Cross-platform text-to-speech

[Ken Norris (dialup)]

Hello Rev list,

The subject line really says it all. I need some help researching random
text-to-speech for use in Rev cross-platform. My Macs have talked for years,
but what I need is some sort of cheap English text-to-speech software that
can be accessed from both Macs and PCs.

Also, I need it to speak over the phone (no, it is NOT telemarketing), so
I'm looking to solve a similar problem with cross-platform telephony access
as well.

Ideas? Pointers?

TIA,
Ken N.