Alliance Systems Announces Addition of VoiceXML Speech Servers; Features Best-of-Breed Products from Intel, ScanSoft and Envox Worldwide.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 22, 2004

Alliance Systems, a provider of value added services for converged communications solutions, today introduced new speech servers that address the growing demand for easy-to-use systems for developing and deploying VoiceXML-based speech solutions. The new VoiceXML speech solutions feature powerful pre-configured servers with market-leading, VoiceXML-based speech recognition technologies from ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq:SSFT), standards-based telephony hardware building blocks from Intel, and Envox Worldwide's communications development platform, which includes a rapid application development environment, a VoiceXML gateway, and advanced system administration capabilities. To reduce setup and configuration time and guarantee interoperability, Alliance Systems will pre-install all components and test each server in their TL9000 certified integration facility before delivery to ensure that each server meets the customers' requirements.

"VoiceXML has become the standard for developing and deploying speech solutions," said Rusty Cone, president of Alliance Systems. "We have responded to this opportunity by leveraging our system integration and technical expertise to deliver VoiceXML speech servers that will provide customers with 'plug and play' ease of use and unprecedented price/performance."

The Alliance VoiceXML Speech Server product line includes:

-- SpeechWorks OpenSpeech(TM) Recognizer from ScanSoft

-- SpeechWorks OpenSpeech(TM) DialogModules from ScanSoft

-- SpeechWorks Speechify(TM) from ScanSoft

-- Envox 5 Communications Development Platform

-- Intel(R) Dialogic(R) D/41JCT-LS Telephony Boards

These powerful, integrated speech servers are perfectly suited for developers creating and deploying solutions, such as speech-enabled IVR, speech-enhanced self-service solutions, alerts & notifications, and voice portals.

"The new VoiceXML Speech Servers from Alliance Systems bring together products from the communications ecosystem to offer developers the capacity to create and deploy a wide range of VoiceXML-based speech solutions running on standards-based building blocks," said Tim Moynihan, director of product marketing, Network Building Block Division, Intel. "By combining these components into a standards-based solution, Alliance is able to offer developers and system owners a flexible, scalable solution."

"We are pleased to be working with industry leaders like Intel, Alliance and Envox to deliver a turnkey solution to enterprise customers," said Steve Chambers, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Network Speech Solutions at ScanSoft. "By leveraging our speech technologies, including OpenSpeech DialogModules, developers will be able to accelerate application development of speech applications that lower costs and increase caller satisfaction."

"We are pleased to be working closely with Alliance Systems to accelerate the adoption of their VoiceXML-based speech solutions," said Mark D. Flanagan, President & COO of Envox Worldwide. "By including Envox in their speech server product line, Alliance Systems ensures that developers can easily integrate ScanSoft's speech recognition and text-to-speech capabilities into their applications and run their applications in diverse data, back office, and telephony environments, including those powered by Intel products."

The Alliance's VoiceXML Speech Servers consists of a 4-port development system, starting at just $9,995, and a range of production servers, available in 4-, 12-, 24-, 48- and 96-port configurations, for the deployment of the VoiceXML solutions that are developed.

For additional information, visit www.alliancesystems.com.

About Alliance Systems

Alliance Systems is the leading provider of communications and computing infrastructure solutions. As a value added service provider, Alliance provides systems integration; outsource manufacturing; professional and technical support services; and distribution of open standards-based communications products to software developers, Original Equipment Manufacturers, Value Added Resellers and service providers. Alliance Systems' solutions range from carrier-class communication servers and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) infrastructure to interactive contact center design and system implementations. Alliance is an Intel Authorized Distributor, Cisco Reseller, and Microsoft Gold Certified System Builder among other industry certifications with installed products in more than 90 countries. For more information, please visit www.alliancesystems.com.

About ScanSoft, Inc.

ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq:SSFT) is the leading supplier 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.

About Envox Worldwide

Envox Worldwide is headquartered in Boston and Stockholm. With over 300,000 ports deployed on a global basis, the company is a leading provider of voice-enhanced communications solutions for service providers and enterprise customers that enable anytime, anywhere information access and transactions. Its software and services reduce the cost, time-to-market, and complexity of developing these solutions, which currently include interactive voice response, enhanced self-service, automated directory assistance, voice-enabled CRM, alerts & notifications, mobile Internet, voice portals and unified communications, among others. The company delivers its solutions through a global network of channel partners, including VARs, System Integrators, Service and Solution Providers, ISVs, OEMs, ASPs, consultants and other resellers. For more information, please visit www.envox.com.

Intel, Intel Dialogic, and the Intel logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.