ScanSoft Announces First Quarter Results for Fiscal Year 2005

Speech Revenue Growth of 48 Percent Leads to Record Income from Operations

United Kingdom, London February 8, 2005 - ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT), a global leader of speech and imaging solutions, today announced financial results for the first fiscal quarter of 2005 ended December 31, 2004. ScanSoft reported revenue of $60.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2004, a 29 percent increase over revenue of $46.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2003.

As previously announced in October 2004, ScanSoft's board of directors approved a change in the company's fiscal year-end to September 30, 2004 from December 31, 2004. As this is the first quarter that ScanSoft is reporting earnings results on its new fiscal calendar, please note that all quarterly comparisons correspond to the previous calendar-year quarter.

On a GAAP basis, ScanSoft recognised net income of $3.1 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2005, compared with net income of $1.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, in the quarter ended December 31, 2003.

In addition to using GAAP results in evaluating ScanSoft's business, management also believes it is useful to measure results using a non-GAAP measure of net income (loss), which excludes, as applicable, non-cash taxes, amortisation of intangible assets, non-cash stock-based compensation and restructuring charges. See "GAAP to non-GAAP Reconciliation" below for further information on ScanSoft's non-GAAP measure.

Using this non-GAAP measure, ScanSoft recognised non-GAAP net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 of $9.1 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, compared with non-GAAP net income of $6.3 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2003.

"First quarter revenue exceeded our expectations in every speech market - network, embedded and dictation - leading to solid revenue growth and improved leverage across our operations," said Paul Ricci, chairman and CEO of ScanSoft. "Demand for our network speech solutions and services among enterprises was exceptionally strong. International revenues were robust in every segment and our North American channel operations rebounded significantly from the operational issues we experienced in the previous quarter." Highlights from ScanSoft's first quarter of fiscal 2005 include:

• Significant Achievement in Network Speech - First quarter results were driven by strong revenue and year-over-year growth from ScanSoft's network speech technologies, applications and services in the U.S. and abroad. ScanSoft benefited from new and expanded agreements with partners and customers such as Aeroplan, Avaya, Mercedes, Moneygram, Monster.com and Nortel Networks. ScanSoft continues to experience strong demand for its speech solutions among enterprises and telecommunications carriers.



• Growth in Embedded Speech Solutions - Growing demand for ScanSoft's speech solutions and services among automotive and consumer electronic manufacturers contributed to 72 percent year-over-year revenue growth for ScanSoft's embedded speech solutions. ScanSoft continues to secure design wins for future vehicles, devices and applications, including contracts with customers and partners such as Aisin, Daimler Chrysler, Delphi, Fiat, Melco, Orange France, Telecom Italia and Volkswagen.



• Record Revenue for Dictation Applications - The November launch of Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 8 contributed to a record revenue quarter for ScanSoft's dictation applications. Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 8 has been met with critical acclaim from customers, partners and the media for its unprecedented accuracy rates, leading to record user upgrades as well as an increase in consumer-driven purchasing. ScanSoft saw continued momentum for its dictation applications in the healthcare industry, both through the direct deployment in medical institutions and increased acceptance of the technology by ScanSoft's channel partners and healthcare IT providers such as Cerner and IDX.



• Expanded Speech Portfolio - ScanSoft is delivering on its strategy for a future where natural, human conversations will be the preferred way that people retrieve information and interact with automated systems. During the quarter, ScanSoft announced and closed the acquisition of Rhetorical Systems Ltd., and announced and has subsequently closed the acquisitions of Phonetic Systems and ART Advanced Recognition Technologies. These acquisitions provide ScanSoft with an array of technologies, customers, partners and talented employees that will help ScanSoft fuel its growth and enhance the quality of speech applications throughout the world. The acquisition of Rhetorical closed on December 6, 2004 and contributed revenues of approximately $200,000 in the post-acquisition period through the quarter end.



• Robust Growth in International Markets - ScanSoft's international revenue grew approximately 31 percent year over year. The robust performance derived from automotive design wins for its embedded solutions in Europe and Japan and continued demand for SpeechPAK TALKS and other mobile embedded speech applications. In addition, Dragon NaturallySpeaking and PaperPort performed well internationally, continuing to demonstrate the strength of ScanSoft's international channels.



• Continued Strength and Opportunity in Digital Imaging - Results for ScanSoft's digital imaging solutions were driven largely by strong revenue from the launch of PaperPort 10, the newest version of ScanSoft's scanning and document management application for Microsoft Windows.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2004, ScanSoft generated $5.9 million in cash flow from operations and exited the quarter with cash and marketable securities of approximately $46.6 million, compared to $47.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2004.

About ScanSoft, Inc.

ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT) is a 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.

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

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements relating to the future demand for, performance of, and opportunities for growth in ScanSoft's speech solutions and productivity applications; the growth of the speech industry and the demand for speech solutions; future revenue contributions from relationships with ScanSoft's partners; the continued strength of existing products, services and relationships as well as the introduction of new products, services and relationships; ScanSoft's strategic and operational plan; the impact of the Phonetic Systems, ART and Rhetorical acquisitions; the effects and synergies that may result from the Phonetic Systems, ART and Rhetorical acquisitions; and future prospects regarding product lines, sales channels and international operations. Such statements are based on current expectations that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the following: difficulties with integrating product plans and operations of acquired businesses and the accounting effects of such acquisitions on ScanSoft's operating and financial results; fluctuations in demand for ScanSoft's existing and future products; economic conditions in the United States and abroad; ScanSoft's ability to control and successfully manage its expenses, inventory and cash position; the effects of competition, including pricing pressure; possible defects in ScanSoft's products and technologies; failure to obtain and retain expected synergies from acquired businesses; and ScanSoft's dependence on OEM customers. A detailed discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in ScanSoft's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K/T for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, and its most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. ScanSoft undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this document.

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