Speech recognition technology is central to IVR systems and has been for a while, but the technology is now entering the mainstream, most notably through smartphones such as the iPhone with Siri.

Getting the technology to the user has historically come through relationships between “device OEMs and platform vendors,” according to the EE Times in an article last week. (And IVR systems, obviously.)

Essentially, when someone buys speech-recognition technology, it’s most likely through the device or specific application they’re buying. It’s not something that they’ve been able to download to a mobile device as an after-market add-on.

According to EE Times, things may change as developers are turning to the cloud as a way to get their products to consumers.

“Reaching a varied group of developers working on different OS and hardware platforms makes cloud-based solutions the optimum approach to enabling the masses,” ABI Research analyst Michael Morgan told EE Times. “It is the approach of using network-based solutions that will drive the rapid increase in cloud-based revenues.”

If developers can find a less restrictive means of delivering their apps through the cloud, it could open up the market.

“Leveraging the cloud as a delivery mechanism, platform vendors can enable nearly any application developer that wishes to make its user interface experience more efficient,” added ABI’s Jeff Orr. “ABI Research expects that consumers will first see the benefits of these efforts in mobile banking and retail applications.”

That makes sense. And should be a welcome addition.