Voice Perfect Systems Selects ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking to Pow

    Business Editors/High-Tech Editors
    CeBIT 2005
    Hal 3 booth E56

    HANOVER, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2005--

    Voice Perfect Developers Use ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking SDK to Enable Automatic Meeting and Interview Transcription for Multiple
    Speakers

    ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT), a global leader of speech and imaging solutions, announced that Voice Perfect Systems has selected the ScanSoft(R) Dragon NaturallySpeaking(R) 8 SDK (software developer kit) for Voice Perfect Multi-Speak, a meeting transcription and recording solution. Voice Perfect Multi-Speak uses the award-winning Dragon NaturallySpeaking speech recognition technology to enable automatic, instantaneous transcription of meeting or interview proceedings involving multiple participants. The new solution from Voice Perfect will be demonstrated this week at CeBIT by ScanSoft's German distribution partner EGS Computer Vertrieb GmBH in Hanover, Hal 3 booth E56.
    With Voice Perfect Multi-Speak, organizations can for the first time automatically produce simultaneous transcriptions of meetings or interviews between two or more persons. As the participants speak into a headset or microphone, Multi-Speak utilizes Dragon NaturallySpeaking technology to transcribe spoken words to text almost instantly, and also creates an audio recording of the meeting session or interview, which can then be archived. Immediately upon the conclusion of a meeting or interview, a full transcript of the session is available for review with links to the original audio recordings.
    "This is an exciting development in speech recognition," said Steve Freeman, CEO of Voice Perfect Systems. "Multi-Speak leverages Dragon NaturallySpeaking technology to offer significant value to a variety of industries, as it not only increases productivity by eliminating the time and cost associated with manual transcription of meetings and interviews, but it also offers efficiencies in implementing corporate governance standards through cost-effective record-keeping."
    Voice Perfect Multi-Speak was developed in conjunction with the Australian Department of Defense, which uses Multi-Speak internally to improve efficiency and accountability. Voice Perfect and its partners are commercializing and internationalizing the product, including the incorporation of advanced features of ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8. Multi-Speak will be exhibited in its German version at this year's Hanover CeBIT technology conference.
    The ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking SDK is used by developers and integrators to rapidly add both client- and server-based speech recognition capabilities directly into in-house and commercial applications. The Dragon NaturallySpeaking SDK provides everything needed to add cutting-edge speech recognition technology to any workflow application. This toolkit enables everything from free text dictation to command and control functionality, and can be deployed as part of a server- or client-based solution.
    "Speech recognition is an efficient and affordable solution for organizations that are looking to eliminate manual transcription costs, save time, and comply with industry standards," said John Shagoury, president, ScanSoft Productivity Applications Division. "We are pleased that Voice Perfect is leveraging Dragon NaturallySpeaking to deliver such a valuable solution across many industries."

    Pricing and Availability

    Voice Perfect Multi-Speak Interview Edition will be available on April 14, 2005, starting at EUR 650 for the two-person system (plus local charges and taxes). Multi-Speak will be available internationally from Voice Perfect and its partners.

    About ScanSoft Inc.

    ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT) is a leading supplier of imaging, speech and language 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(R) products and technologies, please visit www.scansoft.com.

    About Voice Perfect Systems

    Voice Perfect Systems specializes in solutions based on ScanSoft's Dragon NaturallySpeaking software and associated software developer kits (SDKs). Founded in Australia in 1994, Voice Perfect's other products include LegalSpeak, BIZSpeak, NZSpeak, MediSpeak and PathSpeak. The company's reach stretches throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Voice Perfect Multi-Speak is the latest innovation from this leading-edge company. For further information, please go to the company's web site at this location: www.voiceperfect.com.

    Trademark reference: ScanSoft, the ScanSoft logo, Dragon, and NaturallySpeaking are registered trademarks or trademarks of ScanSoft, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other company or product names mentioned may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

    The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with market trends, competitive factors, and other risks identified in ScanSoft's SEC filings. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

    At CeBIT, contact:
    EGS Computer Vertrieb GmbH
    Steinhof 63
    D 40699 Erkrath
    Tel. +49 (0) 211 -924070; info@egs-vertrieb.de

--30--MA/bo*

CONTACT: ScanSoft International ScanSoft Belgium BVBA Vanessa Richter, +32-9-239 80 31 vanessa.richter@scansoft.com or Voice Perfect Systems Greg Findlay, +61 7 3235 0603 greg.findlay@voiceperfect.com www.voiceperfect.com

KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE SOURCE: ScanSoft, Inc

Copyright Business Wire 2005