MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrea Electronics Corporation (Amex: AND) announced today that it is the first microphone software developer to customize audio source object code which enables a digital audio software processing technology to operate with Microsoft's newly introduced, Speech Application Programming Interface (SAPI) 5.0. Microsoft SAPI 5.0 delivers an open, reliable set of application programming interfaces (APIs) and speech services for building speech applications for desktop, mobile and server platforms. In addition, SAPI 5.0 is speech engine-independent, giving developers greater freedom in designing the appropriate solution for a given voice application.

Used in conjunction with the Andrea Sound Card Array(TM), Andrea's audio source object will employ Andrea PureAudio(TM) 2.0 and Digital Super Directional Array (DSDA(R)) 2.0 technologies to significantly enhance the quality of the user's voice signal and the performance of any SAPI 5.0-enabled speech application. The Sound Card Array, a small, cost-effective desktop device which captures and passes multiple streams of audio to the sound card line-input for audio processing, is designed for use with any speech application supported by Microsoft's SAPI 5.0 and can run on any sound card, including those operating on Windows(R) 98, Windows Millennium, Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 operating systems.

"The goal of Andrea's SAPI 5.0 audio source object code is to make our patented microphone technologies more accessible to end-users," said Douglas J. Andrea, Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Andrea Electronics Corporation. "With this newly developed software, Andrea's noise canceling technologies will be available to an increased number of speech-enabled applications that arise due to SAPI 5.0's more universal features."

"We anticipate a strong demand for future speech applications, and SAPI 5.0 was designed to make it easy for both developers and end-users to plug speech applications into their current Windows environment," said Xuedong (X.D.) Huang, General Manager of the Speech.NET product group at Microsoft Corporation. "Andrea Electronics' audio source object code ultimately provides users with enhanced audio quality, which will improve the performance of all speech applications."

Over 20 speech engine companies, tool developers and Windows ISVs (independent software vendors) have announced plans to introduce SAPI 5.0- based products in the near term. SAPI 5.0, which will ship with the next version of Microsoft Office next year, has garnered support from speech engine companies such as L&H/Dragon, Conversa, Fonix, Fujitsu and Toshiba. It is freely downloadable from the Internet at http://msdn.microsoft.com.

About Andrea Electronics

Andrea Electronics Corporation designs, develops and manufactures audio technologies and equipment for enhancing applications that require high performance and high quality voice input. The Company's patented Active Noise Reduction (ANR READY(R)) earphone, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) near-field microphone, patented Digital Super Directional Array (DSDA(R)) and patent- pending Directional Finding and Tracking Array (DFTA(TM)) far-field microphone technologies enhance a wide range of audio products to eliminate background noise and ensure the optimum performance of voice applications. Applications for the Company's technologies include: speech recognition programs, Internet telephony, video/audio conferencing, automobile PCs, home automation systems, hand-held devices and multiplayer online games, among others. OEM and software publisher customers and strategic partners of Andrea Electronics' include: IBM Corporation, Intel Corporation, Donnelly Corporation, Symbol Technologies, Inc., Clarion Corporation of America, Microsoft Corporation, Lernout & Hauspie, ScreenFriends Corporation, Audio-Technica, U.S., Inc., J. D'Addario & Co., DeltaThree.com, Lotus Development Corporation, Fonix Corporation, HearMe, Centra Software, Inc., Logitech, Inc., Net2Phone, Inc., Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. and ZeroPlus.com, among others. Visit Andrea Electronics' websites at www.AndreaElectronics.com and www.AudioCommander.com or call 1-800-707-5779.

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "seeks," variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve matters that are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors, that may affect the business and prospects of Andrea Electronics Corporation (the "Company"). The Company cautions investors about the following significant factors, which, among others, have in some cases affected the Company's actual results and are in the future likely to affect the Company's actual results and could cause them to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements: the rate at which Andrea Anti-Noise, DSDA, DFTA and other Andrea technologies are accepted in the marketplace; the competitiveness of Andrea Anti-Noise, DSDA, DFTA and other Andrea products in terms of technical specifications, quality, price, reliability and service; the sufficiency of the Company's funds for research and development, marketing and general and administrative expenses; infringement and other disputes relating to patents and other intellectual property rights held or licensed by the Company or third parties; and the Company's continuing ability to enter and maintain collaborative relationships with other manufacturers, software authoring and publishing companies, and distributors. No assurance can be given that the Company will achieve any material sales or profits from the products introduced in this release. These and other similar factors are discussed under the heading "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking statements" included in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company's Annual Report to shareholders, and in documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

"Andrea Anti-Noise," "ANR Ready," "DSDA," DSDA-PRO," "DFTA," "SuperBeam," "EchoStop," "PureAudio" and "Desktop Array" are trademarks of Andrea Electronics Corporation or an Andrea Electronics Corporation subsidiary.

SOURCE: Andrea Electronics Corporation

CONTACT: At Andrea Electronics - Richard A. Maue, Chief Financial Officer, or Lauren Smith, Marketing Communications Manager, 800-442-7787/