Method for implementing an interactive automated system, comprising: using a processing system located in proximity to a person, receiving in a first step an indication of intent from the person and, thereafter, in a second step, receiving from the person a spoken utterance associated with the indicated intent; processing the spoken utterance of the second step using the processing system; transmitting the processed speech information to a remote data center using a wireless link; analyzing the transmitted processed speech information to scale and end-point the spoken utterance; based upon the indicated intent, selecting at least one optimal speech recognition engine from a set of speech recognition engines, wherein each speech recognition engine of the set of speech recognition engines is located remotely from the processing system; converting the analyzed speech information into packet data format to produce packet speech information; using an internet-protocol transport network, transporting the packet speech information to the selected at least one optimal speech recognition engine for translation of the converted speech information into text format; retrieving recognition results and an associated confidence score from the at least one optimal speech recognition engine; continuing an automated dialog with the person if the confidence score meets or exceeds a pre-determined threshold for a best match; and selecting at least one alternative optimal speech recognition engine to translate the converted speech information into text format if the confidence score is below the pre-determined threshold for the best match. using a processing system located in proximity to a person, receiving in a first step an indication of intent from the person and, thereafter, in a second step, receiving from the person a spoken utterance associated with the indicated intent; processing the spoken utterance of the second step using the processing system; transmitting the processed speech information to a remote data center using a wireless link; analyzing the transmitted processed speech information to scale and end-point the spoken utterance; based upon the indicated intent, selecting at least one optimal speech recognition engine from a set of speech recognition engines, wherein each speech recognition engine of the set of speech recognition engines is located remotely from the processing system; converting the analyzed speech information into packet data format to produce packet speech information; using an internet-protocol transport network, transporting the packet speech information to the selected at least one optimal speech recognition engine for translation of the converted speech information into text format; retrieving recognition results and an associated confidence score from the at least one optimal speech recognition engine; continuing an automated dialog with the person if the confidence score meets or exceeds a pre-determined threshold for a best match; and selecting at least one alternative optimal speech recognition engine to translate the converted speech information into text format if the confidence score is below the pre-determined threshold for the best match.