SCANSOFT: ScanSoft announces Pagis Pro 3.0 Scanning Suite.

M2 PRESSWIRE-26 May 1999-SCANSOFT: ScanSoft announces Pagis Pro 3.0 Scanning Suite (C)1994-99 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:250599

* Top selling scanning suite now features new TextBridge Pro 9.0, Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition, and enhanced Pagis document management software

READING -- ScanSoft (NASDAQ: SSFT), a leading provider of digital imaging and optical character recognition (OCR) software, today announced the next generation of scanning software with Pagis Pro 3.0 Scanning Suite for Microsoft Windows@ 95, 98 and NT 4.0. This new release features many major enhancements, including the addition of TextBridge Pro 9.0, ScanSoft's newest, most accurate OCR software to date, and Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition for colour photo editing. In addition, Pagis software now offers several new features designed to make it easier to organise, find and share documents and photos.

"Most users purchase their scanner for multiple applications, yet scanning software frequently serves just one or two functions," said Kristy Holch, principal of InfoTrends Research Group in Boston, Mass. "ScanSoft is known for providing solutions with strong price and performance. By combining five digital imaging functions into one software suite, Pagis Pro provides end users with a solution that meets more of their needs, enabling them to maximise the value of their scanners."

Paul Haynes, European marketing manager for ScanSoft, comments: "ScanSoft continues as a leader in digital imaging software with a powerful scanning suite that provides the applications business users need to capture, access and share digital documents and photos in real time Internet time. With the new Web page capture and formatted Web output features, Pagis Pro 3.0 extends information management beyond the PC desktop and expedites the process of publishing paper documents on the Internet."

Pagis Pro 3.0 Scanning Suite offers five integrated programs designed to streamline the process of working with people and sharing and managing information using the PC and the Internet. Designed for small office/home office (SOHO) and professional users, Pagis Pro 3.0 Scanning Suite offers many new features including:

* Hit Highlighting enables users to quickly find search words inside scanned and electronic documents.

* Web page capture and visual bookmarks create and maintain thumbnail. views of favourite Web pages, eliminating the need to scroll through non-descriptive URL listings.

* Full thumbnail support enables users to visually manage scanned documents, photos and application files, such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

* Electronic document viewer lets users view files independent of the original application.

* Self-extracting e-mail Mini Viewer is a convenient way to send scanned documents and photos to others, even those who don't own Pagis Pro 3.0 Scanning Suite.

* Activity Guide to walk first time users through common scanning tasks.

Please visit www.scansoft.com for a complete list of the features and benefits of Pagis Pro 3.0 Scanning Suite.

Five Integrated Components

Pagis Pro 3.0 Scanning Suite offers five integrated scanning programs in one product. They

include:

TextBridge Pro 9.0, announced in April 1999, lets users easily turn paper documents into electronic files without retyping. Users can freely edit scanned files using popular applications such as Microsoft Office. Plus, TextBridge Pro 9.0 retains the layout and formatting of the original document, including colour photos. What's more, users can quickly turn scanned files into formatted Web pages.

* Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition provides users with a fast and easy way to customise photos and add them to their sales and marketing materials. It not only makes the alteration and repair of photos quick and easy, but also provides users hundreds of templates, photos, and clip art for instantly creating powerful marketing tools.

* Pagis turns the Windows Explorer into a visual filing system by creating visual thumbnails for scanned documents, photos, application files and Web pages. Digital images are easily integrated with popular desktop applications or e-mailed.

* Pagis Copier turns a scanner and colour printer into a colour copier. With the push of a button, Pagis Copier automatically scans and prints a colour copy. Pagis Copier provides a familiar copier interface along with many options, such as re-sizing, reduce to fit, collate and colour output.

* Pagis Forms Fill-In alleviates the time consuming task of filling out forms on a typewriter or by hand. With Pagis Forms Fill-In, users simply scan the form and tab and type. The result is professional looking forms fast and easy.

Pricing and Availability

The suggested retail price of the Pagis Pro 3.0 Scanning Suite is GBP 119.99 including VAT. The product is available directly from ScanSoft's software retail and catalogue partners including PC World, Software Warehouse, Simply Computers, Misco, MicroWarehouse and Action Computer Supplies.

ScanSoft,Inc.

Headquartered in Peabody, MA, ScanSoft, Inc., is a leading developer of scanning software that enables users to fully leverage the power of their scanner. ScanSoft's award-winning product line - Pagis, TextBridge, PaperPort Deluxe, PaperPort ScannerSuite, ScanWorks and Visual Explorer - enables users to share and manage information across the physical and electronic desktop by taking advantage of ScanSoft's cutting-edge digital imaging and optical character recognition (OCR) technology.

ScanSoft software is sold and marketed worldwide through retail and OEM channels and the Internet, capturing the consumer, small office/home office (SOHO) and corporate markets. There are approximately 1.5 million registered users of ScanSoft products.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to the features, perceived benefits and availability of PagisPro 3.0, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the market acceptance of Pagis Pro 3.0, the impact of competitive products, and other risks detailed from time to time in ScanSoft's SEC reports. ScanSoft disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

For further ScanSoft product and company information, visit us on the World Wide Web: www.scansoft.com

CONTACT: Paul Haynes, Scansoft Tel: +44 (0)118 966 8421 Fax: +44 (0)118 926 1913 e-mail: phaynes@scansoft.com Jay O'Connor/Lucy Fielden, Shine PR Tel: +44 (0)181 956 2424/2303 Fax: +44 (0)181 956 2234 e-mail: jay.oconnor@dial.pipex.com

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