Konica Selects ScanSoft OmniPage and PaperPort for unitySuite, Bringing Network Scanning and Digital Paper Workflow to Organizations of All Sizes

Konica Standardizes on ScanSoft Applications, Providing Customers with the Most Accurate OCR Available, Complete Support for PDF and Robust Document Management Capabilities

NEW YORK - AIIM 2004 Conference - March 8, 2004 - ScanSoft, Inc., the leading supplier of speech and imaging solutions, today announced that Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica), the innovation leader in digital imaging solutions, has selected ScanSoft® OmniPage® Pro and PaperPort® as core applications within the new Konica unityDesktop and unityDesktop Professional suites. Part of the Konica unitySuite, the solutions provide organizations of all sizes with the ability to use network scanning, document workflows and PDF to automate a wide range of document processes.

The Konica unityDesktop brings together ScanSoft OmniPage and PaperPort, the industry's preeminent scanning, OCR (optical character recognition) and document management applications, to significantly increase the productivity of information workers throughout the organization. The integration of the ScanSoft productivity applications with Konica scanners, network MFP and digital copier devices results in an easy-to-install and intuitive solution set that also allows organizations to quickly reduce the costs associated with manual paper processes.

"ScanSoft's scanning, OCR and digital paper management solutions have proven to be critical for organizations and workgroups that want to move from paper processes to complete digital document lifecycles," said William H. Brewster Jr., vice president, marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions. "Konica is pleased to join with ScanSoft in delivering integrated hardware and software products that will move network MFP and digital copier solutions into the mainstream, providing identifiable productivity gains and a return-on-investment to our customers."

The Konica unityDesktop adds easy-to-use scanning, image clean-up, and document management to information worker desktops, leveraging ScanSoft PaperPort Deluxe 8. PaperPort is used by millions to convert piles of paper into organized and searchable digital files, and to add document management capabilities to Microsoft Windows. The unityDesktop also includes OmniPage Pro 11, which instantly converts paper into editable documents, supporting Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and other applications.

The Konica unityDesktop Professional expands upon the benefits of unityDesktop, using PaperPort Pro Office 9 to deliver robust PDF support, including support for automatic scan-to-desktop over networks, the ability to create PDF from any PC application, as well as support for annotating, highlighting and editing PDF files. PaperPort Pro Office also enables drag & drop document workflow into enterprise systems, including Microsoft SharePoint and Oracle Collaboration Suite. The unityDesktop Professional also includes OmniPage Pro Office 12, which instantly converts paper and PDF into fully-formatted and editable documents, and enables the batch processing of paper or PDF into fully searchable PDF archive files.

"With the unityDesktop, Konica is clearly setting a new standard in delivering complete digital paper solutions that have a low cost of ownership, yet are scalable and easy to use," said Robert Weideman, general manager, ScanSoft Productivity Applications. "We are proud to have Konica select ScanSoft solutions to play such a central role in their solution set, and see the selection of PaperPort and OmniPage as further demonstrating ScanSoft's leadership in scanning, OCR and digital paper management solutions."

ScanSoft PaperPort is the first desktop product to combine the power of creating PDF files, the convenience of local or network scanning, and the efficiency of document management, into a single, easy-to-use office productivity application. PaperPort saves and organizes paper, electronic documents and photos into an "electronic filing cabinet" on a user's computer. With PaperPort users can quickly and easily scan, annotate, email or archive documents in the PDF file format. The PDF files can be viewed, accessed and arranged via large clear thumbnails on the desktop, and shared with a simple drag-and-drop.

ScanSoft OmniPage Pro delivers the most accurate document conversion available, turning paper and PDF - letters, contracts, tables, manuals - into editable word processing and spreadsheet documents. OmniPage Pro saves time by eliminating the need to manually reproduce documents, delivering highly precise, editable results that can be used within Microsoft Office and other PC applications. It also saves money by allowing organizations to turn paper and image files into searchable PDF, replacing manual filing with the ability to store and retrieve documents online. OmniPage Pro provides organizations with everything they need to turn paper and PDF into online information, all within a single, easy-to-use desktop application.

Availability and Pricing

Konica unityDesktop and unityDesktop Professional are available through Konica's North American direct sales, authorized dealer and value-added reseller channels. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) is $1,295 for Konica unityDesktop, and $3,660 for Konica unityDesktop Professional. Each includes a 10-seat license of ScanSoft OmniPage and PaperPort, with additional seats available with volume discounts.

About ScanSoft, Inc.

ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT) is the leading supplier of speech and imaging solutions that are used to automate a wide range of manual processes-saving time, increasing worker productivity and improving customer service. For additional information on the company, please visit www.ScanSoft.com

Trademark reference: ScanSoft, the ScanSoft logo, PaperPort, PaperPort Deluxe, and OmniPage Pro are registered trademarks or trademarks of ScanSoft Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other company names or product names referenced herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with market trends, competitive factors, and other risks identified in ScanSoft's SEC filings. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

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