A young start-up company with patents for applying voice recognition technology to estimating take-offs got a break Nov. 26 when it signed a partnership agreement with a vendor of software for heavy, highway, utility and environmental contractors.

Heavy Construction System Specialists Inc., Houston, signed up to distribute VT For Pipe, a product of Fastlane Construction Software Inc., Philadelphia. The product was first offered as an all-purpose tool to listen to estimators talk as they page through plans and convert their comments to spreadsheet entries. It has been refocused for the narrower task of estimating utility pipe. Details are at www.fastlanesoftware.com.