Hey, will this be a good stock?
-- Lernout & Hauspie Announces L&H PDsay To Voice Enable Pocket PCs --
Business/Technology Editors
BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2001--
Remarkable New Speech Application Allows the Power of Voice to
Activate Personal Digital Assistants, Enhancing Performance and Ease
of Use
The Speech and Language Technologies Division (SLT) of Lernout &
Hauspie Speech Products N.V and its affiliates (OTC: LHSPQ)
(collectively `L&H'), a world leader in speech and language
technology, products, and services, today announced its new product,
L&H(TM) PDsay(TM). This new voice software provides users with
eyes-free and hands-free access to Pocket PC information. Through
natural spoken commands, users can navigate through Personal
Information Management (PIM) tools such as contact databases and
appointment calendars, as well as hear e-mails and appointments read
out loud with L&H's award-winning, high quality Text-To-Speech (TTS)
technology.
L&H(TM) PDsay(TM) provides Pocket PC users numerous time saving
features and benefits for personal information management.
Multi-tasking is made easy by providing users with direct access to
information using voice and automatic spoken reminders of upcoming
meetings and dates, while simultaneously working on other items. With
no training, users can say simple natural commands such as "Next
Appointment," "Read e-mail," or "Start Internet Explorer," as well as
launch various applications, such as Microsoft(R) Pocket Word(R) or
Microsoft(R) Internet Explorer, all by voice.
Key Features of L&H(TM) PDsay(TM) Include:
-- Fast access to contact information using simple voice commands
-- Automatic voice notification of appointments and new e-mail
-- E-mail reading using Text-to-Speech
-- Easy PIM navigation with natural voice commands
"Voice technologies used in conjunction with Pocket PC
applications are a natural combination," said Bill DeStefanis, Vice
President of Product Management, L&H Speech and Language Technologies
Division. "L&H PDsay is the result of our companies' extensive
experience in the development of speech technologies. We understand
the value of increased productivity and enhanced ease of use for our
customers. L&H PDsay not only responds to the user's voice commands
but also uses L&H's award-winning, natural sounding Text-to-Speech to
alert the users of upcoming appointments and tasks. L&H PDsay sets the
standard by which other speech applications will be judged."
Pricing, System Requirements and Availability
L&H(TM) PDsay(TM) is available in US English as a downloadable
application from the L&H Website at www.LHSL.com/pdsay. The suggested
retail price has been set at US $39.99. The application will also be
available for download on other popular Internet sites.
L&H(TM) PDsay(TM) requires the following hardware device:
Compaq(R) iPAQTM 3630 Pocket PC or higher, Pocket PC form factor,
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) CE 3.0.9348 or greater, Intel(R) Strong ARM
SA1110 processor, 206 MHz (minimum), Docking Cradle with battery
charger and USB port connection, 32 MB of RAM (minimum). The minimum
desktop requirements include; ActiveSync(R) 3.1 or greater,
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Me, 2000, 98, 95, or Microsoft(R) Windows
NT(R) Workstation 4.0 with Service Pack 3 or later, Desktop computer
with Intel(R) Pentium(R) processor for Microsoft(R) Windows NT(R) (166
MHz required for Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000), Desktop computer with
Intel(R) Pentium(R) processor for Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Me (150 MHz
required for Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Me), Desktop computer with a
486/66 DX or higher processor (Intel(R) Pentium(R) P90 recommended)
for Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95/98, 16 MB of memory for Microsoft(R)
Windows(R) 95/98 (more memory will give improved performance) or
Microsoft(R) Windows NT(R) Workstation 4.0 (32 MB recommended) for
Microsoft(R) Windows NT(R), 64 MB recommended for Microsoft(R)
Windows(R) 2000), 32 MB of memory for Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Me, Hard
disk drive with 10 to 50 MB of available hard disk space (actual
requirements will vary based on selection features and user's current
system configuration), Microsoft(R) Outlook(R) 2000, 98, or 97
(desktop), Microsoft(R) Pocket Outlook(R) 2000 (e-mail, calendar,
contacts and tasks) on device.
About Lernout & Hauspie
L&H is a global leader in advanced speech and language solutions
for vertical markets, computers, automobiles, telecommunications,
embedded products, consumer goods, and the Internet. The company is
making the speech user interface (SUI) the keystone of simple,
convenient interaction between humans and technology. The company
provides a wide range of offerings, including: customized solutions
for corporations; core speech technologies marketed to OEMs; end user
applications for continuous speech products in vertical markets; and
document creation and linguistic tools. L&H's products and services
originate in the following basic areas: automatic speech recognition
(ASR), text-to-speech (TTS), search and retrieval and datamining of
audio and video files. For more information, please visit L&H on the
World Wide Web at www.lhsl.com.
This Press Release contains forward-looking information that
involves risks and uncertainties, including statements about L&H's
plans, objectives, expectations, and intentions. Readers are cautioned
that forward looking statements include known and unknown risks,
including uncertainty of new product development, the risk that newly
introduced products may contain undetected errors or defects or
otherwise not perform as anticipated, early state of development of
the speech, language and medical information technology markets, the
ability of L&H's customers to successfully integrate and commercialize
L&H's technology, the uncertainties associated with the Company's
Chapter 11 filings in the US and related proceedings in Belgium, the
retention of key technical and other personnel, currency and other
risks related to international operations, rapid technological change
and intense competition, as well as other risks set forth in L&H's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date
of this Press Release.
L&H, the L&H logo, and PDsay, are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. or its
affiliates, in the United States and/or other countries. All other
product names or trademarks referenced herein are trademarks of their
respective owners.
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CONTACT: L&H Speech and Language Technologies Division:
Media Contact US:
Catherine Van Evans, Lernout & Hauspie
+1 (781) 203-5286, catherine.van.evans@lhsl.com
Jonna Schuyler, FitzGerald Communications
617-488-9500 ext. 263, jschuyler@fitzgerald.com
or
Media Contact EMEA:
Vanessa Richter, Lernout & Hauspie
+ 32 57-2295-18, vanessa.richter@lhs.be
or
L&H Corporate Contact Info:
Investor Relations:
Allan Forsey, Lernout & Hauspie
+1 (781) 203-5233, aforsey@lhsl.com |
