ScanSoft Expands International Reach of Award-Winning Document Management Software; New Network Support and PDF Functionality Provides Greater Flexibility for All Types of Users

PEABODY, Mass., September 11, 2003 - ScanSoft, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSFT), a leading supplier of speech and imaging solutions, today announced it has shipped localized versions of PaperPort® Pro 9 Office for Germany, Belgium, France and Spain. PaperPort Pro Office is the first desktop product to combine the power of creating PDF files, the convenience of network scanning and the efficiency of document management, into a single, easy-to-use office productivity application.

PaperPort is the perfect application for those who need the power of creating PDF files with the convenience and efficiency of network scanning and document management, in a single user-friendly application that converts piles of paper into organized digital documents. PaperPort Pro 9 Office, released earlier this year in the United States, has already received numerous industry awards, including the C|NET Editors' Choice Award and a five star rating from PC Magazine. With PaperPort Pro 9 Office, users can establish a more productive work environment with streamlined business processes by enabling paperless document flows by simply connecting PC desktops with existing backend enterprise systems, including Oracle® 9i and Microsoft SharePoint®.

"PaperPort Pro 9 Office is a powerful productivity application for all users, and by extending our international reach, ScanSoft can deliver its solutions to a broad global population," said Robert Weideman, chief marketing officer, ScanSoft. "With these new localized versions, the benefits of PaperPort Pro 9 Office will now be available to an even larger user-base, spanning customers and partners across Europe."

PaperPort Pro 9 has built-in support for creating PDF files from any Microsoft Windows application, eliminating the need for additional PDF creation, editing or viewing software. Like other PDF creation applications, PaperPort supports popular PDF capabilities such as annotations, notes and highlights, sending PDF files as email attachments, and converting static PDF files into electronic forms that can be filled and printed. PaperPort offers a unique range of additional PDF features, including automatically converting mixed format document sets into PDF email attachments, allowing users to assemble custom PDF files using drag & drop stacking controls, and enabling automatic scan-to-PDF capabilities using networked multifunction printers (MFPs) and digital copier devices.

PaperPort also includes an intuitive thumbnail-based presentation that allows pages within documents such as scanned paper, PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint® to be instantly viewed and found without launching the source application. Its sophisticated full-page optical character recognition (OCR) engine automatically creates search keywords for scanned paper and PDF files, allowing its SimpleSearch™ feature to find all matching documents - from standard Microsoft Office and other digital document types, to scanned paper and business cards, as well as PDF files received via email or downloaded from the Web.

The product is available immediately through ScanSoft's global network of authorized resellers. For additional information please visit www.ScanSoft.com/PaperPort or call ScanSoft at (1) 800-443-7077.

About ScanSoft, Inc.

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

Trademark reference: ScanSoft and PaperPort are trademarks or registered 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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