MELVILLE, N.Y., March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrea Electronics Corporation (Amex: AND), a leading manufacturer of hardware and software technologies optimized for the performance of various speech-enabled applications and other voice user interfaces, announced today that the U.S Patent and Trademark Office has issued the Company U.S. Patent No. 6,198,693 with claims covering Andrea's Directional Finding and Tracking Array (DFTA(R)) technology. Utilizing an array of microphones, Andrea's DFTA technology identifies a speech signal; determines the direction from which it originates, and tracks it by analyzing its history and probability. One of the unique features of the technology covered by this patent is that it allows a simultaneous calculation of data received by all microphones in the array, thus providing more accurate and reliable results, even in noisy environments. Andrea's DFTA technology is currently being utilized in high-end video-conferencing applications to automatically steer video cameras and acoustic beams to the location of the person speaking thus providing "video-follow-audio" capability.

"We believe that the protection of our technology awarded by this patent provides Andrea with a strategic competitive advantage over other currently known direction finding techniques" said Joseph Marash, Chief Technology Officer of Andrea Electronics Corporation. "Our DFTA is more robust and provides better accuracy over a large range applications for conferencing rooms. It is also immune to room noise interference, and has the ability to track more than one speech source at a time, providing the ability to handle multi-speaker situations. With these features we can offer advanced solutions to the growing video and audio conferencing markets. Additionally, this technology enhances Andrea's ability to offer unique situations to the automotive market by enabling various telematics systems to be utilized by both the driver and the passenger."

"Andrea's DFTA technology, similar to that of our other recently awarded patents, represents our continued efforts to develop high-performance, hands-free solutions for a wide range of speech-centric applications," said Christopher P. Sauvigne, President, and Chief Operating Officer. "We will continue to invest in research and development to enable our products to meet the needs of various, strategically focused, emerging markets."

This patent, along with Andrea's recently awarded DSDA patent (U.S. Patent No. 6,178,248) expands Andrea's extensive patent portfolio of state-of-the-art electoracousical designs and technologies to 21 U.S. patents which focus on the enhancement of speech input and communications.

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, BMW of North America, Inc., Donnelly Corporation, Symbol Technologies, Inc., Clarion Corporation of America, Microsoft Corporation, ScreenFriends Corporation, Audio-Technica, U.S., Inc., DeltaThree.com, Lotus Development Corporation, Fonix Corporation, Centra, Net2Phone, Inc., Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. and ZeroPlus.com, among others. Visit Andrea Electronics' websites at http://www.AndreaElectronics.com or http://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.

SOURCE: Andrea Electronics Corporation

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