Toshiba Teams With SpeechWorks to Offer Speech Activated Systems for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses.

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 22, 1999

Toshiba Incorporates SpeechWorks' Over-The-Phone Speech Technology

Into a Broad Portfolio of Computer Telephony Solutions

Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. Telecommunication Systems Division (TAIS TSD), a leader in communication solutions, and SpeechWorks International, Inc., the leading provider of conversational speech recognition solutions for e-business, Wednesday announced an OEM agreement to provide speech activated systems for small and mid-sized businesses.

As part of the relationship, Toshiba will integrate the award winning SpeechWorks(R) technology into its Stratagy Enterprise Server (ES) voice processing and Toshiba Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems. The relationship allows Toshiba business customers to benefit from speech activated systems.

"Toshiba's cost-effective and highly reliable Stratagy ES voice-based solutions combined with the exceptional performance accuracy provided by SpeechWorks, will allow small to mid-sized businesses to enhance the quality of services they provide their customers," said Dave Mandeville, vice president, marketing, TAIS TSD.

The integration of SpeechWorks will provide a speech-enabled interface to Toshiba's existing Stratagy ES auto-attendant, voice messaging and IVR products, bringing a faster and more user-friendly method of navigating corporate directories, voice mail systems and self-service business solutions. The Toshiba systems also allow business customers to receive the latest speech recognition technology, at a competitive price point, to ensure their products are the most advanced.

Powerful, Yet User-Friendly Interface

SpeechWorks provides a very powerful communications capability that allows callers to speak into any phone around the clock to obtain information, be transferred to employees and navigate voicemail using the human voice. SpeechWorks improves the processing interface by allowing the human voice to request automated information, giving users a choice over traditional touch-tone interfaces. For example, a patient calling a doctor's office might hear, "If you are calling to get your last lab results, say `Lab Results.'" The caller can speak into the phone and the system will automatically respond with the appropriate information.

"We are extremely pleased to work with Toshiba, adding high quality voice recognition and interactivity to traditional voicemail, auto attendant and turn-key applications, making it easier and more natural for people to communicate and access information," said Stuart R. Patterson, chief executive officer, SpeechWorks. "Our deployed systems at major companies such as United Airlines, E-TRADE and BellSouth have proven that callers prefer using speech to conduct business. Toshiba is an excellent channel to offer advanced speech systems to the small and mid-sized market."

Turn-key Speech-Enabled Packages

Toshiba will develop and offer applications for Stratagy ES IVR, auto-attendant and voice processing products that are speech enabled. For IVR applications, a speech-enabled interface offers more flexibility for product use, greater menu choices within each individual application, and greater ease of use for the caller. Ideal for small to mid-sized businesses including lawyers' offices, automotive service departments and business locator services. The Stratagy ES speech-enabled applications will give Toshiba customers a technology choice and the opportunity to reduce overall costs for their business by automating common requests like call transfers, scheduling appointments and getting test results.

SpeechWorks Taps Toshiba Dealer Network

The association with Toshiba offers SpeechWorks the opportunity to expand deployments of speech recognition technology more rapidly than before. It also allows SpeechWorks to offer its technology to a wide array of customers. Given the scope of Toshiba's dealer network, SpeechWorks is positioned to increase its penetration of speech recognition technology, particularly in the small to mid-sized business marketplace. Toshiba is dedicated to providing speech recognition solutions that meet market demand and enable companies to boost productivity, reduce costs and take advantage of emerging technologies. SpeechWorks systems are ideal for Toshiba's customer base since they automate frequent and routine calls coming in to a business.

Toshiba dealers are now able to offer Stratagy ES speech recognition features and SpeechWorks technology to address the application and budget requirements of their customers. Customers interested in speech recognition systems can call 800/222-5805 and request more information.

About Toshiba America Information Systems Inc.

With headquarters in Irvine, and with annual sales of approximately $2.5 billion, TAIS is comprised of six divisions, organized into two business groups, which manufacture, market and service a wide range of business and information-oriented products in the United States and Latin America. Products include portable and desktop computers; voice mail systems; digital business telephone systems; interactive voice response systems; network systems and digital cameras. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America Inc., a subsidiary of the $42 billion Toshiba Corp., the seventh largest computer and electronics company and the world's 26th largest industrial corporation in terms of sales. Toshiba Corp. is a world leader in high-technology products with over 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide.

About Toshiba TSD

The TAIS Telecommunication Systems Division markets the Strata DK family of digital business telephone systems, Toshiba Stratagy voice processing systems and Interactive Voice Response. For additional product information contact Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division, 9740 Irvine Blvd., P.O. Box 19724, Irvine, Calif., 92618-1697 or visit the Web site at http://telecom.toshiba.com. Telephone: [phone].

About SpeechWorks International Inc.

SpeechWorks International is the creator of SpeechSite(TM), the first solution to bring the Web model of self-service to the phone, enabling corporations to greet callers, route their calls and respond to requests 24 hours a day, seven days a week. SpeechSite runs on the company's multi-language solution, SpeechWorks(R) 6. SpeechWorks 6 is based on award-winning technology that sets a new standard in speech-enabled e-business with unprecedented recognition accuracy and ease of deployment. SpeechWorks' customer base comprises over 10 of the Fortune 100 including BellSouth, Continental Airlines, E-TRADE, Guardian, Hewlett-Packard, McKesson HBOC, NEXTLINK/FedEx and United Airlines among many others.

With headquarters in Boston and with offices worldwide, SpeechWorks is a privately held corporation with financing from venture capital firms, Intel Corp. (through the Intel64 Fund), and SAP. The company's solutions incorporate several patented technologies, and are based on research originally conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. SpeechWorks Here(TM) is a mark of industry excellence. To experience the power of SpeechWorks, call toll-free: 888/SAY-DEMO. For additional information, call 617/428-4444 or visit http://www.speechworks.com.

SpeechWorks, SpeechWorks Here and SpeechSite are either trademarks or registered trademarks of SpeechWorks International Inc. in the United States and other countries.