HTML Voice Browsing Technology Incorporates Speechify Text-To-Speech Engine to Deliver High Quality Voice Solutions to Global 2000 Companies and Carriers

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 1, 2001 –
VocalPoint Technologies (www.vocalpoint.com), the fastest, easiest way to voice-enable Web content, today announced it has partnered with SpeechWorks International (NASDAQ: SPWX), a leader in the telephony-based speech technology industry, to deliver best-of-breed voice applications. VocalPoint Technologies offers unique products and services that provide immediate voice access to HTML Web content and applications from any phone. Under the agreement, VocalPoint will integrate SpeechWorks' text-to-speech engine, Speechify™, into its unique proprietary VoiceBrowser™ technology, allowing VocalPoint to deliver voice solutions to Global 2000 companies rapidly, with unmatched quality.

Businesses face growing customer demand for immediate and simple access to information and services. While companies have invested billions of dollars in developing Web sites to deliver content, products and services, the reality is that the phone, not the Web, is ubiquitous. VocalPoint's voice browsing technology automatically converts HTML content to voice, quickly extending existing corporate Web assets into phone services with minimal development requirements. Using the

Speechify engine, VocalPoint's VoiceBrowser retrieves existing Web content, synthesizes the text in real-time and delivers it in an easy-to-understand audio format over any phone. Callers can listen to information that changes regularly such as emails and weather reports, in a pleasant-sounding voice.
Speechify, a product of the strategic partnership between SpeechWorks and AT&T, is the first to capitalize on 30 years of AT&T Labs research developing human sounding speech with sophisticated language analysis capability. The result is a next-generation text-to-speech engine that sets the standard for natural voice tone and intelligibility.

"VocalPoint Technologies is dedicated to helping companies provide their customers, partners and employees with immediate, easy access to critical information and services," said Kurt Losert, CEO of VocalPoint Technologies. "VocalPoint's VoiceBrowser enables organizations to quickly build voice solutions directly from HTML content with no rewriting of content and minimal up-front investment. SpeechWorks' industry leading text-to-speech technology strengthens our business offering, and is part of a longer-term partnership to continue to provide the best voice solutions to our customers in the future."

"We're pleased to team with VocalPoint Technologies to improve the efficiency and profitability of Global 2000 companies and carriers," said Steve Chambers, vice president of worldwide marketing for SpeechWorks. "SpeechWorks and Speechify are enabling businesses around the world to offer flexible, scalable and cost-efficient voice solutions."

About SpeechWorks

Organizations worldwide rely on SpeechWorks (NASDAQ: SPWX) to delight their callers and provide them with a new level of service over the phone. Complementing the self-service model of e-business, SpeechWorks speech solutions, including the revolutionary SpeechSite™ product, and Speechify™ text-to-speech engine, let customers direct their calls, obtain information and complete transactions automatically, simply by speaking naturally over any phone, anytime.

SpeechWorks customers include some of the world's most sophisticated customer service innovators such as First Union National Bank, Thrifty Car Rental, and Credit Suisse First Boston. The Company offers the SpeechWorks Here Guarantee, the industry's only program that includes a money-back guarantee. SpeechWorks strategic partners include leading corporations such as AT&T, Avaya, Dialogic, an Intel company, InterVoice-Brite, Natural Microsystems and Net2Phone. Investors included Citigroup's e-Citi Unit, GE Equity, Intel Corporation, The Intel64 Fund, MCI WorldCom Venture Fund and Reuters.

SpeechWorks is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and has offices around the world. To experience the power of SpeechWorks, call 1.888.SAY.DEMO. For additional information, call 617.428.4444 or visit www.speechworks.com.

About VocalPoint Technologies

VocalPoint Technologies provides middleware, infrastructure and services for businesses to rapidly voice-enable HTML content, making it possible to access Internet and intranet applications using natural speech over any phone. Its unique voice-based HTML browser allows businesses to build customized, voice portals and services by integrating VocalPoint's proprietary technology into their network infrastructure, or by utilizing VocalPoint's fully outsourced ASP (application service provider) solution. Incorporated in 1997, the company has leveraged its speech technology research expertise to create attractive voice-based solutions for businesses worldwide. Headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., VocalPoint Technologies can be reached at www.vocalpoint.com, or by calling 415.615.0600.SpeechWorks, Speechify, SpeechWorks Here and SpeechSite are trademarks or registered trademarks of SpeechWorks International, Inc. in the United States and other countries.