Georgia Technology Authority Shifts Into High Gear With Nuance Speech Software

Business Wire, Nov 11, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 2002

Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety Deploys Nuance

Speech Recognition and Text-to-Speech Software, Allowing Drivers

to Renew Drivers Licenses Via Phone

Nuance (Nasdaq:NUAN), the speech software experts, today announced that the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA), an agency that oversees information technology and telecommunications services, has selected Nuance 8.0 speech recognition engine, Nuance Vocalizer 2.0 text-to-speech software, and Nuance's Voice Web Server, as the fundamental building blocks for most of Georgia's new state government-based voice-enabled applications. To this end, GTA recently teamed with the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety (DMVS), Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq:SUNW), EzGov and Nuance to develop a voice-activated driver's license renewal system. With this new system, drivers can call an 800 number and automatically renew their licenses in minutes via speech technology -- thereby eliminating the need for navigating through complicated touch-tone menus, or standing in line at a license office.

"GTA is dedicated to connecting Georgia residents with the information they need via state-of-the-art self-service solutions such as speech-based systems," said Larry Singer, state CIO and executive director of GTA. "GTA's selection of Nuance speech software is a natural extension of our Web access initiative. We recognize that many citizens are not connected to the Internet. As part of our efforts to close the digital divide, we are committed to providing these citizens with the same level of access to state information and services through technologies like speech recognition."

Nuance's Voice Web Server functions as the foundation for the voice-activated component of the DMVS driver's license renewal system. Also core to the solution is Nuance's speech recognition engine and Nuance Vocalizer text-to-speech software, which "reads" text information back to the caller via phone. In addition to license renewal, callers can use the system to register to vote, contribute to charities, and become an organ donor, 24 hours a day by simply speaking simple voice commands.

"Nuance strives to deliver speech solutions that solve real-word problems," said Ronald Croen, President and CEO, Nuance. "And for the state of Georgia, residents waiting in line for hours to renew their drivers' licenses proved to be a real problem. GTA's selection of our speech software for DMVS' voice-driven driver's license renewal service should vastly improve customer satisfaction. The DMVS automated renewal program, which includes the voice driven service, is expected to alleviate 500,000 Georgians from the task of waiting hours in line at license offices."

About Georgia Technology Authority

Established by the Georgia General Assembly, GTA began operating in July 2000 with the goal of expanding online access to government information and services. Major activities include operating the new Georgia Enterprise Portal, www.georgia.gov, which offers quick and easy access to government information; modernizing the state's computing environment and telecommunications services; strengthening the security of the state's computer and information network; and coordinating the state's purchase of technology resources to obtain greater value for its expenditures.

About Nuance

Nuance is the speech software expert. Nuance speech recognition, voice authentication and text-to-speech products enable people to access information and services anytime, anywhere, and from any phone. And the Company's comprehensive service offerings simplify the delivery of speech solutions. In markets around the world, leading carriers and corporations -- including British Airways, Nomura Securities, OnStar, Sprint PCS, United Parcel Service, Vodafone, and many more -- work with Nuance to reduce costs, increase customer satisfaction and retention, create new sources of revenue and improve security. Nuance is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif. and has offices around the world. For more information, visit www.nuance.com or call 1-888-NUANCE-8.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, for example, those relating to the anticipated capabilities, benefits and success of deployments using Nuance products and services and customer adoption of services based on Nuance technology. 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 Nuance technology and/or deployments using Nuance products will not achieve intended capabilities, benefits, customer adoption or broad commercial success; and other factors described in Nuance's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Nuance's last-filed quarterly report on form 10-Q. Nuance does not undertake to update any oral or written forward-looking statements that may be made by or on behalf of Nuance.