CTL Announces OEM Agreement with SpeechWorks

Shelton, Connecticut—March 7, 2000—CTL, Inc., a world leading provider of voice processing systems, announced today that it has signed an agreement with SpeechWorks International, Inc., a global provider of speech recognition solutions. Under terms of the agreement, CTL will use SpeechWorks as the speech recognition component of VoiceSupport™ NT, CTL’s Windows NT messaging solution for the business marketplace. VoiceSupport™ NT will have two (2) ports of SpeechWorks speech recognition included free with each system shipped.

Speech Recognition is important for the rapidly increasing wireless marketplace. “With more and more business being conducted using cell phones, speech makes it easier for callers to access information 24x7, to place orders or navigate through a once complicated touch tone™ automated attendant.”

“Callers can use speech recognition to transfer a call, activate voice mail features, logon to their voice mailbox, etc., “ says Dan Spacek, CTL’s Vice President of Engineering. “One day, speech recognition will completely take the place of DTMF.”

“Since speech is the most natural way for people to get information and get connected, CTL thought it should be included in every system we ship. Speech recognition saves valuable time when trying to connect with someone. No more extensions to remember or directories to listen to when using an automated attendant.”

“CTL selected SpeechWorks over several other speech recognition companies due to their ability to meet CTL’s objectives,” says Ed Hansen, CTL’s Director of Product Development. “The SpeechWorks software was put through an extensive array of tests with our VoiceSupport NT system and it passed every aspect with flying colors.”

“CTL is a leading global supplier of voice processing systems and SpeechWorks is ecstatic that our software will be a part of every single NT product that CTL ships,” says SpeechWorks.

About VoiceSupport™ NT
VoiceSupport™ NT is a Windows NT Server based communication system that includes voice mail, integrated messaging, automated attendant and fax server, all in one solution. VoiceSupport™ NT’s UnifiedSupport™ allows users, using their LAN workstation, to manage all their voice, fax and e-mail messages simultaneously. Fax Server lets users fax a document from their desktop using VoiceSupport™ NT’s fax ports.

About CTL, Inc.
CTL was founded in 1990 and is based in Shelton, Connecticut. CTL supplies high-quality voice mail, automated attendant, interactive voice response and fax-on-demand systems through authorized dealer channels, telephone equipment manufacturer and distributors. CTL has over 35,000 systems installed worldwide. For more information on CTL, call 203-925-4266 or visit our website at http://www.ctlinc.com

About SpeechWorks International, Inc.
Organizations worldwide rely on SpeechWorks to delight their callers and provide them with a level of service never before experienced over the phone. Complementing the self-service model of e-Business, SpeechWorks speech recognition solutions let consumers obtain information and complete transactions automatically, simply by speaking naturally over any phone, anytime.

SpeechWorks customers include the world’s most sophisticated customer service innovators such as Continental Airlines, E*TRADE, FedEx/NextLink, Hewlett-Packard, MapQuest.com, McKessonHBOC and United Airlines.

Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with offices worldwide, SpeechWorks is a privately held corporation with financing from Intel Corporation, The Intel64 fund, SAP and venture capital firms. To experience the power of SpeechWorks, call toll free: 1-888-SAY-DEMO. For additional information, call 617-428-4444 or visit http://www.speechworks.com.