Microsoft Windows Sound System 2.0 Now Hardware Independent

Complete, Integrated Software Features Highly Accurate Voice Recognition

REDMOND, Wash.--Oct. 5, 1993--Microsoft Corporation today announced the
Microsoft Windows Sound System version 2.0 with improved voice recognition
and audio compression that enables integration of audio with any
application for the Microsoft Windows operating system.

For the first time, the Windows Sound System is available in two versions:
One includes Windows Sound System software and a microphone; the other
provides a Windows Sound System audio board and headphones, in addition to
the software and microphone. The Windows Sound System 2.0 audio board
package provides Sound Blaster compatibility under the MS-DOS operating
system without requiring Microsoft Windows.

The Windows Sound System software version 2.0 supports virtually all audio
boards and will include drivers for Creative Labs, Media Vision, Microsoft
and Microsoft-compatible audio boards. Because the software is hardware
independent, it enables people who already own audio boards to
inexpensively add voice recognition, annotation and selective proofreading
to all applications for the Windows operating system.

The Windows Sound System 2.0 incorporates significant usability
improvements, increased voice-recognition accuracy, and audio-compression
technology that greatly reduces audio file size on users' hard disks and
corporate networks. It also features Microsoft's custom-designed
directional microphone that enables accurate voice recognition in a
variety of settings.

"This is a very exciting product," said Bob McBreen, audio unit manager at
Microsoft. "For about the price of a software game, people now can add
high-quality audio capabilities or functions to all their applications for
Windows. The Windows Sound System makes natural dialogue between people
and their computers more accessible than ever before. '

Highly Accurate and Customizable

The Windows Sound System 2.0 features an extremely accurate
voice-recognition application called Voice Pilot.

"Microsoft's intuitive user interface and directional microphone, combined
with Dragon Systems' years of experience in voice recognition, have
produced an extremely accurate audio tool in the form of Voice Pilot,"
said Jim Baker, Dragon Systems' chairman and CEO.

Voice Pilot is infinitely customizable. There is no limit to the total
number of supported words or applications, and users can create their own
custom vocabularies, automatically extract vocabularies from any
Windows-based application or use the existing vocabularies.

New Voice Pilot features that improve accuracy and ease of use include:

* Go to sleep/Wake up. Usability is improved by the "Go to sleep" and "Wake
up" commands, which ensure that audio does not pick up stray
conversations. At any time, a user can say "Go to sleep"--if a phone call
interrupts the work session, for instance--and Voice Pilot shuts down.
When ready to work again, the user simply says "Wake up," and Voice Pilot
resumes.

* Directional microphone. To further enhance accuracy, the Windows Sound
System 2.0 includes a new directional microphone, expressly designed for
accurate voice recognition. The microphone, which is tuned specifically to
voice frequencies, can be attached to the PC monitor or can sit on a
desktop stand, allowing hands-free operation without requiring users to
wear a headset.

* Quick Train. Quick Train enables a user to train Voice Pilot to his or
her voice in three minutes by reading a Microsoft-developed list of 52
phonetically balanced words.

* VoiceWizards. The Windows Sound System includes four new wizards: Voice
Command, Vocabulary for Applications, Set User Preferences and Training.
These wizards make it easy to create voice macros to customize
applications and automate routine tasks by walking the user through each
step. With the Windows Sound System VoiceWizards, users can quickly learn
to build a voice macro that immediately launches spell checking in any
application upon the simple voice command, "Spell check."

Compression Technology Reduces Audio File size

The Windows Sound System 2.0 incorporates Microsoft's new audio compression
technology, TRUESPEECH, developed in conjunction with the DSP Group and
Compaq Computer Corporation. TRUESPEECH provides up to 10 times the voice
compression possible for 386- and 486-based platforms, providing the
best-quality sound in very small file sizes. With TRUESPEECH, one minute
of high-quality audio requires only 62K of disk space.

Complete, Integrated Set of Audio Software

The Windows Sound System 2.0 includes integrated audio software designed
for ease of use. The Quick Recorder application provides a quick and easy
way for users to add voice annotations to documents and files, such as
electronic e-mail messages, without using a keyboard or a mouse. The
Proofreader application provides audible proofing of numbers and common
spreadsheet terms for spreadsheets designed to work with Windows. Sound
Finder manages sound files and allows users to drag and drop into OLE
clients.

OEMs Add Value by Licensing Windows Sound System

The Windows Sound System is being Licensed by original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs). Compaq Computer Corporation, Toshiba America and
Ing. C. Olivetti and C. are among the system vendors who have committed to
incorporating the Windows Sound System into their products.

"We integrated Windows Sound System in our premium line, M6 Suprema, and
see it as a meaningful added value that results in a superior PC," said
Giovanni Gurrieri, indirect channel and personal computer marketing
director at Ing. C. Olivetti and C.

For the first time, the Windows Sound System 2.0 is being licensed by
manufacturers of audio add-in boards, allowing new vendors to provide even
greater value and market potential for their boards. Audio board
manufacturers ACS Computer, Ambition Technology and Criterion-Unico are
among the board vendors that will be integrating the Windows Sound System
with their products.

System Requirements, Pricing and Availability

The Windows Sound System version 2.0 is scheduled to be available from
Microsoft resellers by the end of October. The software version, which
includes software, a microphone, a microphone adapter, and a software
user's guide, is available for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $79. In
addition to the system requirements listed below, it requires an audio
board. The audio board package, which includes software, a microphone,
headphones, a 16-bit stereo audio board, Sound Blaster compatibility and
hardware and software user's guides, is available for an SRP of $219.

The Windows Sound System version 2.0 requires the Microsoft Windows
operating system version 3.1 or higher; an open ISA or EISA slot; an
Intel386 SX-based 25MHz or faster processor; 2MB of RAM; a hard drive with
10MB available space; a floppy drive; and a VGA display.

The Windows Sound System version 2.0 is scheduled to be available in French
and German language versions in the first quarter of 1994, while Japanese,
Italian and Spanish versions are scheduled for a later release.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft Corp, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399
206-882-8080,  fax: 206-93MSFAX

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