OnStar to Use SpeechWorks' Speechify Text-to-Speech Engine for Virtual Advisor

    TROY, Mich., July 3 OnStar, the leader in in-vehicle
communications services, and SpeechWorks , a leader in the
speech technology industry, today announced an agreement to use SpeechWorks'
Speechify(TM) Text-to-Speech (TTS) engine for the OnStar Virtual Advisor.
    OnStar Virtual Advisor combines wireless technology with state-of-the-art
voice recognition to deliver Web-based information -- such as e-mail, stock
quotes, news and sports updates, entertainment, and weather conditions -- all
in a hands-free, voice-activated environment with no screens or displays.
    As OnStar continues to grow its service offering on the Virtual Advisor,
it also works to improve the overall consumer interaction with the Virtual
Advisor.  The Speechify software will help improve the subscriber experience
by providing a new text-to-speech processor for Virtual Advisor, delivering e-
mail to subscribers in their vehicles with an easy-to-understand, pleasant
male or female voice.  SpeechWorks' technology is used by many large consumer-
oriented companies to enhance the customer experience while expanding access
to information over any phone, including wireless.  OnStar and SpeechWorks may
also collaborate on future Virtual Advisor enhancements.
    "SpeechWorks is one of the recognized leaders in speech technology," said
Don Butler, executive director of OnStar Virtual Advisor.  "We're pleased to
leverage their expertise in the speech field and bring their text-to-speech
product to our subscribers through the Virtual Advisor."
    "SpeechWorks Speechify engine has brought text-to-speech to a new level of
naturalness and intelligibility," said Mark Plakias, senior vice president of
voice and wireless commerce at the Kelsey Group.  "OnStar's Virtual Advisor is
the most important telematics platform for bringing voice to the mass market
and we are delighted to see SpeechWorks along for the ride."
    "We are excited to be working with OnStar to provide information to its
more than one million subscribers," said Steve Chambers, vice president of
worldwide marketing, SpeechWorks.  "SpeechWorks' technologies are proven in a
wide variety of call environments, particularly wireless, and we are honored
to be part of such a successful consumer application and look forward to our
partnership with OnStar."

    About OnStar
    OnStar is the industry-leading in-vehicle communications and information
service that combines Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology and
wireless communication to link the driver and vehicle with the OnStar Center,
where advisors are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to offer real-
time, personalized help.  OnStar's expanding suite of services is offered, as
standard equipment or part of an options package, on 32 2001 General Motors
vehicle models.  It is also available on the Acura RL and Lexus,
under the LexusLink name, and will be available on the Audi A4 for 2003.
OnStar services include automatic air bag notification, emergency services
dispatch with location, remote door unlock, roadside assistance, stolen
vehicle tracking, remote diagnostics, route support, point-of-interest
location, concierge services, Personal Calling and Virtual Advisor.  For more
information, go to http://www.onstar.com .

    About SpeechWorks
    Through the power of SpeechWorks(R) technologies, the human voice is all a
caller needs to access instant information and conduct transactions from any
landline or wireless phone.  Around the world, customer service innovators
such as America Online, FedEx and Yahoo! are realizing returns on SpeechWorks
applications that consistently serve and delight customers 24 hours a day.
With over 100 partners, SpeechWorks delivers natural language speech
recognition and text-to-speech (TTS) to leading corporations,
telecommunications providers and government organizations worldwide.  For a
description of our products, services and unique customer programs such as the
SpeechWorks Here(TM) Guarantee, call 617-428-4444 or visit http://www.speechworks.com
    SpeechWorks, Speechify and SpeechWorks Here are trademarks or registered
trademarks of SpeechWorks International, Inc. in the United States and other
countries.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.