PEABODY, Mass., April 10, 2000 - ScanSoft, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSFT), the leading provider of digital imaging software, today announced the ScanSoft Software Development Kit (SDK) 5.0. The new development kit enables application developers, system integrators and OEM customers full access to the functionality of the award-winning TextBridge 9.0® engine, the same OCR engine technology licensed to Microsoft. The SDK is available in three functionality levels from the Basic level to the Professional level. Included are options for Portable Document Format (PDF) and HTML level 4 output.

"ScanSoft SDK 5.0 contains our most accurate version of the TextBridge OCR engine released to date. It combines fast and powerful page recognition and layout retention capabilities with flexible output, including support for web-content through its options for PDF and HTML," said Valorie Cook Carpenter, senior vice president of marketing at ScanSoft. "SDK 5.0 is ideal for developers wishing to extend their application's functionality through the integration of conversion services for scanned images."

The completely redesigned ScanSoft SDK (previously named TextBridge API) provides DLL (Dynamic Link Library) interfaces, binaries, documentation, functional reference and sample programs - everything needed to integrate the TextBridge 9.0 engine into third-party applications. The C/C++ toolkit provides several enhancements, including increased accuracy, support for color and grayscale images, improved speed and expanded language support.

Increased accuracy: The ScanSoft SDK includes the TextBridge 9.0 engine which provides increased accuracy, reducing the number of errors on average by 14% over the previous version.
Support for color and grayscale images: The ScanSoft SDK now supports color and grayscale image files with new thresholding capabilities that convert these images to black and white for OCR processing.
PDF output: The ScanSoft Professional level SDK with PDF output now exports OCR results to the Adobe PDF format. Output types include the following:
- PDF Normal with word images. This is a variation on the "Normal" output format. The difference is that "suspect" words in this format are output as word images clipped from the input image rather than as the recognized text for those words.
- PDF Normal. The ubiquitous "PDF Normal" output format. This is the basic text format for PDF. It includes formatted text and any pictures from the original page. It is also referred to as "PDF Formatted Text and Graphics".
- PDF Image & Hidden Text. In this format, the text is output in a white font (to match the background color of our output) and the full original image is laid over the top of the text. This allows a user to search for text and have the location of the text highlighted on the original image in the PDF viewer. It is also referred to as "PDF Searchable Image".
- PDF Image Only. No text is output in this format. The entire original image is output in PDF format.
Ability to accept image files from memory: The ScanSoft SDK now accepts image files directly from memory and eliminates the unnecessary step of first saving them to an intermediate file format before OCR processing.
Expanded Language Support: The ScanSoft SDK now supports 56 languages, a dramatic increase from 12 provided in the previous version.

SDK Available in Four Functionality Levels

The ScanSoft SDK is available in four functionality levels, optimized for the different needs of application developers:

ScanSoft Basic level SDK includes all the DLL interfaces, binaries, documentation, functional reference and sample programs, and provides the ability to output text in ISO, XDOC, XDOC-Lite, Microsoft 8-bit code page and Unicode formats.
ScanSoft Classic level SDK builds on the functionality of the Basic level SDK and adds the ability to output to many popular word processor, spreadsheet and database import formats, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, simple HTML and WordPerfect.
ScanSoft Professional level SDK builds on the functionality of the Classic level SDK and adds page recomposition capabilities.
ScanSoft Professional level SDK with PDF includes the Professional level SDK and also includes a PDF module for outputting to Adobe PDF format.

Pricing and Availability

The ScanSoft Basic SDK 5.0, Classic SDK 5.0 and Pro SDK 5.0 are priced at $5,000, $7,500, and $9,995, respectively. PDF and HTML output modules are available as options to the Pro SDK 5.0 customers for $2,495 each. The Basic level, Classic level and Professional level SDKs are available immediately. The optional PDF and HTML output modules will become available in May.

Current licensees will be able to upgrade from both the 4.5 and 3.x level TextBridge API. Upgrades to Basic, Classic and Pro levels are priced at $2,500, $3,750 and $4,995 respectively. All upgrade purchases require new run-time licenses. Pricing on royalty and run-time license fees are calculated by volume and are available by contacting ScanSoft at (408) 395-5148 ext. 2110, or via email at developer_sales@scansoft.com. All SDKs, upgrades and optional output modules are available directly from ScanSoft.

About ScanSoft, Inc.

Headquartered in Peabody, MA, ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT) is the leading developer of digital imaging software that enables users to leverage the power of their scanners, digital cameras and other electronic devices. ScanSoft's award-winning product line - Pagis® Pro, TextBridge® Pro, PaperPort® Deluxe™, OmniPage Pro®, OmniForm®, OmniPage Pro Scan Suite Plus™, ImageAXS™, PageKeeper®, Kai's PhotoSoap2™, Kai's SuperGoo™, Kai's PowerShow™, and PhotoFactory™ - enables users to capture, recognize, edit, manage and share documents and photos electronically by taking advantage of ScanSoft's cutting-edge technology.

ScanSoft has established numerous strategic partnerships with the industry's leading scanner and multifunction vendors to deliver the most comprehensive and cost-effective solutions to its customers. Vendors who have chosen ScanSoft's cutting-edge OCR technologies to incorporate into their own product offerings include Brother, Canon, Epson, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Lotus, Microtek, Mustek, Primax, Sharp, Symantec, Visioneer, Xerox and others. ScanSoft's leading OCR technology was recently licensed by Microsoft for use in future products. ScanSoft continues to cultivate and develop strategic partnerships to deliver the most comprehensive and cost-effective solutions for its customers.

ScanSoft software is sold and marketed worldwide through retail, dealer and OEM channels and the Internet, capturing the consumer, small office/home office (SOHO) and corporate markets. There are approximately 6 million registered users of ScanSoft products. ScanSoft can be found on the Web at www.scansoft.com.

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 Software Development Kits, 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 Software Development Kits, 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.

TextBridge, Paper Converter, Pagis, PaperPort, PaperPort Deluxe, Scanner Suite, OmniPage, OmniForm, OmniForm Internet Publisher, PageKeeper, Smart Folders and Folder Watch are registered trademarks or trademarks of ScanSoft, Inc. ImageAXS is a trademark of Digital Arts & Sciences Corporation. All other trademarks and tradenames are hereby recognized and many be registered to their respective holders.

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