InTouch Systems to Deliver Voice-Controlled, Remote Access to Integrated Messaging and the Internet.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 1999--

Remote-Access to Speech-Activated Enhanced Services

Enabled By Advanced Natural Language Voice Portal Software

InTouch Systems today announced an agreement with IBM to utilize the IBM ViaVoice speech and natural language understanding (NLU) technologies in the InTouch voice portal software platform, InFlection -- an innovative, communications solution that enables voice-controlled, remote access to integrated messaging and the Internet.

The InTouch solution will enable wireless, wireline, and Internet service providers (ISPs) to offer remote and mobile workers the ability to: -0-

--   manage their telephone calls, e-mail, voice mail, faxes, address
     book, and calendar

--   gain access to essential Internet and corporate database
     information through the telephone -- all by voice. This makes
     messaging and communication both safer and more convenient for
     busy people who rely on the telephone for remote access to
     integrated messaging and to the information resource of the
     Internet.

-0-

Salespeople, for example, can dial in to a service provider's InFlection-based voice portal service from any phone. Once connected, mobile workers can check their e-mail and voice messages and can receive real-time order status information from their corporate Intranet all through the telephone. Through text-to-speech (TTS) technology, the requested information is then recited back to the salesperson. Similarly, users can access Web-based news, weather or traffic information, banking transaction services and other electronic commerce applications without touching a telephone keypad.

"Speech-activated enhanced services benefit both carriers and subscribers," reports David Berndt, Associate Director of The Yankee Group's Wireless/Mobile Communications Planning Service. "With network-based speech recognition offerings the subscriber becomes more attached to the carrier's service through benefits that include increased convenience for remote access and improved personal safety in the mobile environment."

"Voice-enabled remote access will significantly enhance -- and in some cases change -- the way companies do business," said W. S. (Ozzie) Osborne, general manager of IBM Speech Systems. "InTouch's new solution gives telecommunications companies and ISPs the tools to provide anytime, anywhere access to information and computer resources creating a true e-voice solution."

"When people can interact with a Web application or an Internet Protocol (IP)-based service this way, the ordinary telephone literally becomes the ubiquitous Internet access device," said Michael Krasner, president of InTouch Systems. "IBM's Telephony recognizer and large vocabulary technology makes it possible to launch a variety of Internet information and communications applications from anywhere -- you only need access to a telephone."

Under the terms of the agreement, InFlection, InTouch's open systems, voice portal software platform will leverage IBM's 64,000 word speech recognition vocabulary, text to speech, natural language understanding and ViaVoice Telephony technology. This combination creates a powerful remote access, voice-enabled solution that reinforces both companies' overall technology direction of making it easy, simple, and cost-efficient to rely on computers for business and personal use. InTouch anticipates that first products will be available in July.

About InFlection

InFlection is a suite of intelligent voice-controlled software applications providing a voice portal software platform for Internet and telephony services. InFlection is field-proven in networks in the service provider market, unifying the access and management of a wide range of services, including messaging (voice mail, e-mail, fax, paging), information (calendar and address book) and real-time voice browsing of Web information (including e-commerce).

About InTouch Systems

Privately held, and headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., InTouch focuses exclusively on voice-enabling new and enhanced services in the service provider market. In partnership with leading telecommunication system vendors, InFlection is delivered on field-proven, carrier grade voice platforms. In this way we help service providers attract, retain, and grow their customers. For more information, see InTouch's Web site at http://www.intouchsys.com or call 617/497-9800.

Note to Editors: IBM and ViaVoice are registered trademarks and trademarks of IBM Corporation. InTouch Systems and InFlection are trademarks of InTouch Systems, Inc. Other product and company names are used herein for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.