Abstract: A service platform provides automated speech based services over a telephone network. It includes a speech processor with associated memory, to provide services such as speech recognition, speaker recognition, speaker verification and speech synthesis. A line interface terminates a number of telephony channels of the network while a speech bus carries speech signals between the line interface and the speech processor. A control processor controls routing of speech signals over the speech bus and a control bus connects the control processor with the speech processor and the line interface. A separate memory holds speech processing software and a data link connects the memory with the speech processor to load programs into the speech processor during run time in the event that appropriate software does not exist on the speech processor in a free state.