ScanSoft has significant relationships with both IBM and Microsoft, even though they are also competitors:
PEABODY, Mass., April 25, 2003 - ScanSoft, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSFT), a leading supplier of imaging, speech and language solutions, today announced a set of agreements with IBM, a pioneer in speech technology, through which the companies will extend speech technology and applications across enterprise, desktop and multimodal environments.
The relationship encompasses dictation applications, telephony-based speech recognition technology and applications, and text-to-speech solutions. Under this agreement:
* IBM will Support and Assist ScanSoft in Porting and Testing Its Telephony Applications for IBM's WebSphere Platform - IBM's WebSphere customers will be able to add ScanSoft's VoiceXML-based speech applications to their current platforms. The two companies will collaborate to ensure that the ScanSoft VoiceRequest and DirectoryAssistance applications are compliant with the VoiceXML 2.0 standard and interoperable with IBM's voice portal solution, WebSphere Voice Application Access. By supporting open standards and porting these applications to the WebSphere platform, ScanSoft can extend its reach throughout IBM's channels and customer base. Applications that are VoiceXML compliant can be extended to multimodal applications through the use of the X+V specification - currently under consideration by the W3C.
* IBM Expands License Agreement for ScanSoft RealSpeak - IBM has expanded its license agreement to resell ScanSoft RealSpeak TTS, which converts text into human-sounding synthesized speech in 20 languages, and is widely used within telephony server, PC and embedded device applications. As speech applications become more mainstream, this agreement will enable IBM to offer a choice of IBM or RealSpeak TTS to customers, offering best-of-breed technology based on language and platform. It will also significantly expand ScanSoft's channel for RealSpeak worldwide.
* ScanSoft will Distribute IBM ViaVoice Desktop Products - IBM has granted ScanSoft global distribution rights to IBM ViaVoice desktop dictation products. ScanSoft will market, distribute, sell and support the product for the Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh platforms. The relationship leverages ScanSoft's expertise and resources in delivering productivity applications through broad channels and will help bring dictation solutions to a wider audience. IBM's ViaVoice desktop products complement the ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking family by expanding languages and channels for China, Germany, Japan and Latin America, and by adding Macintosh-based editions to its product line. IBM will continue to enhance and develop new versions of ViaVoice desktop products.
"Speech technology is fast-becoming an integral part of the mainstream pervasive computing infrastructure," said Rodney Adkins, General Manager, IBM Pervasive Computing Division. "This agreement gives our customers greater options in speech applications, technologies and languages. This not only expands both companies' offerings and routes to market in server and embedded speech, paving the way for multimodal applications in the future - it also opens channels on the desktop diction market. This will allow customers from both companies to further extend their use of speech technology."
"We are pleased that IBM has selected ScanSoft as a key partner for its speech solutions, providing broader opportunities for customers and partners alike," said Paul Ricci, chairman and CEO of ScanSoft. "This relationship allows our respective organizations to focus on customer requirements and help accelerate the adoption of standards-based speech solutions on a broad scale, spanning multimodal, enterprise and desktop deployments."
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ScanSoft and Microsoft Sign Expanded Global Speech Technology Licensing Agreement
Microsoft Selects ScanSoft Text-to-Speech Technology for Microsoft Server Family of Products and Deepens Collaboration
Peabody, Mass., and Redmond, Wash. - Nov. 17, 2004 - ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT), the global leader of speech and imaging solutions, and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced an expanded worldwide agreement that authorizes Microsoft to deploy ScanSoft text-to-speech (TTS) technology in Microsoft® server application product lines, beginning with Microsoft Speech Server 2004. This global agreement covers the full portfolio of ScanSoft's industry-leading network text-to-speech offerings, access to ScanSoft's premier professional services organization and ScanSoft's Virtuoso™ custom voice program. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"Microsoft and ScanSoft share a common vision for bringing speech technologies into the mainstream. The breadth and human-like quality of ScanSoft's TTS technology was a key factor in our decision to partner strategically with ScanSoft in this area," said Kai-Fu Lee, vice president for Microsoft Speech Technologies at Microsoft. "Usage of ScanSoft's technology and services will add significant value and a great user experience for our enterprise customers."
Microsoft has licensed ScanSoft TTS software as the flagship TTS solution for a range of Microsoft server applications, including Microsoft Speech Server 2004. The industry-leading TTS software accurately converts textual information such as account balances, store locations, stock quotes and billing addresses into natural-sounding speech, and is included in Microsoft Speech Server 2004 as part of the standard product offering, in addition to being licensed for Microsoft's inclusion in future offerings of other Microsoft servers.
ScanSoft delivers field-proven speech solutions that use the human voice to interact with information systems and devices, and its unmatched portfolio and expertise help thousands of companies around the world to improve the way we communicate. These resources are now available for Microsoft server application customers who wish to further customize their experience, either through ScanSoft's Virtuoso™ custom voice program, or for those who simply wish to leverage ScanSoft's professional services organization to design and deploy their speech application.
"Our strategic relationship with Microsoft is a critical component to our strategy to extend the same high level of value, economic and customer satisfaction benefits to a broader and growing marketplace by leveraging Microsoft's extensive global distribution network and expertise," said Paul Ricci, chairman and CEO, ScanSoft. "We are excited to work with Microsoft on these strategic initiatives."
SpeechWorks® solutions from ScanSoft have helped thousands of enterprise and telecommunications organizations around the world, including Aetna, Bank of America, Boeing, Singapore Telecom and Verizon, redefine the way they communicate and interact. Through its global partner network, the company delivers field-proven solutions that use the human voice to interact with information systems and devices. Today, thousands of companies and millions of users around the world depend on ScanSoft and its SpeechWorks division to deliver vital business information and simplify everyday life. |
