ScanSoft Applications Provide Kyocera Mita Customers with Industry-Leading OCR, Complete PDF Support and Robust Document Management Capabilities

CeBIT, Hanover, Germany and Ghent, Belgium, March 17, 2004 - ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT), the leading supplier of imaging and speech solutions, today announced that Kyocera Mita Europe will distribute ScanSoft® OmniPage® and PaperPort® with several of its scan-enabled devices including printers, copiers and multifunctional devices. This agreement will 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 agreement brings together ScanSoft OmniPage and PaperPort, the industry's preeminent scanning, optical character recognition (OCR) and document management applications, to significantly increase the productivity of information workers throughout the organization. The combination of ScanSoft's productivity applications with Kyocera Mita's network-based multifunctional devices enables organizations to quickly reduce the costs associated with manual paper processes, and will help large workgroups to effectively manage diverse imaging requirements on individual desktops.

"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 Hans Gerd Schmidt, Product Manager Software Solutions Europe, European Marketing Center of Kyocera Mita Europe B.V. "Kyocera Mita is pleased to join ScanSoft to deliver integrated hardware and software products that will move network multifunctional solutions into the mainstream, providing identifiable productivity gains and a return-on-investment to our customers."

"This agreement is a continuation of ScanSoft's strong relationship with Kyocera Mita and delivers complete digital paper solutions that have a low cost of ownership, yet are scalable and easy to use," said Peter Hauser, senior vice president and general manager, ScanSoft International, ScanSoft. "We are proud to have Kyocera Mita select ScanSoft solutions to play such a central role in their solution set, and see the selection of PaperPort and OmniPage as further demonstration of ScanSoft's leadership in scanning, OCR and digital paper management solutions."

ScanSoft 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, and 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.

ScanSoft OmniPage Pro delivers the most accurate document conversion available, turning paper and PDF - letters, contracts, tables, and 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.

About Kyocera Mita Corporation

Kyocera Mita Corporation is the result of a merger of two of the most innovative companies in document management combining digital imaging and reproduction, cartridge-free long life and low cost page printing. Kyocera Mita currently employs approximately 5,000 people. The merger of Kyocera and Mita initiated a global restructuring which has accelerated the convergence of networked document management systems. Kyocera Mita's products offer a total solution for any print, copy, scan or fax requirements; with a wide range of advanced, environmentally friendly products, which offer significantly low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and high reliability. For more information please visit www.kyoceramita-europe.com

About ScanSoft, Inc.

ScanSoft, Inc. 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 http://www.ScanSoft.com

ScanSoft, OmniPage, PaperPort and the ScanSoft logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of ScanSoft, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other company names or product names may be the 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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