remainder of 2009.

A number of European governments have introduced scrappage schemes

Its chief executive, Philippe Varin, said sales were “only partially” helped by the introduction of government scrappage schemes, which offer cash incentives for owners of older vehicles to trade them in for new cars.

The company does not expect European car sales to recover until the end of 2010.

Peugeot sacked former chief executive Christian Streiff in March.

‘Severe’ conditions

Daimler’s 1bn euros quarterly net loss compares with a profit of 1.3bn euros made in the same period a year earlier.

The firm, which makes buses and lorries in addition to cars, saw group-wide sales fall 25% to 19.6bn euros.

Sales of its Mercedes-Benz cars were down 19% from a year before.

Daimler is also continuing to be hit by the expense of giving up its former 19.9% stake in Chrysler, which saw it write off Chrysler’s outstanding loans, and agree to pay $200m (£122m) a year into the firm’s pension fund.

It said its continuing exposure to Chrysler cost it 387m euros during the quarter.

Nissan’s loss for the April to June period compares with a profit of 52.8bn yen a year earlier. Its revenues were down 36%.

Honda’s quarterly profit, also for the April to June quarter, was 7.6bn yen, down from 173.4bn yen last year. Its revenues were 30% lower.

Koichi Kondo, Honda’s executive vice president, said conditions in the global car market remained “extremely severe”.

However, the company does now predict a slow recovery in the marketplace, and has upgraded its annual profits forecast as a result.

Honda now expects to make a net profit of 55bn yen for its financial year to 31 March 2010. Three months ago it had forecast an annual profit of 40bn yen.

Yahoo and Microsoft have announced a long-rumoured internet search deal that will help the two companies take on chief rival Google.

Microsoft’s Bing search engine will power the Yahoo website and Yahoo will in turn become the advertising sales team for Microsoft’s online offering.

Yahoo has been struggling to make profits in recent years.

But last year it rebuffed several takeover bids from Microsoft in an attempt to go it alone.

Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer said the 10-year deal would provide Microsoft’s Bing search engine with the necessary scale to compete.

I believe it establishes the foundation for a new era of internet innovation and development Carol Bartz, Yahoo chief executive

“Through this agreement with Yahoo, we will create more innovation in search, better value for advertisers, and real consumer choice in a market currently dominated by a single company,” said Mr Ballmer.

In return for ceding control of its search engine, Yahoo will get to keep 88% of the revenue from all search ad sales on its site for the first five years of the deal, and have the right to sell adverts on some Microsoft sites.

‘New era’

Yahoo said the deal would benefit Yahoo’s users and advertisers.

MICROSOFT-YAHOO TIMELINE January 2008: Microsoft offers to buy Yahoo for $44.6bn in cash and shares, later raised to $47.5bn May 2008: Microsoft walks away from the table after the two sides fail to agree on a price June 2008: Yahoo strikes a deal to use Google’s technology, with Google ads appearing on some Yahoo search results November 2008: Google abandons the Yahoo deal after objections from anti-trust regulators in the US November 2008: Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang stands down as the firm’s boss April 2009: Yahoo says it will cut 5% of its workforce after quarterly profits drop sharply May 2009: Microsoft relaunches its own search engine, now branded bing.com July 2009: After new speculation, Microsoft and Yahoo finally announce a web search deal Profiles: Yahoo, Google and Microsoft

“This agreement comes with boatloads of value for Yahoo, our users, and the industry. And I believe it establishes the foundation for a new era of internet innovation and development,” said Yahoo chief executive Carol Bartz.

The deal became possible after Yahoo’s co-founder Jerry Yang stepped down as chief executive of the company late last year.

“Only a Yahoo outsider like Ms Bartz could do such a deal,” said Tim Weber, business editor of the BBC News website.

“She has no sentimental attachment to what was once the core of Yahoo, its search business. Microsoft was helped by the fact that at long last it managed to develop a search engine - Bing - that is a credible alternative to search giant Google.”

Yahoo said the deal would boost annual operating income by $500m and secure $200m in savings.

The tie-up will give Microsoft and Yahoo a combined market share in the US search ad market of about 30%.

Google would still be the dominant force with a share of about 65%.

Negotiations

The deal ends years of back-and-forth negotiations between the two companies.

Microsoft originally offered to buy Yahoo in January 2008 - with an offer worth about $47.5bn.

But Mr Ballmer later withdrew that bid after Yahoo’s then boss, Mr Yang, demanded a higher price.

Yahoo instead opting for an online advertising partnership with rival Google instead.

But that tie-up was later abandoned because of the risk of a protracted battle with regulators over competition issues.

England captain Andrew Strauss expects all-rounder Andrew Flintoff to play a full part in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, which starts on Thursday.

The Lancastrian has undergone intensive treatment on an ongoing knee problem, but Strauss said: “Barring any dramatic stuff overnight, he’ll be fit.”

England, who lead 1-0 in the series, will pick from a 12-man squad after spinner Monty Panesar was released.

Australia are expected to keep faith with misfiring bowler Mitchell Johnson.

The paceman, who came into the series with a burgeoning reputation following a series of match-winning displays against South Africa earlier this year, has struggled in the first two Tests.

The left-armer took a total of eight wickets at an average of 41.37 from the Cardiff and Lord’s Tests, and was then hammered for 107 runs in 18.1 overs, taking only one wicket, in a tour match against Northamptonshire last week.

But asked if he had considered dropping Johnson, Australia captain Ricky Ponting replied: “No, to tell you the truth.

“There has been a lot of talk about his technique and his action being all over the place. (But) we have had some good close looks at that and it is actually not.

606: DEBATE The third Test will end in a draw, simple - the weather forecast is pants - England to take a 1-0 lead going into the final two tests Dan188

“I think right at the moment it is more of a confidence thing and we will probably use him more as a strike impact type of bowler.”

Johnson’s form is in stark contrast to Flintoff, who produced a sensational spell of bowling on the fifth morning at Lord’s to lead England to a 115-run victory.

The 31-year-old has been sleeping with a special ‘Game Ready’ compression wrap - designed from NASA spacesuit technology - around his troublesome knee, which helps to remove fluid and reduce inflammation.

And his fitness, proven over two days of intensive workouts leading up to Thursday’s start, is a major boost for England following the loss of star batsman Kevin Pietersen to an Achilles injury.

Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell will come into the side as Pietersen’s replacement on his home ground, despite a concern earlier this week over a slight ankle problem.

And Strauss is tipping him to return to the side “a better player” since being dropped in February.

I think he’s going to be a better batsman for that experience Strauss on Ian Bell

“A player of the calibre of Ian Bell coming in is very reassuring. He’s a proven Test performer, he’s played in the Ashes before and he’s done that spell out of the side that a lot of us have been through.

“Ian’s done a lot of work. We sent him away and it was a pretty bitter pill to swallow. He’s done a lot of fitness work, scored a lot of runs for Warwickshire, he’s done everything we’ve asked of him and he’s had to dig pretty deep to do that.

“I think he’s going to be a better batsman for that experience. It makes you very, very hungry when you come back in.”

That means England’s only selection issue would appear to be the final pace-bowling spot, with Steve Harmison vying to replace Durham team-mate Graham Onions.

Onions, who took 3-91 at Lord’s, has been suffering with a slight hand injury, but is widely expected to get the nod again, despite Harmison being the leading wicket-taker in County Championship division one this season.

However, England will not name their final starting XI until the morning of the match, with the Edgbaston pitch causing some concern.

Groundsman Steve Rouse described the surface as “jelly” last week, and it was under water on Tuesday, despite warmer weather in previous days helping to dry the Test strip.

Twenty five runs is not what I am after in this game. I’m after a big score Ricky Ponting

“I think this is a ’skid-bowler’s’ wicket rather than a ‘bang it in’ wicket,” Rouse told BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday.

“It’s not hard enough for someone like Steve Harmison.”

Heavy rain showers are forecast for Thursday, which could see a delayed start, with more rain expected on Saturday and Sunday after sunny intervals on Friday.

With conditions expected to favour seam bowling, Australia could recall either Shane Watson or Stuart Clark, but are still without Brett Lee, who is recuperating from a side strain which has kept him out of the first two Test matches.

Meanwhile, Aussie skipper Ponting has the chance to become his country’s highest run-scorer in Test cricket.

The 34-year-old needs only 25 runs to overhaul Allan Border’s record tally of 11,174 runs, and averages 56.31 for his country since making his debut against Sri Lanka in Perth during the 1995-96 series.

But he insists he would swap the record for victory at Edgbaston in a heartbeat, saying: “I must admit I haven’t thought about it at all. I’ve got bigger fish to fry than than that right at the moment.

“Twenty five runs is not what I am after in this game. I’m after a big score. I haven’t thought about it since the end of the Lord’s Test.

“We are looking to get level in this series.”

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England (from): Strauss (capt), Cook, Bopara, Bell, Collingwood, Prior, Flintoff, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions, Harmison

Australia (from): Ponting (capt), Clarke, Clark, Haddin, Hauritz, Hilfenhaus, Hughes, Hussey, Johnson, Katich, Manou, McDonald, North, Siddle, Watson.