Abstract: A service platform for the provision of automated speech based services over a telephone network comprises a speech processor including associated memory, to provide at least one of speech recognition, speaker recognition, speaker verification, speech synthesis; line interface means for terminating a number of telephony channels of the network; a speech bus to carry speech signals between the line interface means and the speech processor; a control processor to control the routing of speech signals over the speech bus; a control bus connecting the control means with the speech processor and the line interface; a separate memory holding speech processing software; and a data link connecting the memory means with the speech processing means and operable to load programs into the speech processor during rum time in the event that the appropriate software does not exist on the speech processor in a free state.