Nuance and Cisco Sign Multi-year Agreement; Cisco to Integrate Nuance Speech Recognition into AVVID Product Line

Business Wire, March 19, 2001

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 19, 2001

Nuance (NASDAQ:NUAN), the leader in Voice Web software, and Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) today announced that they have entered into a multi-year agreement enabling Cisco to incorporate Nuance's market-leading speech recognition and voice authentication software into its Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data (AVVID) products.

Under the agreement, Cisco will integrate Nuance's speech software into its products to harness the power of human speech as part of its Internet Protocol-based enterprise communication solutions, including Cisco's Call Manager and associated applications. The AVVID products are scheduled to launch in the second quarter 2001.

"Cisco's integration of Nuance software is a clear endorsement of our technology, and a testament to Cisco's dedication to providing leading-edge technology to its customers," says Nuance president and CEO Ron Croen. "Together, we'll help usher in the Voice Web generation."

About Nuance

Nuance is the leader in Voice Web software - speech recognition, voice authentication, text-to-speech and voice browsing products that make the information and services of enterprises, telecommunications networks and the Internet accessible from any telephone. Every day, millions of people interact with Nuance systems at companies like BeVocal, Lycos, Merrill Lynch, Nomura Securities, Sprint PCS, and Tellme Networks. Nuance is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif. with global sales offices and partners supporting solutions in multiple languages around the world. For more information about Nuance, visit www.nuance.com or call 1-888-NUANCE-8.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, for example, those relating to Cisco's integration of Nuance's software into AVVID products; the growth of the Voice Web; and the anticipated availability of Cisco's AVVID products. There is no assurance that the results contemplated by any forward-looking statements will be realized. The following factors, risks and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described or implied in this press release's forward-looking statements: the risk that Cisco will not integrate Nuance speech recognition and voice authentication software into its AVVID products; the risks that products and services based on Nuance technology are not widely adopted; the risk that Cisco will not launch its AVVID products in the anticipated timeframe; and other factors described in Nuance's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Nuance's last-filed prospectus and quarterly report. Nuance does not undertake to update any oral or written forward-looking statements that may be made by or on behalf of Nuance.