PEABODY, Mass., May 15, 2000 - ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT), the leading developer of digital imaging software, and UMAX Technologies Inc., a worldwide leader in the manufacture of imaging and computer products, announced a new OEM licensing agreement. The agreement provides UMAX with rights to bundle ScanSoft's OmniPage® Limited Edition OCR software with their flatbed scanners, including UMAX Astra, Mirage and PowerLook models for the Windows® and Macintosh® platforms on a worldwide basis over the course of the next year.

"ScanSoft's OmniPage is the leader in recognition software and the combination of our award-winning technologies provides a real world scanning solution for our customers," said Lynn Lin, product marketing manager for UMAX Technologies, "It is important to our users because it dramatically enhances productivity and streamlines everyday data entry right out of the box."

"We are certainly excited about our partnership with UMAX which holds a strong position in the scanner market," said ScanSoft's Wayne Crandall, senior vice president of sales and business development. "With our agreement, we will be able to expose hundreds of thousands of new scanner owners to the OmniPage brand while increasing the use of OCR to a wider audience."

OmniPage Limited Edition (LE) is OCR that provides entry-level capabilities to meet the needs of users with basic OCR requirements. With OmniPage LE, users can scan paper documents such as memos, reports, contracts and resumes, for example, and convert them into editable text without having to retype. The features and functions included in OmniPage LE provide entry-level users with the necessary capabilities to convert and output paper documents to applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel as well as other popular text-based applications.

Users of OmniPage LE are eligible for an inexpensive upgrade to the full-featured OmniPage Pro® version. Advantages of the upgrade are:

Increased accuracy with interactive verification of OCR results
Page layout retention with the True Page™ technology, which enables users to maintain the look of the original document
Usability features with the AutoOCR Toolbar™
Recognition and output of color documents
True cell table output and much more

"OmniPage Pro is considered the number 1 OCR product in the market on a world-wide basis, and we are wanting to bring this exciting technology to the masses and add to our already growing base of over 7 million users. This partnership helps us do just that," continued Crandall.

About ScanSoft, Inc.

Headquartered in Peabody, MA, ScanSoft, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSFT) is a 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™, ImageAXS™, Paper Converter™, PageKeeper®, Kai's Photo Soap2™, 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 for its customers. Vendors who have chosen ScanSoft's cutting-edge 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 7 million registered users of ScanSoft products. ScanSoft can be found on the web at www.scansoft.com.

About UMAX

UMAX Technologies, Inc. is a technology leader in the design and distribution of a full line of imaging products. The company maintains its leadership position in the imaging market with a broad line of desktop scanners and digital cameras. UMAX is located at 3561 Gateway Boulevard, Fremont, California, 94538, and is on the Web at: www.umax.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including, but not limited to the perceived benefits of the OEM agreement, 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 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.

Pagis, TextBridge, PaperPort, PaperPort Deluxe, PhotoFactory, Kai's SuperGoo, Kai's Photo Soap 2, Kai's Power Show, Paper Converter, OmniPage, OmniPage Pro, OmniForm, PageKeeper, AutoOCR Toolbart and True Page 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. © 2000 all rights reserved.

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