Kelsey Group Names Nuance Speech Software Leader in Global Telecommunications Market

MENLO PARK, CA - Nuance (Nasdaq:NUAN), the speech software company, announced that the Kelsey Group, a leading authority on speech-based technologies and opportunities, named Nuance the speech software leader in the global telecommunications market. "One of our biggest 'aha's,' in putting together this year's Voice-Ecosystem 2002 Outlook and Planning Guide, was the discovery of how widely deployed voice-activated services have already become in the global carrier marketplace," said Mark Plakias, program director, Kelsey Group. "Our research also confirmed what many in the industry have been saying about Nuance's leadership position in the global telecommunications market." Designed to enable highly accurate, scalable, and easy-to-deploy voice solutions, speech recognition from Nuance allows end users to enjoy faster and more efficient phone-based interactions, while enabling carriers to improve customer satisfaction and lower costs. Telecommunications companies are employing speech recognition from Nuance to power new services such as voice activated dialing, directory assistance, and voice portal offerings. Additionally, Nuance speech software is being used to handle routine services such as account management, change of address, pay station locators, and other requests currently processed by operators at expensive contact centers. "Nuance is working with more than eighty percent of the world's top twenty-five telecommunications carriers to deliver voice-enabled service offerings that enhance operational efficiencies and improve customer satisfaction," said Ron Croen, president and CEO, Nuance. "Telecommunications companies choose Nuance because our voice solutions deliver the reliability and scalability required to make exciting new services possible -- with high rates of customer satisfaction and a measurable return on investment." Companies working with Nuance's products include AT&T Wireless, Bell Canada, BellSouth, British Telecom, Cingular, Japan Telecom, KT Freetel, Qwest Wireless, Sprint, Telia Mobile, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Vodafone.