ScanSoft Introduces OpenSpeech Attendant, a Field-Proven Auto-Attendant Application for VoiceXML-Based Telephony Platform Providers

Business Wire, June 16, 2004

PEABODY, Mass. -- Company Extends Packaged Application Portfolio to Provide Its Global Network of Standards-Based Platform Providers with Its Market-Leading Call Routing Solution

ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT), the global leader of speech and imaging solutions, today announced the availability of OpenSpeech(TM) Attendant 1.0, the company's standards-based auto-attendant solution. Based on the SpeechWorks Division of ScanSoft's market leading SpeechAttendant(R) 8.1 architecture, OpenSpeech Attendant offers partners and developers a packaged, VXML-based application to strengthen their portfolio of speech application assets for both new and existing customers.

Standards-based platform providers using OpenSpeech Attendant leverage the industry's single largest name dictionary available anywhere -- containing well over a million names. As a result, intensive tuning time typically associated with the deployment of speech-enabled auto-attendants is decreased dramatically. Additionally, OpenSpeech Attendant maximizes the superior performance and accuracy of OpenSpeech(TM) Recognizer speech recognition and natural-sounding Speechify(R) text-to-speech software. With improved accuracy, simplified system administration and support for large directories containing more than 100,000 names, OpenSpeech Attendant is a powerful packaged application offering.

"Enterprises today are looking to reduce costs, speed time-to-market and leverage open-systems compatibility, which ultimately leads to a faster return on investment," said John Cameron, Executive Vice-President at VoiceGenie Technologies. "The combination of NeXusPoint(TM), VoiceGenie's open, VoiceXML-based framework, and OpenSpeech Attendant enables enterprise organizations to quickly implement speech using a fully packaged and field proven application. This combination provides additional value to customers that may want to extend their existing gateway investment with more complex speech services in the future."

OpenSpeech Attendant capitalizes on the SpeechWorks Division's extensive past and on-going investment in its SpeechAttendant solution, which is widely recognized as the superior call routing and auto-attendant offering in the market with more than 1,000 installations worldwide and handling over one-half billion calls annually (see related release "ScanSoft Releases SpeechAttendant 8.1, its Market-Leading Auto-Attendant Solution" June 16, 2004). By extending its auto-attendant offering to its standards-based platform partners, enterprise organizations worldwide can optimize their existing investments in a VoiceXML infrastructure.

Broadest Portfolio of Speech Applications

The SpeechWorks Division supports an unmatched portfolio of packaged speech applications for auto-attendant and call routing, automated directory assistance, user authentication and specific vertical markets through its SpeechPAK(TM) offering. Each offering incorporates SpeechWorks' years of relevant industry experience, field-proven process, best practices in user interface design, and patented speech technologies.

"With the acquisition of LocusDialog we are able to expand our packaged applications portfolio and augment our professional services organization to offer unmatched services experience, channel capabilities and turnkey solutions for the auto-attendant market," said Steve Chambers, president of SpeechWorks, a division of ScanSoft. "We've leveraged those assets, along with our expertise and leadership in developing VoiceXML-based applications, to the benefit of our standards-based platform partners, so that they can offer the market leading auto-attendant solution to their customers around the world."

Pricing and Availability

OpenSpeech Attendant is immediately available. For additional information and pricing contact your local sales representative or visit www.scansoft.com/speech.> About the SpeechWorks Division of ScanSoft

SpeechWorks(R) is the most trusted name in speech. Through its global partner network, SpeechWorks delivers field-proven applications that revolutionize the way people interact. Today, thousands of companies and millions of users around the world depend on SpeechWorks solutions from ScanSoft to deliver vital business information and simplify every day life. For information, please visit http://www.scansoft.com/speech.> About ScanSoft, Inc.

ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT) is the global leader of speech and imaging solutions that are used to automate a wide range of manual processes - saving time, increasing worker productivity and improving customer service. For more information regarding ScanSoft products and technologies, please visit www.ScanSoft.com.

ScanSoft, OpenSpeech, SpeechWorks, SpeechAttendant, SpeechPAK, and the ScanSoft logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of ScanSoft, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All other company or product names may be the trademarks of their respective owners.