Nuance Speech Solution Pre-Loaded on Palm Treo 755p Enables Mobile Users to Dial, Dictate and Search by Voice

BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nuance Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) today released initial usage statistics of the Nuance® Voice Control™ speech application pre-loaded on the new Palm^® Treo™ 755p smartphone. Preliminary findings have already surpassed expectations with usage levels averaging 48 transactions per user, per month. The results are indicative of both the simplified mobile experience and productivity enhancements that Nuance Voice Control provides mobile consumers when using today’s more advanced mobile devices such as the Treo 755p.

“We strive to provide our customers with the most advanced features available while maintaining ease of use and access, and the Palm 755p with Nuance Voice Control delivers these benefits to our customers when they are on the go.”

Nuance Voice Control is a one-click mobile search and messaging application driven entirely by natural voice commands. With Nuance Voice Control, Treo users can easily dictate and send email or text messages, create calendar entries, dial a contact, and search the Web for business listings, news, weather, stock quotes, sport scores and more.¹ The application icon is pre-loaded on the Treo 755p application menu, enabling Sprint subscribers to easily activate and start using Nuance Voice Control. Initial usage statistics for Nuance Voice Control pre-loaded on the Treo 755p include:

• Adoption rate of more than 15 percent (of units sold). Based on Nuance estimates, 17 percent of users who purchased a Treo 755p device in the first weeks following its release used Nuance Voice Control, an adoption rate well above industry average for pre-loaded mobile applications.
• Average usage rate of 48 voice-enabled transactions per user (per month). Nuance Voice Control subscribers on this device make an average of 10 to 14 voice requests per week (an average of 48 requests per month). The application’s ease-of-use – combined with the user’s desire to complete various tasks with less effort, time and keyboard clicks – generates unmatched usage frequency.
• Voice Dialing, Web Search, and SMS are the most popular voice-activated transactions among Treo 755p users. Voice dialing accounts for 44 percent of usage, SMS and email dictation represent nearly 25 percent of usage, and Web Search (including finding a business, stock quotes, weather, Web navigation and search) represents 22 percent of usage. Web Search transactions carry a particularly strong value proposition to mobile operators through emerging ad-supported business models.

“Nuance Voice Control is a great fit for the demographic of the Treo 755p as it provides simple voice-based access to key information for the time-strapped mobile professional,” said Mike Rank, director of developer relations for Palm, Inc. “We strive to provide our customers with the most advanced features available while maintaining ease of use and access, and the Palm 755p with Nuance Voice Control delivers these benefits to our customers when they are on the go.”

The Treo 755p is designed to provide business professionals with the ability to access key information while on the go. It delivers the tools and convenience mobile professionals demand in one go-anywhere Palm OS® device. It combines a smarter phone with wireless email, a built-in Web browser and rich media capabilities—all at broadband-like speeds.⁽¹⁾

“Palm’s Treo 755p is a stylish device that allows professionals to remain connected while maximizing productivity on the go. Adding Nuance Voice Control as a pre-loaded application on the Treo 755p provides value-add to users by way of simplifying voice-based access to the phone’s advanced functionality,” said Michael Thompson, vice president and general manager, mobile search and communications, Nuance. “With Nuance speech solutions, Treo users have voice-based control of their wireless device with one-click access to 15 different functions and applications, including reliable voice dialing, quick email and SMS dictation and Web access and robust search. Our initial usage statistics imply a stickiness level nearly unmatched by mobile applications across all consumer categories.”

For more information about Nuance Voice Control, including a demo of available functionality, please visit www.nuance.com/mobiledevices.

About Nuance Communications, Inc.

Nuance is a leading provider of speech and imaging solutions for business and consumers around the world. Its technologies, applications, and services make the user experience more compelling by transforming the way people interact with information and how they create, share, and use documents. Every day, millions of users and thousands of businesses experience Nuance’s proven applications. For more information, please visit www.nuance.com.

(1) Within wireless service coverage area only. Availability and coverage depends upon carrier and the geographic scope of international roaming agreements. Email, messaging and web access requires data services from a mobile service provider at an additional cost.

Nuance, the Nuance logo, and Voice Control are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. Palm, Palm OS and Treo are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. All other product names or company names may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

¹ Use requires carrier activation and additional fees.