SINGAPORE -Great Eastern, one of the largest insurance companies in Singapore and Malaysia, has launched a high-performance customer service platform - 'Lee Lee' - using interactive voice response (IVR) technology from Nortel Networks (NYSE/TSX: NT). Great Eastern is the first insurance company in Singapore to use speech recognition in its IVR system. This new initiative is the latest in its series of customer-service enhancement strategies to bring greater satisfaction to its customers.

'Lee Lee' is powered by Nortel Networks' Periphonics Voice Processing Series Information Server (VPS/is) and the OSCAR speech recognition server with the OpenSpeech™ Recognizer speech recognition engine from ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT). Singapore Computer Systems (SCS), an authorized Nortel Networks 'Channel Partner', is the systems integrator of 'Lee Lee'. SCS customised the Nortel Networks technology for 'Lee Lee' which integrates English and Chinese speech functionality with the ScanSoft® engine and Great Eastern's policy database system.

A state-of-the-art voice automated attendant, "Lee Lee" offers Great Eastern's customers greater accessibility and convenience with its 24-hour, seven days a week policy information automated assistance. Its speech recognition capability provides fast policy information search capability to users and eliminates the traditional menu options.

'Lee Lee' is the voice of Diana Chua, an Assistant Manager with the customer service department of Great Eastern. Diana is effectively bilingual and her unassuming character and pleasant disposition reflects Great Eastern's service-oriented culture. A pilot run of 'Lee Lee' in June received favourable feedback from customers for its ease of use and flexibility.

"Great Eastern is proud to be the first insurance company in Singapore to implement this Interactive Voice Response system," said Mr. Tan Beng Lee, Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Great Eastern. "Keeping in line with our service-oriented culture, 'Lee Lee' harnesses the latest speech recognition technology to give our customers a convenient and pleasant service experience."

"We are delighted that Great Eastern has deployed Nortel Networks speech recognition VPS/is IVR platform in its customer service centre, leveraging Nortel Networks' leading-edge technology to reinforce Great Eastern's business leadership in the insurance and finance industry," said Dr Patrick Sim, managing director, Nortel Networks Singapore. "With 'Lee Lee', Great Eastern is well positioned to lead in its customer service initiatives as business grows."

"Together with our global partner, Nortel, we are pleased to have deployed the first speech-enabled system in the Singaporean insurance industry and are confident that Great Eastern's customers will find this to be a convenient and easy-to-use self-service option," said Mr Peter Chidiac, regional director, Asia Pacific, SpeechWorks Division of ScanSoft. "Great Eastern has a reputation for excellent service, and we are confident that the implementation of this speech-enabled system will further enhance their brand and level of customer service."

About Great Eastern

Great Eastern is the largest insurance company in Singapore and Malaysia, with over S$34 billion in assets and 2.4 million policyholders. With two successful distribution channels - the tied agency force and bancassurance - it is the market leader in both Singapore and Malaysia with a market share of 26.5% and 23.2% respectively in 2003. It is a subsidiary of OCBC Bank, one of Asia's leading financial service groups, with one of the highest bank credit ratings in the region.

Great Eastern's customer service culture was given due recognition when the Company was conferred the prestigious Singapore Service Class award by SPRING in May this year. It is the first financial institution to be among the pioneer group of national corporate winners. Its Customer Service Centre also won the Best Call Centre Award in 2002. Its corporate website, www.lifeisgreat.com.sg, has received the Intelligent20 Award conferred by Intelligent Enterprise Asia for the third year running. This award recognises Great Eastern's use of technology to provide its sales force and customers with quick, convenient and reliable access to critical information.

About the SpeechWorks Division of ScanSoft

Speech applications for the real world. Through a global partner network, the company delivers field-proven solutions that use the human voice to interact with information systems and devices. Today, thousands of companies and millions of users around the world depend on SpeechWorks® solutions from ScanSoft to deliver vital business information and simplify every day life.

OpenSpeech Recognizer software is designed to deliver a superior caller experience and provide significant returns on investment. The OpenSpeech Recognizer includes the industry's most comprehensive suite of standards-based components that help companies build, deploy, and measure the success of their speech applications.

About ScanSoft, Inc.

ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT) is the global leader 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 more information regarding ScanSoft products and technologies, please visit www.ScanSoft.com.

About Singapore Computer Systems

SCS is a leading information and communications technology service provider in the Asia-Pacific region. As a turnkey service provider, SCS offers a full suite of solutions and services in two key business areas - IT Infrastructure and IT Business Solutions & Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) - designed to create value and support its customers' business growth. Incorporated in 1980 and listed on the Main Board of The Singapore Exchange in 1991, SCS has operations in Singapore and the Asia Pacific. SCS is a member of the Singapore Technologies Group, a multinational conglomerate headquartered in Singapore. For more information, please visit www.scs.com.sg.

About Nortel Networks

Nortel Networks is an industry leader and innovator focused on transforming how the world communicates and exchanges information. The Company is supplying its service provider and enterprise customers with communications technology and infrastructure to enable value-added IP data, voice and multimedia services spanning Wireless Networks, Wireline Networks, Enterprise Networks, and Optical Networks. As a global company, Nortel Networks does business in more than 150 countries. More information about Nortel Networks can be found on the Web at www.nortelnetworks.com or www.nortelnetworks.com/media_center.

Certain information included in this press release is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things: the outcome of Nortel Networks independent review and planned restatement or revisions of its previously announced or filed financial results; the impact of the management changes announced on April 28, 2004 and August 19, 2004; the impact of the inability to meet Nortel Networks filing obligations on support facilities and public debt obligations; the sufficiency of Nortel Networks restructuring activities, including the potential for higher actual costs to be incurred in connection with restructuring actions compared to the estimated costs of such actions; continued reductions in spending by Nortel Networks customers; fluctuations in Nortel Networks operating results and general industry, economic and market conditions and growth rates; the communication by Nortel Networks auditors of the existence of material weaknesses in internal controls; Nortel Networks ability to recruit and retain qualified employees; fluctuations in Nortel Networks cash flow, level of outstanding debt and current debt ratings; the use of cash collateral to support Nortel Networks normal course business activities; the dependence on Nortel Networks subsidiaries for funding; the impact of Nortel Networks defined benefit plans and deferred tax assets on results of operations and Nortel Networks cash flows; Nortel Networks dependence on new product development and its ability to predict market demand for particular products; Nortel Networks ability to integrate the operations and technologies of acquired businesses in an effective manner; the impact of rapid technological and market change; the impact of price and product competition; barriers to international growth and global economic conditions, particularly in emerging markets and including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of rationalization in the telecommunications industry; changes in regulation of the Internet; the impact of the credit risks of Nortel Networks customers and the impact of customer financing and commitments; stock market volatility generally and as a result of acceleration of the settlement date or early settlement of Nortel Networks purchase contracts; the impact of Nortel Networks supply and outsourcing contracts that contain delivery and installation provisions, which, if not met, could result in the payment of substantial penalties or liquidated damages; the future success of Nortel Networks strategic alliances; and the adverse resolution of litigation, investigations, intellectual property disputes and similar matters. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, see the most recent Form 10 Q/A and Form 10-K/A filed by Nortel Networks with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Nortel Networks disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

* Nortel Networks, the Nortel Networks logo, the Globemark, Business Without Boundaries, CallPilot, Meridian, Meridian Mail, Periphonics, Symposium and Succession are trademarks of Nortel Networks.

Use of the terms "partner" and "partnership" does not imply a legal partnership relationship between Nortel Networks and any other party.

ScanSoft, SpeechWorks, OpenSpeech, and the ScanSoft logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of ScanSoft, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

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