Credit Lyonnais Implements Speech-enabled Trading Service

PARIS, FRANCE and BOSTON, MA - SpeechWorks International Inc. (Nasdaq: SPWX), a developer of speech technologies and services, and NetCentrex, an enabler of next-generation VoIP networks and services, announced the availability of a speech-enabled trading service offered by Crédit Lyonnais, one of France's largest banking groups. Now Crédit Lyonnais' clients have the opportunity to buy and sell shares on the French market from any phone. "Thanks to this latest speech application, Crédit Lyonnais clients can trade their shares in a fast, practical and simple way through their mobile or landline phone," says Marc Oppenheim, Manager of Multi Channel Platforms at Crédit Lyonnais. "SpeechWorks and NetCentrex have delivered an innovative and efficient solution that has resulted in outstanding performance. We are excited to be the first banking organization in France to offer a speech-enabled trading service to its clients." The speech-enabled trading service builds on Crédit Lyonnais' first speech-enabled application from SpeechWorks and NetCentrex, which was deployed in June 2001, and enables Crédit Lyonnais' clients to request stock quotes. Clients can now conduct real-time transactions by dialing 0820 800 850 (in France only) and saying the name of the share the client wishes to sell or buy and the price of the share. SpeechWorks and NetCentrex have also deployed a full-service, speech-enabled phone banking application and call routing service for Crédit Lyonnais. "We've been working with NetCentrex for several years and we are particularly satisfied with the performance and reliability of its interactive voice solution. We selected SpeechWorks for its speech technology performance, ability to offer local French support and its track record in developing sophisticated speech solutions for the financial services industry," added Oppenheim. "Crédit Lyonnais is leading the French banking community in customer service by offering its clients an easy to use, automated solution for trading stocks," said Steve Chambers, chief marketing officer at SpeechWorks. "Using a few simple voice commands, Crédit Lyonnais' customers can now conduct complex financial transactions that were impossible to automate with touch-tone solutions." "The addition of speech recognition technology to its interactive voice response services enables Crédit Lyonnais to improve customer service quality significantly," comments Olivier Hersent, NetCentrex president. "It also represents a cost-effective way of handling repetitive telephone enquiries, allowing agents to focus on value-added customer services." The Crédit Lyonnais trading service is powered by SpeechWorks® speech recognition technology and DialogModules(tm) patented application building blocks that deliver a consistent user interface for high levels of caller satisfaction, integrated on NetCentrex' MCS(tm) media control platform with its IVR application: SVI®.