APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY INC /WA/
10-K, 1997-03-27
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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                UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                         ------------------------------

                                    FORM 10-K

     X   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 1996
                                       OR
         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
           For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

                         Commission file number: 0-25186

                         Applied Voice Technology, Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                Washington                                         91-119008
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or                 (IRS employer
              organization)                                  identification no.)
- ----------------------------------------------------------
          11410 N.E. 122nd Way
- -------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
                Kirkland, WA.                                         98034
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip code)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------

         Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (206) 820-6000

         Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  None

         Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                         Common Stock, $.01 par value per share
                                (Title of class)

         Indicate  by check  mark  whether  the  registrant:  (1) has  filed all
         reports  required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
         Exchange  Act of 1934  during  the  preceding  12  months  (or for such
         shorter  period that the registrant was required to file such reports),
         and (2) has been  subject to such filing  requirements  for the past 90
         days. Yes X No

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to
         Item 405 of  Regulation  S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be
         contained,  to the best of registrant's  knowledge, in definitive proxy
         or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this
         Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

         Aggregate  market value of voting stock held by  non-affiliates  of the
         registrant  as of March  13,  1997  was $  55,336,750  (based  upon the
         closing sale price of $ 14.13 per share on the Nasdaq  National  Market
         on such date).

         Number of shares of Common Stock  outstanding  as of March 13, 1997 was
         5,644,324.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
         Portions  of the  registrant's  Proxy  Statement  for the  1997  Annual
         Meeting of  Shareholders  to be held May 13, 1997 are  incorporated  by
         reference in response to Part III, Items 10-13 (Directors and Executive
         Officers of the Registrant).



<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS.............................................................1
Industry Background..........................................................1
Strategy.....................................................................2
Products.....................................................................3
Sales, Marketing and Product Support.........................................6
Product Development..........................................................8
Proprietary Rights...........................................................8
Competition..................................................................9
Manufacturing...............................................................10
Employees...................................................................10
Item 2. PROPERTIES..........................................................11
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS...................................................11
Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.................11

PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
SHAREHOLDER MATTERS.........................................................12
Item 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA................................12
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.........................................13
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.........................19
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.........................................33

PART III
Items 10-13. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.............34

PART IV
Item 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS
ON FORM 8-K.................................................................35














                                       -i-


<PAGE>

                                     PART 1

                                Item 1. BUSINESS

         Applied  Voice  Technology,   Inc.  (AVT  or  the  Company)   develops,
manufactures,   markets  and  supports  a  broad  line  of  open   systems-based
computer-telephony  software products and systems.  Computer telephony (commonly
referred to as CTI, for computer  telephony  integration)  is a rapidly  growing
industry that unites two of the most essential business tools: the telephone and
the  personal  computer  (PC).  Applications  range from basic to  advanced  and
complex.  One basic CTI application  automatically  answers  incoming  telephone
calls,  routes the call to the desired  party,  and allows the caller to leave a
voice message if the party the caller is trying to reach is unavailable. Unified
messaging is an example of an advanced CTI  application  that allows a person to
manage his or her voice,  fax, and electronic mail (e-mail)  messages all from a
common terminal of choice,  either a telephone or a PC, and in a single session.
An extension of unified  messaging allows PC users on a local area network (LAN)
to send,  receive and store fax documents  directly using a PC,  eliminating the
need  for  a  standalone   fax  machine.   Another   advanced  CTI   application
automatically  identifies  an inbound  telephone  caller,  determines  through a
predefined script why the caller is calling,  and transfers the caller to a live
agent along with the caller's pertinent  information  (commonly referred to as a
"screen pop"),  thereby  providing more efficient and enhanced customer service.
The Company provides these kinds of CTI solutions.

Industry  Background

         The computer  telephony  industry  has  developed in response to market
needs  to  enhance  individual  and  workgroup  productivity,   reduce  business
operating costs, and improve customer service. Rapidly changing technology in PC
hardware  and  software  has enabled the  development  of products to meet these
needs.  Since the  foundation of CTI is both the telephone and the PC,  products
and services are being created by both traditional telephony-oriented as well as
computer-oriented  developers.  While  it  has  been  open  systems-based  since
inception,  AVT's roots lie in the  telephony-oriented  segment of the  industry
referred to as voice or call processing.

         The  first  voice  and call  processing  systems  performed  the  basic
applications of call answering,  routing, and messaging.  The early systems were
based on proprietary hardware and software. Over the past two decades, rapid and
significant advances in PC hardware and software have allowed more flexible open
systems-based  products that incorporate  "off-the-shelf"  components to achieve
performance  levels of the older  proprietary  technologies at much lower costs.
Leveraging  off  the  tools  developed  for  open-systems  computer  technology,
developers  have  accelerated  the  development  of new CTI  applications.  As a
result,  open-system  developers  have  been able to lower  product  development
costs, reduce the time to market of new products and extend the functionality of
these systems  beyond  traditional,  basic call  answering  and voice mail.  The
availability  of advanced  CTI  features on  low-cost,  personal  computer-based
systems has made  open-systems  call  processing  attractive  to not only large,
well-capitalized organizations but also small, price-sensitive businesses.

         Concurrent  with the  proliferation  of open-systems  call  processing,
multiple forms of messaging, in addition to voice mail, have become pervasive in
the office  environment.  For example, as organizations have decentralized their
information  systems from mainframes to personal  computers,  the use of various
forms of  electronic  messaging  has grown  significantly.  The  growth has been
fueled by the  increasing  number and size of local and wide area  networks,  as
well as public information networks such as the Internet. In addition, LAN-based
fax servers,  which store, forward and broadcast faxes, are beginning to replace
standalone fax machines.  Although these diverse forms of messaging also utilize
a  common   open-systems   architecture,   they  have  emerged  as   independent
technologies, generally requiring their own dedicated hardware and communication
protocols.

<PAGE>

         With these  advances in  messaging  technologies,  office  workers must
respond to a broad range of different  message types, and must do so utilizing a
variety of platforms and software applications. As a result, workers often spend
substantial  time  managing,  rather  than  using,  information.  To improve the
efficiency of managing information, many organizations are seeking ways to unify
access to disparate forms of messaging.  This includes  providing workers access
to their  messages  whether  they are in the  office  or  calling  from a remote
location.
Unified messaging represents CTI's answer to this problem.

         In  today's   increasingly   fast  moving  and   competitive   business
environment,  customer  service  has  been  employed  as an  effective  business
strategy  by  many  product  and  service  suppliers.   In  addition,  with  the
proliferation of mail order and internet-based  businesses,  the call center has
become one of the primary  direct-to-the-customer  interfaces.  Call centers are
now mission-critical  operations. CTI provides technology to enhance call center
productivity  and service.  Call  management  performs  intelligent  queuing and
prioritizing of incoming calls.  Agents can service callers more efficiently and
effectively  than  merely  on  a  first-in,   first-out  basis.  Automatic  call
distribution (ACD) systems route calls intelligently to agents and assist in the
productive  management of a call center.  Individual  agent  productivity can be
measured, and incoming call load balanced with agent deployment.

         People  need  access  to  information  stored  in  databases  on  their
computers not only when they are in their  office,  but also when they are away.
The most common device  available to people outside the office is the telephone.
Interactive  voice  response  (IVR)  provides both the telephone  access to such
computer-stored  information,  and the  applications  required to manipulate and
process  this  data.  Therefore,  with  IVR,  you need not be in your  office to
conduct  business,  and you  can do it 24  hours  a day,  7 days a week.  The PC
connected  to the  internet  is emerging  as an  alternative  access tool to the
telephone.  Internet-based information on demand and electronic commerce is just
beginning to emerge,  and has similar  customer  service  attributes as IVR, and
therefore, provides an opportunity to expand CTI even further.

         As the gap between computer and telephone technology has narrowed,  the
uses for CTI have increased significantly.  In the past, the telephone world has
been very  "function"  oriented;  the user  purchases  and  installs a system to
perform a function that he or she wants to use. The computer world has been more
"application"   oriented;   the  user  purchases   tools  with  which  to  build
applications  to meet his or her needs.  CTI's power and versatility is based on
the fact that it provides basic functions such as basic call answering,  routing
and  messaging,  advanced  functions  such as unified  messaging,  and  advanced
applications  such  as  call  management,   automatic  call  distribution,   and
interactive  voice  response.  The open  systems-based  orientation  of CTI also
allows  further  customization  of both  functions  and  applications  by way of
developer-provided application programming interfaces (API's).

Strategy

         The  Company's  mission  is  to  develop  cost-effective,   easy-to-use
computer-telephony  software products that operate on industry-standard personal
computer  platforms,  and market these products  throughout the world. While its
roots were in basic voice and call processing, the Company's primary focus since
the early 1990's has been on advanced CTI functions and  applications  (referred
to as advanced  CTI).  CTI has emerged from the  convergence  of two  dissimilar
technologies, the telephone and the computer. These dissimilar technologies have
also  been  marketed  by  different  distribution  channels,  telephony-oriented
dealers and  computer-oriented  data  resellers.  The Company  believes that the
convergence of the  technologies  and  distribution  channels is an evolutionary
process, and that while there ultimately will be one market and one distribution
channel,  today there are two through  which the Company can meet its  customers
needs.  Therefore,  the  Company  has  implemented  a  dual-pronged  product and
distribution strategy:

<PAGE>

         Develop CTI  software  products and focused  marketing  efforts for the
telephony-oriented   distribution  channel.  The  Company's  roots  lie  in  the
telephony-oriented  world.  Key  milestones in the Company's  development of its
products  include one of the world's first  PC-based voice mail systems in 1985,
its  first  true  multi-application  software  platform  in 1991,  and its first
unified  messaging  application  in 1993.  The Company  continues to develop and
enhance its telephony-oriented product lines CallXpress3, PhoneXpress and px100.
CallXpress3  is the  Company's  premier  telephony-oriented  CTI  platform,  and
includes a robust suite of advanced CTI  applications.  Future  enhancements  to
CallXpress3 will include computer-oriented functions and applications as well as
traditional telephony-oriented functions and applications. PhoneXpress and px100
are high  performance  messaging  systems  providing basic CTI functions.  These
products   are   marketed    primarily    through   the   Company's    worldwide
telephony-oriented  distribution  channel which consists of over 400 dealers and
strategic partners.

         Develop CTI  software  products and focused  marketing  efforts for the
computer-oriented distribution channel. The Company implemented the second prong
of its strategy by acquiring  Cracchiolo  and Feder,  Inc.  (d/b/a  RightFAX) in
January 1996.  The RightFAX line of high  performance,  LAN-based fax servers is
the Company's premier  computer-oriented  CTI platform.  Future  enhancements to
RightFAX will include  telephony-oriented  functions and applications as well as
computer-oriented functions and applications. The RightFAX products are marketed
through the Company's worldwide  computer-oriented  distribution channel of over
600 value-added resellers and distributors.

         In addition,  the Company believes long-term success requires strategic
growth within the CTI arena.  In January  1997,  the Company  acquired  selected
assets  and  liabilities  of  Telcom  Technologies,  Inc.  a  developer  of open
systems-based automatic call distribution (ACD) systems (see Item 7 - Management
Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial  Condition  and Results of  Operations -
Subsequent   Events).   The  first  product  resulting  from  this  acquisition,
AgentXpressNT,  is expected to be introduced in the second quarter 1997 and will
bring a high-performance  automatic call distribution  offering to the Company's
telephony-oriented  advanced CTI application product family targeted at the call
center.  The  Company  continues  to  evaluate  complementary  technologies  and
distribution channels to further implement its strategic growth initiative.

Products

         The Company's product lines follow its primary strategies and fall into
two categories, telephony-oriented and computer-oriented.

         The Company  currently  develops and supports three  telephony-oriented
product lines: CallXpress3,  PhoneXpress and px100.  CallXpress3,  the Company's
premier,  multi-application,  high capacity CTI product, was introduced in early
1991.  PhoneXpress,  introduced  in 1993,  is  positioned  for the  organization
requiring  high  performance  call answering and routing and voice mail, but not
requiring the advanced  application  orientation  or capacity that a CallXpress3
system  provides.  px100 is  designed  to address  the basic voice mail and call
answering  requirements of the growing small business and professional  services
market.  All three product lines are either sold as software kits to dealers who
obtain their own hardware, or sold fully integrated on Company-provided personal
computer hardware platforms.

         Software kits consist of  CallXpress3,  PhoneXpress or px100  software,
documentation,  a  hardware  security  key,  voice  cards and fax  cards.  Fully
integrated CallXpress3,  PhoneXpress, and px100 system platforms include all the
components  supplied in the  software  kits,  plus fully  integrated  and tested
personal   computers,   disk  drive   storage   devices  of  various  sizes  and
configurations, modems, monitors and keyboards.

         With the  acquisition  of  selected  assets and  liabilities  of Telcom
Technologies   in   January   1997,   the   Company   has   added   its   fourth
telephony-oriented  product line, AgentXpressNT,  an automatic call distribution
system targeted at small-to-medium sized call centers.
<PAGE>

         The Company's premier  computer-oriented  product line, RightFAX,  is a
high-performance,  LAN-based  fax  server.  The  RightFAX  server is targeted at
organizations  with high volumes of outgoing or incoming  fax traffic,  many fax
users,  or where  incoming fax  documents  require very secure and  confidential
management.  The RightFAX  server is sold as software  only or as a software kit
including fax cards.

      CallXpress3

         CallXpress3    is    the    Company's    premier,    telephony-oriented
multi-application CTI product. Designed to support from 4 to 64 telephone ports,
and  basic  to  advanced  CTI  applications  such  as  unified  messaging,  call
management,  and interactive voice response,  CallXpress3 can serve the needs of
small to large  enterprises.  All  CallXpress3  application  modules  consist of
software programs that operate in an integrated,  multi-tasking  environment and
are not  dependent on secondary  hardware  processors.  Modules may be purchased
either at initial  installation  or as add-on  upgrades.  While it was developed
with  a  telephony  orientation,   the  standard  LAN-connection  capability  of
CallXpress3 and  software-modular  packaging makes it a true "bridge" product to
the  computer-oriented  world.  When  combined  with the wide  range of port and
storage options  available,  the Company  believes that its CallXpress3  systems
offer users the flexibility to meet their varied and changing needs.

         CallXpress3   software  modules  are  divided  into  three  application
categories: call processing, unified messaging, and call center productivity.

      Call Processing Applications
         Automated  Attendant/Voice  Mail.  The Automated  Attendant/Voice  Mail
module  answers  calls on the first ring and invites the caller to do one of the
following:  enter an  extension  number,  enter a name to  obtain  an  extension
number,  wait on the line for a  receptionist,  or leave a voice  mail  message.
Subscribers  may leave voice mail messages and review  messages  received before
sending  them on or  deleting  them.  The  Audiotext  feature  of the  Automated
Attendant/Voice  Mail  module  acts  as a  "spoken  bulletin  board,"  providing
information  to those who require  it. A voice menu tells a caller what  options
are available  and the caller  presses  touch-tone  keys to make a selection and
hear a prerecorded message.
         Networking.  With  the  Networking  module,  a  company  with  multiple
locations can link its offices  together,  thereby allowing  subscribers at each
location  to send and  receive  voice  messages  from any  other  office  in the
network.  Both  industry-standard  Audio Messaging  Industry Standard (AMIS) and
proprietary AVT networking protocols are supported by this module.

      Unified Messaging Applications
         Desktop Message  Manager.  Desktop  Message  Manager  provides a visual
interface  to the  subscriber's  unified  mailbox  for  access  to voice and fax
messages.  The visual interface lets the subscriber know who sent a message, the
type of  message,  when it  arrived,  whether it is urgent and its  length.  The
module  will play back voice mail  messages  on the  subscriber's  telephone  or
voice-enabled  personal computer as well as display fax messages on the computer
screen.  Subscribers  may  voice  annotate  faxes and  distribute  them to other
subscribers on the system. The related Message Manager for Exchange Inbox module
provides  a  subscriber  with  a  graphical  interface  to  manage  his  or  her
CallXpress3 unified mailbox from the Windows95 Exchange Inbox.
<PAGE>

         E-Mail Access.  E-Mail Access provides subscribers with access to their
electronic mail messages by telephone. The system provides a subscriber with the
option to hear his or her electronic mail text messages  through  text-to-speech
capabilities or convert them into faxes through text-to-fax  capability.  E-Mail
Access  integrates with Lotus' cc:Mail,  Microsoft Mail and Lotus Notes.  Future
E-Mail Access  releases will integrate with other popular  LAN-based  electronic
mail systems.
         Fax Mail. The Fax Mail module  provides store and forward  capabilities
for fax documents identical to those provided for voice messages. With Fax Mail,
a  subscriber  can  retrieve  and print faxes from his or her mailbox 24 hours a
day, and have faxes automatically delivered to any fax machine.

      Call Center Productivity Applications
         Automated  Agent.  Automated  Agent is an  interactive  voice  response
module that is programmed to provide information to callers in response to their
particular inquiries. When configured with other CallXpress3 modules,  Automated
Agent  enables  complete  application  solutions  to be  designed  for  specific
business functions,  such as catalog ordering and college  registration.  Script
Manager provides an English-like programming interface to develop sophisticated,
customized  scripts.  Automated Agent can be connected to the corporate database
through a variety of host computer and LAN-based interfaces.
         Fax Response.  The Fax Response module provides documents such as order
acknowledgments  or printouts of customer accounts  requested by callers through
the Automated Agent module.
         Desktop Call Manager.  Desktop Call Manager  provides for  intelligent,
real-time  management  of  incoming  calls  as  either a call  center  workgroup
management tool or individual  productivity tool.  Incoming calls are identified
by either CallerID (or other central office  provided  protocol) or Call Manager
prompts, a database search performed, and a window popped to the subscriber's PC
telling who is calling. The subscriber can then decide whether to take the call,
take a message,  or redirect the call to someone else.  Desktop Call Manager can
be an very cost-effective  application for smaller,  informal call centers where
an ACD cannot be cost-justified.
         Faxtext.  With the  Faxtext  module,  callers  have  24-hour  access to
requested  information such as product  literature,  specification  sheets, rate
sheets,  technical bulletins or any other type of information a company wants to
quickly and easily communicate via fax.
         CallXpress3  Access.  CallXpress3 Access provides  client-server  voice
management tools and an application  programming  interface into the CallXpress3
database.  Independent  software  developers and  value-added  resellers can use
these tools to build voice-enabled, telephone-based applications.

      PhoneXpress

         PhoneXpress  is designed to meet the  requirements  of  small-to-medium
sized  organizations that require  full-featured  automated  attendant and voice
mail functions. PhoneXpress is based on the same core technology as CallXpress3,
but does not provide the  application  interfaces to support all of the advanced
CTI applications of unified messaging and call center productivity.  PhoneXpress
is designed to support from 2 to 16 ports and may be optionally  configured with
faxtext and  networking  capability  to provide a  cost-effective  branch  voice
processing system for  enterprise-wide  networks.  PhoneXpress is available as a
software kit or as a completely integrated PhoneXpress system.

      px100

         px100 is designed  for the small  business  and  professional  services
market that  requires  basic voice mail and call  answering.  Designed  for easy
installation on the most popular key telephone systems,  px100 can provide up to
100 mailboxes and supports 2 or 4 ports.
<PAGE>

      RightFAX

         The RightFAX  high  performance,  LAN-based  fax server is designed for
businesses  with  high  fax  traffic,  many  fax  users,  or  where  secure  and
confidential  fax  management is required.  The RightFAX  product  consists of a
server (server software and fax cards) and desktop clients.  Desktop clients can
fax documents directly from any Windows  application on their  LAN-connected PC.
All fax processing is performed on the server,  thereby eliminating the need for
a fax modem or telephone line connected directly to each user's PC. In addition,
because the fax  processing is performed on the server,  the user's  application
merely  sends  the  information  to be faxed  to the  server,  where  all of the
conversions to fax format and outbound calling and transmission are managed.

         In the same  paradigm  as the  Company's  telephony-oriented  products,
RightFAX users have a mailbox to receive  incoming faxes.  Incoming faxes can be
routed to the  user's  mailbox  in a variety  of ways,  including  OCR  (optical
character  recognition) of a cover page. The fax is digitally  stored and can be
viewed on the  user's PC  connected  to the LAN or from any web  browser on a PC
connected to the internet. Faxes can then be printed on any printer connected to
the LAN or the user's PC,  forwarded to other users on the RightFAX  server,  or
re-faxed  to any other fax  machine in the world.  Since the fax has been stored
digitally,  there is no further  degradation due to multiple  scannings  through
standalone fax machines.

         RightFAX  servers can be  configured  from 1 to 32 fax ports and run on
either the OS/2 or Windows NT operating systems. RightFAX servers are compatible
with  all  major  network  operating  systems  and are sold as  either  software
licenses or software kits (including fax cards).

Sales, Marketing and Product Support

         While the Company's  telephony-oriented  and computer-oriented  product
lines  have  emerged  from  different  technological  origins,  the two  product
categories   are   now   taking   on   characteristics   of   the   other,   the
telephony-oriented   product  lines  adding   computer-oriented   functions  and
applications,  and the computer-oriented product lines adding telephony-oriented
functions and applications.  The same is true of the marketing and sales efforts
and strategies of these products.  The  telephony-oriented and computer-oriented
distribution channels have emerged from different origins, but are now taking on
characteristics  of the other, in step with the convergence of the technologies.
The   Company   has  built  large   telephony-oriented   and   computer-oriented
distribution  channels in the United States and is  aggressively  developing its
international  distribution.  The sales  concentration is very diverse,  with no
customer representing 10% of 1996 sales.

      Domestic Telephony-Oriented Distribution
         The  Company  currently  derives  its  U.S.   telephony-oriented  sales
revenues  through an indirect  channel of  wholesale  dealers  and  distributors
comprised  of  customer  premise  telephone   equipment  (CPE)  dealers,   voice
processing (VP) specialists, and private label/OEM strategic relationships.  The
Company  has  entered  into  distribution  agreements  with  over  400  domestic
telephony-oriented  companies. This channel consists primarily of both large and
small  regionally-focused  organizations.  The Company also distributes  through
national telephone equipment dealers such as Norstan Communications  Corporation
(Norstan) and private  label/OEM  organizations  such as Dictaphone  Corporation
(developer of dictation systems and other voice-related  applications) and Mcorp
(developer of hospitality  software for the hotel/motel  industry).  The Company
believes it has the largest  telephony-oriented channel capable of marketing and
servicing  advanced  CTI  application  products.  The Company  will  continue to
selectively recruit additional dealers and private label/OEM partners,  focusing
on those capable of marketing and servicing advanced CTI application products.
<PAGE>

         Dealers  are  required  to attend  initial  Company-sponsored  training
sessions  on system  usage,  installation,  maintenance  and  customer  support.
Advanced  training is also available  from the Company on an ongoing basis.  All
dealers are subject to  agreements  with the Company  covering  matters  such as
payment  terms,   protection  of  proprietary   rights  and  nonexclusive  sales
territories, but these agreements generally do not restrict the dealer's ability
to carry competitive products.

      Domestic Computer-Oriented Distribution
         The  Company  derives  most  of its  U.S.  sales  of  computer-oriented
products from an indirect channel consisting of computer-oriented resellers that
provide value-added  services,  independent  software vendors,  and professional
services  companies  specializing in custom systems  development.  Most of these
computer-oriented   resellers  are  small  to  medium  sized  organizations  and
regionally focused.
         In  addition,  the  Company  markets  its  computer-oriented   products
directly to end-user  customers  through  trade show  participation  and journal
advertisement.
         The Company believes that as its computer-oriented products become more
application-oriented,  the sales mix will continue to shift from direct end-user
sales to indirect sales through the computer-oriented resellers.

      International Distribution
         The  international  market for CTI  products is not as developed as the
United States.  The Company believes that over the next few years the market for
both  telephony-oriented  and  computer-oriented  CTI products  will grow faster
internationally  than in the U.S. To address  this  opportunity,  the Company is
developing broad coverage of international  markets through a variety of dealer,
distributor,  and strategic relationships.  Although the Company's sales to date
have generally been denominated in U.S. dollars, the Company expects that in the
future  an  increasing  portion  of  international  sales  will be made in local
currencies.  See Note 1 of  Notes to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for a
summary of the  Company's  export  sales for the years ended  December 31, 1996,
1995 and 1994.
          To date, the majority of the Company's  international  sales have been
in  English-speaking  countries:  Canada,  Australia,  New  Zealand,  the United
Kingdom and South  Africa.  The Company  expects  its  accelerated  distribution
development and product  localization  efforts of the past few years will result
in   higher   growth   rate  in   non-English   speaking   countries   than  the
English-speaking.   Product  localization  has  become  more  important  as  the
Company's  products  take on more  computer-oriented  characteristics  (such  as
visual displays).  The voice-related  aspects of the Company's products have had
multi-lingual  capabilities  since  the late  1980s.  The  Company  is  actively
recruiting new dealers and distributors in international markets.

      Product Support
         The Company's  dealers and distributors  are primarily  responsible for
supporting  end-users of the Company's products.  The Company provides technical
support to its dealers and distributors,  most of which is telephone assistance.
Telephone   support  service  hours  to  dealers  have  been  expanded  to  more
effectively  service  non-U.S.  customers.  The  Company has also  expanded  its
technical training offerings of both  telephony-oriented  and  computer-oriented
products to its dealers. The Company also provides limited warranties on certain
hardware  components  distributed  in  conjunction  with its  products,  thereby
permitting  factory  returns of defective  parts within  certain  specified time
periods following delivery.
          The  majority of product  support is  provided  by the Company  within
three  months of product  shipment,  and the  estimated  cost of such support is
recognized as product revenues are recorded.  The Company  generally charges its
customers separately for post-sale updates and upgrades.
<PAGE>

Product Development

         The    Company    maintains    two   product    development    centers,
telephony-oriented  products  in  Kirkland,   Washington  and  computer-oriented
products in Tucson,  Arizona.  While  development  efforts in the past have been
separate,  the  convergence  of the  technologies  has  allowed  the  Company to
collaborate and leverage development efforts between the two groups. The Company
expects these cross-development efforts to increase in the future.

      Telephony-Oriented Products

         The CallXpress3  core software  technology  provides the foundation for
the CallXpress3, PhoneXpress and px100 products. This use of existing technology
resources has allowed the Company to control  research and development  expenses
while   addressing   the   needs   of   an   expanding   call   processing   and
computer-telephony market. The Company has four engineering teams working in its
primary  product  areas:  Applications  Engineering,  responsible  for the  core
server-based  software  for  CallXpress3,  PhoneXpress  and px100;  Integrations
Engineering,  responsible for phone system  integrations  and voice and fax card
integrations;  Desktop Engineering,  responsible for LAN-based applications; and
Advanced Development, responsible for specialty and next generation products and
features.

         The Company has opened a development center in Pomona,  California as a
result of the acquisition of assets of Telcom Technologies in January 1997. This
group  will  focus  development  efforts  on call  center  applications  such as
AgentXpressNT and other call center related products.

         The Company  believes  that,  for its product  offerings to continue to
achieve  acceptance,  it will be  necessary  to  continue  to  develop  enhanced
versions of its  advanced  CTI  application  products as well as basic voice and
call processing  functions.  Many of the new features and  capabilities  will be
"computer-oriented." The Company also expects to expend significant research and
development efforts in developing next generation technology.

      Computer-Oriented Products

         The bulk of the  Company's  RightFAX  product  development  efforts are
focused on the NT-based product line, and include advanced  capabilities such as
the  Company's  recently  released web client  which  provides  management  of a
RightFAX  mailbox  over  the  internet  from  any web  browser.  Many of the new
features and capabilities will be "telephony-oriented."

      Strategic Development

         With the  international  markets expected to grow at a faster rate than
North America over the next several  years,  the Company  intends to continue to
develop versions of its products that have been "localized" for foreign markets.
"Localization"  includes  converting  system  administrator  and desktop  client
screens,  documentation,  and  voice-prompt  sets into  foreign  languages.  The
Company anticipates  expending significant research and development resources to
develop localized versions of its products.

         While the Company  expects such  investment in research and development
will generate  revenue in the next several years,  technological  development is
always  subject to potential  delays and there can be no assurance  that any new
products or product  enhancements  developed by the Company will achieve  market
acceptance.
<PAGE>

Proprietary Rights

         AVT relies on a combination  of  copyright,  trademark and trade secret
laws,  nondisclosure and other contractual  agreements and technical measures to
protect its  proprietary  rights.  There can be no assurance  that the Company's
efforts to protect its proprietary rights will be successful.

         The Company has filed a patent application in the United States.  While
AVT believes that the  application  relates to patentable  devices and concepts,
there can be no assurance  that a patent will issue,  or that any patent  issued
can be  successfully  defended.  The Company  believes  that patents are of less
significance  in its industry  than factors  such as  innovation,  technological
expertise and distribution strength.

         AVT has  periodically  received  letters from third  parties  asserting
patent rights.  Following  analysis,  the Company  generally has not believed it
necessary to license any of the patent rights  referred to in such  letters.  In
those  cases in which the  Company  determined  a license  of patent  rights was
necessary,  it has entered into a license  agreement.  Although  there can be no
assurance,  the Company  believes  that any  necessary  licenses or other rights
under patents to products or features could be obtained on conditions that would
not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition.

         The Company  licenses  certain  portions of its  technology  from third
parties under written  agreements,  some of which contain provisions for ongoing
royalty  payments.  As of December 31, 1996, the Company had license  agreements
with Octel  Corporation,  Syntellect Inc.,  Intelligent  Environments,  Inc. and
Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft).

Competition

         The Company  believes that the  competitive  pressures it faces in both
the   telephony-oriented   and  computer-oriented  CTI  markets  are  likely  to
intensify,  especially in the markets for basic  functionality such as voice and
call processing. System features, product pricing, ease of use and installation,
sales engineering and marketing support, and product reliability are the primary
bases of  competition.  The Company  believes  that it competes  favorably  with
respect to these  factors.  While  competition  in the advanced CTI  application
marketplace will also intensify,  the Company believes it is well positioned due
to its technological leadership and strong distribution channel.

         The Company's principal  competitors in the  telephony-oriented  market
are independent suppliers, including Octel Communications Corporation, Centigram
Communications  Corporation  (Centigram)  and Active Voice  Corporation  (Active
Voice). PBX and key telephone systems manufacturers such as Lucent Technologies,
Northern Telecom,  ROLM/Siemens,  Executone,  Panasonic and Toshiba also compete
with the Company by offering  integrated  voice  messaging  systems of their own
design or under various OEM agreements.

         In the call  center  market the  Company's  principle  competitors  are
independent  suppliers,  including  Aspect and  Rockwell.  PBX and key telephone
systems   manufacturers   such  as  Lucent   Technologies,   Northern   Telecom,
ROLM/Siemens and Executone also compete with the Company by offering  integrated
ACD systems of their own design or under various OEM agreements.

         In the  computer-oriented  market, the Company's principal  competitors
are Optus Software,  Alcom, and Cheyenne  Communications.  Many of the Company's
competitors  distribute their products through the same distribution  channel as
the Company.  The Company competes  intensely for the loyalties and attention of
its dealers,  which in many cases also carry products  offered by one or more of
the Company's competitors in addition to the Company's products.

         Recently,  the  Company  has also began to face  competition  from very
large  software  companies  such as  Microsoft,  Lotus  Development  Corporation
(Lotus) and Novell,  Inc. (Novell),  who did not traditionally  compete with the
Company.
<PAGE>

Manufacturing

         The Company's  manufacturing  operations  consist primarily of diskette
duplication,  documentation  fulfillment,  final  assembly,  and quality control
testing  of  materials,   subassemblies  and  systems.   Some  limited  hardware
fabrication  is performed by third parties for the Company on certain  telephone
switch integration modules,  where the Company has designed a proprietary device
to emulate a particular  manufacturer's  telephone  station set, and for certain
internal "switching"  components and digital hand sets used in the Company's ACD
products.  The Company is dependent on third-party  manufacturers  or vendors of
certain  critical  hardware   components  such  as  personal  computer  chassis,
keyboards,  disk  drives,  monitors,  memory  modules  and  other  miscellaneous
components.

         The Company's products  incorporate a number of commercially  available
application  cards,  fax cards,  voice  cards and  circuit  boards  that  enable
integration with certain telephone  switches.  The Company  currently  purchases
voice cards from Dialogic  Corp,  Natural  Microsystems  and Mitel.  The Company
purchases facsimile cards from Brooktrout and Dialogic Corp.

Employees

         As of December  31,  1996,  the Company  had 174  full-time  employees,
including 29 in  administration,  11 in  manufacturing,  39 in  engineering  and
product development,  and 95 in sales, marketing and technical support.  Company
employees enter into agreements  containing  confidentiality  restrictions.  The
Company has never had a work  stoppage and no  employees  are  represented  by a
labor organization. The Company considers its employee relations to be good.


<PAGE>



                               Item 2. PROPERTIES

         The   Company's    headquarters   and   administrative,    engineering,
manufacturing  and  marketing  operations  are located in  approximately  43,000
square feet of leased space in Kirkland,  Washington  under a lease that expires
in January  1998.  The  Company's  computer-oriented  operations  are  primarily
located in  approximately  14,000 square feet leased in Tucson,  Arizona under a
lease that expires in October 1999.

         The Company  believes  that these  facilities  are adequate to meet its
current  needs  and  that  suitable  additional  or  alternative  space  will be
available, as needed, in the future on commercially reasonable terms.



                            Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

         The Company is not a party to any material pending legal proceeding.



              Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

         There were no matters  submitted to a vote of security  holders  during
the fourth quarter of 1996.


<PAGE>

                                     PART II

            Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
                               SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
The  information   required  by  this  Item  is  incorporated  by  reference  to
information  contained  in  Note  7  of  Notes  to  the  Consolidated  Financial
Statements: Quarterly Financial Data and Market Information (Unaudited).

<TABLE>
     Item 6.     SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
<CAPTION>


                                                                      Year Ended December 31,
                                                   1996           1995           1994           1993          1992
                                                        --------------------------------------------
                                                             (in thousands, except per share data)
                                                        --------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>           <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>    

STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA
Net sales                                      $  44,127      $  31,284     $  28,761      $  21,253      $ 15,064
Operating income (1)                               8,574          6,730         5,342          2,414           238
Net income (1)                                     6,074          5,334         4,238          2,482           103
Operating income as percentage of
     net sales (1)                                 19.4%          21.5%         18.6%          11.4%          1.6%
Net income per common share (1)                $    1.04      $    0.94     $    1.00      $    0.68      $   0.03
BALANCE SHEET DATA
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-
     term investments                          $  27,697      $  24,446     $  22,685      $   1,817      $    128
Working capital                                   30,870         29,670        24,294          3,948         1,450
Total assets                                      46,127         36,932        28,944          7,639         5,340
Shareholders' equity                              38,883         32,889        24,998          4,795         2,090
<FN>
(1)  Exclusive of the $4,140,000 nonrecurring charge for write-off of purchased in-process research and
development associated with the acquisition of Cracchiolo & Feder, Inc. (d/b/a RightFAX) in January 1996.
</FN>
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                 Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


         Founded  in 1982,  the  Company  develops,  manufactures,  markets  and
supports a broad line of open  systems-based  software  products and systems for
the rapidly growing computer telephony integration (CTI) market. CTI encompasses
a  wide  range  of  products  that  allow  two of the  most  essential  business
instruments, telephones and personal computers (PCs), to work together. Some CTI
products let people access and control telephone  functions through a PC; others
let people access and control computer  functions  through a telephone.  The CTI
market has emerged from the  convergence of these two powerful and useful tools,
each with a different technological origin and marketing orientation.

         The Company has implemented a dual-pronged  strategy to address the CTI
market:    developing    telephony-oriented    products   marketed   through   a
telephony-oriented distribution channel, and computer-oriented products marketed
through  a  computer-oriented  channel.  The  telephony-oriented  products  are:
CallXpress3,  the  Company's  premier,  multi-application,   high  capacity  CTI
product;  PhoneXpress,  a high-performance  call answering and routing and voice
mail system;  and px100,  a basic voice mail and call  answering  system for the
small  business  market.  The  computer-oriented  product line is RightFAX,  the
Company's  premier,  high  performance,  LAN-based  fax server.  These  products
address the needs of four segments of the CTI market: advanced CTI applications,
"CTI-ready"  systems,  basic messaging  systems,  and installed base add-ons and
service.  Advanced CTI applications  products include  CallXpress3  systems sold
with at  least  one  advanced  CTI  application  module  (in  addition  to voice
mail/automated   attendant)  and  RightFAX  servers.   "CTI-ready"  systems  are
CallXpress3   systems  sold  initially  with  voice   mail/automated   attendant
capabilities  only,  but which can be easily  upgraded to include  advanced  CTI
features.  The basic messaging  market is addressed by the PhoneXpress and px100
products.  Sales of non-CTI  capability-enhancing  add-ons,  capacity-increasing
upgrades,  and service parts to the installed  base  represent the fourth market
segment.  The  Company's  strategies  are  focused on  addressing  these  market
segments,  and  results of  operations  are  reported  accordingly.  The Company
acquired RightFAX in January 1996,  accounting for the business combination as a
purchase.



<PAGE>



Results of Operations

         The  following  table  sets  forth,  for  the  periods  indicated,  the
percentage  of  net  sales   represented  by  certain  items  in  the  Company's
consolidated  statements of operations and the  percentage  increase or decrease
from the prior year:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                     Increase (Decrease) From
                                                 Year Ended December 31,                    Prior Year
                                            1996          1995         1994       `96 vs. `95     `95 vs. `94
                                        ------------  -----------  ------------  -------------- ---------------
<S>                                     <C>            <C>         <C>           <C>           <C>     

Net sales............................        100.0%       100.0%        100.0%           41%               9%
Cost of sales........................         38.3         42.7          43.1            26                8
                                        ------------  -----------  ------------          
   Gross profit......................         61.7         57.3          56.9            52                9


Operating expenses:
   Research and development..........          9.4          8.7           9.3            52                2
   Sales, general and administrative          32.9         27.1          29.0            72                1
   Write-off of purchased, in-process
     research and development........          9.4           -             -              -                -
                                        ------------  -----------  ------------
     Total operating expenses........         51.7         35.8          38.3           104                1


Operating income.....................         10.0         21.5          18.6          (34)               26


Other income, net....................          2.1          3.6           1.0          (18)              280
                                        ------------  -----------  ------------

Income before income tax expense              12.1         25.1          19.6          (32)               39


Income tax expense...................          7.7          8.0           4.9            36               80
                                        ------------  -----------  ------------

Net income...........................          4.4%        17.1%         14.7%         (64)%              26%
                                        ============  ===========  ============
</TABLE>

   Net Sales

      The  Company   derives  net  sales   primarily   from  initial   sales  of
fully-integrated  systems,  software  kits, or software  licenses to dealers and
distributors  and the follow-on  sales of  capability-enhancing  add-on software
modules and  capacity-increasing  upgrades.  The sales mix among the four market
segments, as well as among product lines, and software kits and fully-integrated
systems, impacts both net sales and gross margin. The Company typically does not
have  visibility  into  short-term  changes in sales mix.  Sales to dealers  and
distributors are recognized when the products are shipped.
<PAGE>

      Years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995. Net sales increased 41% from $31.3
million in 1995 to $44.1 million in 1996 due primarily to the growth in advanced
CTI application products.  Advanced CTI application product sales increased 163%
and  represented  49% of 1996  sales as  compared  to 26% of  sales in 1995.  In
addition  to the  inclusion  of RightFAX  sales for the first time,  the Company
introduced major enhancements to both the CallXpress3 and RightFAX product lines
during 1996,  which  contributed to this  significant  growth.  In 1996 a higher
percentage  of  CallXpress3  systems  were sold with  advanced  CTI  application
modules (as compared to with voice mail/auto  attendant  functions only) than in
1995. This resulted in "CTI-ready" sales declining from 22% of 1995 sales to 13%
of 1996 sales. The combined  CallXpress3 and RightFAX product lines  represented
62% of  1996  sales  as  compared  to 48% in  1995.  Basic  messaging  sales  of
PhoneXpress  and px100 were unchanged and represented 26% of sales in 1996, down
from 37% in 1995. This trend is consistent with the Company's strategic emphasis
on advanced CTI applications  rather than on lower-margin basic messaging sales.
Add-on and service sales increased 11%, representing 12% of 1996 sales.

      International sales increased 83% in 1996 over 1995 and represented 18% of
net sales due primarily to growth in Europe. The Company significantly increased
its efforts to develop  distribution outside the United States in 1996 to gain a
foothold  in the  international  CTI  marketplace  which is just  now  emerging.
Although  there can be no assurance as to the rate of market  acceptance  of the
Company's  products in international  markets,  the Company expects the expanded
efforts in 1996, as well as the recently  initiated  efforts in Germany,  France
and the Middle  East,  will result in a higher rate of growth than in the United
States.

      Years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994. Net sales  increased 9% from $28.8
million in 1994 to $31.3  million in 1995.  The net sales dollar growth rate was
somewhat dampened by price erosion in the basic messaging market and a change in
the Company's product mix towards software kits (as opposed to  fully-integrated
systems  which  include the  personal  computer  and  computer  components).  In
response to price pressure at the lower end of the basic messaging  market,  the
Company introduced a fully integrated px100 system for distribution  through its
partner Sprint/North Supply. International sales increased 15% in 1995 over 1994
and represented 14% of net sales, due primarily to growth in Europe.

   Gross profit

      Years ended  December 31, 1996 and 1995.  Gross profit as a percentage  of
sales  improved  from 57.3% in 1995 to 61.7% in 1996 due to:  (1) the  continued
product mix shift  towards  software  kits and  software  licenses as opposed to
fully integrated  systems,  and (2) growth in advanced CTI application  products
which have a higher software content than basic messaging systems. The Company's
telephony-oriented  products can be purchased  as a fully  integrated  system or
software kit. The  computer-oriented  RightFAX  product line is sold either as a
software kit or software license. Sales of advanced CTI application system units
carry a higher  price and gross margin than basic  messaging  systems due to the
additional  software  modules  purchased and tend to be a higher mix of software
kits and software licenses as compared to fully integrated systems. Gross profit
on basic messaging  system sales in 1996 continued to be negatively  impacted by
price  erosion  and a higher  ratio of fully  integrated  systems as compared to
advanced  CTI  application   systems.   While  the  Company  expects  additional
competition to enter the advanced CTI application marketplace, the favorable mix
shift  from  basic   messaging  to  advanced  CTI   applications,   which  carry
significantly higher margins, will help offset the effects of price erosion.

      Years ended  December 31, 1995 and 1994.  Gross profit as a percentage  of
sales  improved  from  56.9%  in 1994 to 57.3% in  1995,  due  primarily  to the
significant increase in software kit mix (versus  fully-integrated  systems) and
increased  CallXpress3  advanced  application sales. These favorable trends were
partially  offset by two factors in the lower-end of the basic messaging  market
- -- price  erosion and the  packaging  requirements  of the  Sprint/North  Supply
distribution agreement, which includes px100 software fully-integrated on a PC.
<PAGE>

   Research and development

      Years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995. Research and development  expenses
increased  52% from $2.7  million in 1995 to $4.1  million  in 1996,  due to the
addition of software development and quality assurance personnel associated with
the computer-oriented  RightFAX product line and the accelerated  development of
CallXpress3  Release 4.0, several  CallXpress3  advanced CTI modules,  and other
advanced development projects. Accordingly, research and development expenses as
a percentage of sales  increased  from 8.7% in 1995 to 9.4% in 1996. The Company
expects to continue to increase research and development spending  significantly
in  1997  to  further  capitalize  on  opportunities  in  CTI  applications  and
international localization. (See Item 1 - Business Product Development.)

         In  addition,  the Company  recognized  a  nonrecurring  charge of $4.1
million  in  1996  for the  write-off  of  purchased,  in-process  research  and
development  associated  with the  acquisition  of RightFAX in January 1996. The
remaining  intangibles  resulting from this acquisition are being amortized over
seven years.

      Years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994. Research and development  expenses
increased  2% to  $2.7  million  in  1995,  due  primarily  to the  addition  of
engineering and quality  assurance  personnel needed to support the advanced CTI
application modules and LAN integrations.  Excluding expenses recognized in 1994
that represented the remainder of unamortized  purchased technology arising from
a 1989 acquisition,  1995 research and development expenses would have increased
7% over 1994.

   Selling, general and administrative

         Years  ended  December  31,  1996  and  1995.   Selling,   general  and
administrative expenses increased 71% from $8.5 million in 1995 to $14.5 million
in 1996. The increase was due primarily to the Company's  expanded  distribution
efforts in the  computer-oriented  channel  resulting  from the  acquisition  of
RightFAX, as well as significant increases in the  telephony-oriented  worldwide
sales management organization and expanded marketing programs.  Selling, general
and  administrative  costs accordingly  increased from 27.1% of sales in 1995 to
32.9% of sales in 1996.

         Years  ended  December  31,  1995  and  1994.   Selling,   general  and
administrative  expenses were  essentially flat at $8.4 million in 1994 and $8.5
million in 1995.  Lower 1995  incentive  and bad debt  accruals  were  offset by
increased   international   distribution   development  efforts  and  additional
regulatory,  reporting and administrative  requirements  associated with being a
public company.  Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of
sales  decreased  from 29.0% in 1994 to 27.1% in 1995 as the Company was able to
utilize personnel additions and expenditures made in previous years.

   Other income

         Years ended  December 31, 1996 and 1995.  Other income  decreased  from
$1.1  million  in 1995 to $0.9  million  in 1996  because  cash  and  investment
balances  declined  in early 1996 as a result of  payments  made  related to the
acquisition of RightFAX. The Company's mix of tax-exempt investments as compared
with taxable investments was unchanged throughout 1996.

         Years  ended  December  31,  1995  and  1994.  Other  income  increased
significantly from $0.3 million in 1994 to $1.1 million in 1995 due primarily to
interest  earned on cash  resulting  from the  Company's  December  1994 initial
public offering.
<PAGE>

   Income tax expense

         Years ended  December 31, 1996 and 1995.  The  Company's  effective tax
rate  increased  from 32.0% in 1995 to 36.0% in 1996 excluding the effect of the
nondeductible,  nonrecurring  charge for the write-off of purchased,  in-process
research and development  discussed above. The increase was due primarily to the
effect of U.S. state and foreign income and franchise taxes. The Company expects
the effective tax rate in 1997 to be approximately 36%.

         Years ended  December 31, 1995 and 1994.  The  Company's  effective tax
rate  increased  from 24.8% in 1994 to 32.0% in 1995.  The  remaining  valuation
allowance associated with research and experimentation  credit carryforwards was
recognized as a tax benefit in 1994. In addition,  a portion of cash investments
was reallocated from taxable to tax-exempt instruments in 1995, thereby reducing
interest income and the effective tax rate.

   Net income and earnings per share

         Years  ended  December  31,  1996 and 1995.  Net income  excluding  the
nonrecurring  charge  increased 14% from $5.3 million in 1995 to $6.1 million in
1996.  Earnings per share excluding the  nonrecurring  charge increased 11% from
$0.94 in 1995 to $1.04 in 1996. Including the nonrecurring charge, net income in
1996 was $1.9 million and earnings per share was $0.33.

         Years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994.  Net income  increased 26% from
$4.2 million in 1994 to $5.3 million in 1995.  Earnings per share  declined from
$1.00 in 1994 to $0.94 in 1995 due to the higher  average share count in 1995, a
result of the Company's December 1994 initial public offering.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

         Cash and cash  equivalents  and short-term  investments  increased from
$24.4 million at December 31, 1995 to $27.7  million at December 31, 1996.  Cash
flow generated from operating  activities increased from $2.3 million in 1995 to
$8.2  million in 1996 due to improved  receivables  collections  and  profitable
operations.

         In February 1995, the Company prepaid the remaining balance due under a
royalty  agreement  associated with a business  combination  consummated in 1989
(see  Note 6 of the  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements).  The  cash
disbursement,  which  amounted to $1.8  million,  was recorded as an  intangible
asset and has been  amortized  over the remaining  term of the original  royalty
agreement,  approximately six years. In addition,  the Company amended a license
agreement in September  1995,  prepaying  its  remaining  royalty  obligation by
issuing  a note in the  amount of $1.9  million  payable  in 12 equal  quarterly
installments  of  $161,417,  including  imputed  interest at 8.75%.  The related
intangible  asset is being amortized on a  straight-line  basis over the average
remaining life of the patents, approximately 12 years.

         In January  1996,  the  Company  acquired  Cracchiolo  and Feder,  Inc.
(d/b/a/  RightFAX) for $4.2 million in cash plus 163,000 shares of the Company's
common  stock.  The  business  combination  was  accounted  for  as a  purchase.
Approximately   $4.1  million  of  the  purchase   price  was  recognized  as  a
nonrecurring  charge  in the  first  quarter  of  1996  representing  purchased,
in-process research and development.  The remaining  intangible assets are being
amortized over seven years from date of  acquisition.  In addition,  the Company
paid $1.4  million in cash and 95,000  shares of the  Company's  common stock in
1997, relating to the 1996 earn out and guaranteed value of the Company's common
stock.  As a result of the earn out,  the Company  recorded an  additional  $2.0
million of goodwill at December 31, 1996.  The former  shareholders  of RightFAX
will be further entitled to receive additional  consideration worth $1.8 million
in a combination of cash and the Company's common stock over the next two years,
if certain revenue and profit margin goals are achieved by RightFAX.
<PAGE>

         The Company  amended a license  agreement in July 1996,  prepaying  its
remaining royalty obligation by issuing a noninterest-bearing note in the amount
of $450,000  which was  completely  paid prior to December 31, 1996. The related
intangible  asset is being amortized on a  straight-line  basis over the average
remaining lives of the patents, approximately seven years.

         At  December  31,  1996,  the  Company  had a  $4.0  million  unsecured
revolving line of credit,  none of which was outstanding.  The Company's line of
credit  expires  in May  1997  and  contains  certain  financial  covenants  and
restrictions  as to various  matters,  all of which the Company is  currently in
compliance with. Borrowings under the line of credit bear interest at the bank's
prime rate or its interbank offering rate plus 1.75%, at the Company's option.

         The  Company   invested   $0.9  million  in  equipment   and  leasehold
improvements in 1996 as compared to $0.7 million in 1995. Equipment purchases in
both years consisted  primarily of computer  hardware and software.  The Company
expects  to  spend  less  than  $2.0  million  in 1997 on  property,  plant  and
equipment.

         The Company expects that its current cash, cash flow from operations,
and available bank line of credit will provide sufficient working capital
for operations for at least the next year.

Subsequent Events

         In January 1997, the Company  acquired  selected assets and liabilities
of  Telcom  Technologies,   Inc.,  a  developer  of  NT-based  open-architecture
automatic  call  distribution   (ACD)  systems.   The  purchase  price  for  the
acquisition was $3.5 million in cash,  plus warrants to purchase  100,000 shares
of the  Company's  common stock  exercisable  at $13.36 per share,  which may be
exercised at any time prior to January 3, 2002. The Company will account for the
business  combination  as a purchase  and expects to  recognize  a  nonrecurring
charge of $3.6  million  in the first  quarter  1997  representing  the value of
purchased, in-process research and development acquired.

Certain Trends and Uncertainties

         When used in this discussion,  the words "believes,"  "anticipates" and
similar expressions are intended to identify  forward-looking  statements.  Such
statements  are  subject to certain  risks and  uncertainties  that could  cause
actual results to differ  materially from those  projected.  Factors which could
affect  the  Company's  financial  results  are  described  below  and in Item 1
(Business)  of this Annual  Report on Form 10-K.  Readers are  cautioned  not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of
the date hereof.  The Company  undertakes no obligation to publicly  release the
results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to
reflect  events  or  circumstances  after  the date  hereof  or to  reflect  the
occurrences of unanticipated events.

         The  Company's   quarterly   results  of  operations   are  subject  to
significant  fluctuations  due to a variety of factors,  including the timing of
customer  orders,  changes in the product and  distribution  channel  sales mix,
introduction  of  new  products  by the  Company  or  its  competitors,  pricing
pressures and general  economic  conditions.  Because  substantially  all of the
Company's  revenues in each quarter result from orders received in that quarter,
the Company has  historically  operated  with little or no backlog.  The Company
establishes its expenditure  levels for product  development and other operating
expenses based on its expected  revenues,  and expenses are relatively  fixed in
the short term.  As a result,  variations  in the timing and/or mix of sales can
cause significant  variations in quarterly  results of operations.  In addition,
while  the  Company's  sales to date  have been  generally  denominated  in U.S.
dollars,  the Company is now actively  marketing its products in certain foreign
countries in local  currencies.  Gains and losses on the  conversion  of foreign
currencies to U.S. dollars arising from international  operations may contribute
to  fluctuations  in the  Company's  operating  results.  The  Company  does not
currently engage in any foreign currency hedging transactions.  Accordingly, the
Company's results of operations for any period are not necessarily indicative of
results for any future period.

<PAGE>








Item 8.                    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

                                 APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                                   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                December 31,
                                                                     ----------------- --- -----------------
                                                                           1996                  1995
                                                                     -----------------     -----------------
                                             ASSETS                              (in thousands)
<S>                                                                <C>                     <C>                     
 Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                                     $        12,195         $      12,249
      Short-term investments                                                 15,484                12,197
      Accounts receivable, less allowance for
         doubtful accounts of $606,000 and $483,000                           6,106                 4,755
      Inventories                                                             2,458                 1,728
      Deferred income taxes                                                   1,056                   891
      Prepaid expenses and other                                                502                   994
                                                                     -----------------     -----------------
                          Total current assets                               37,801                32,814

 Equipment and leasehold improvements, net                                    1,479                   954
 Intangibles, net                                                             6,847                 3,164
                                                                     -----------------     -----------------

                                                                     $       46,127          $     36,932
                                                                     =================     =================

                              LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
     Accounts payable                                                $        2,033          $      1,103
     Other current liabilities                                                3,967                 1,493
     Note payable - current portion                                             586                   537
     Income taxes payable                                                       345                    11
                                                                     -----------------     -----------------

                         Total current liabilities                            6,931                 3,144
                                                                     -----------------     -----------------

Note payable                                                                    313                   899

Commitments

Shareholders' equity:
     Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, 1,000,000
        authorized; none outstanding                                             --                    --
     Common stock, par value $.01 per share, 30,000,000
        authorized; 5,425,713 and 5,144,040 shares outstanding                   54                    51
     Additional paid-in capital                                              28,267                24,222
     Retained earnings                                                       10,562                 8,650
     Deferred compensation                                                       --                   (34)
                                                                     -----------------     -----------------

                         Total shareholders' equity                          38,883                32,889
                                                                     -----------------     -----------------

                                                                     $       46,127        $       36,932
                                                                     =================     =================
<FN>

                   See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
</FN>
</TABLE>



<PAGE>



                                 APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                                                Year Ended December 31,
                                                   1996                 1995                   1994
                                             -----------------    ------------------     ------------------
                                                         (in thousands, except per share data)
<S>                                          <C>                 <C>                    <C>                   

Net sales                                     $      44,127       $        31,284        $        28,761
Cost of sales                                        16,895                13,364                 12,391
                                             -----------------    ------------------     ------------------

     Gross profit                                    27,232                17,920                 16,370
                                             -----------------    ------------------     ------------------

Operating expenses:
     Research and development                         4,149                 2,732                  2,671
     Selling, general and administrative             14,509                 8,458                  8,357
     Write-off of purchased, in-process
       research and development                       4,140                    -                      -
                                              -----------------   -------------------    -------------------

          Total operating expenses                   22,798                11,190                  11,028
                                              -----------------    ------------------     ------------------
Operating income                                      4,434                 6,730                   5,342
                                              -----------------    ------------------     ------------------
Other income:
     Interest income                                    909                 1,063                     199

     Other                                               10                    53                      95
                                              -----------------    ------------------     ------------------

          Other income                                  919                 1,116                     294
                                              -----------------    ------------------     ------------------

Income before income tax expense                      5,353                 7,846                   5,636


Income tax expense                                    3,419                 2,512                   1,398
                                              -----------------    ------------------     ------------------

Net income                                   $        1,934       $         5,334        $          4,238         

                                             =================    ==================     ==================

Net income per common share                  $         0.33       $          0.94        $           1.00


Weighted average common
     shares outstanding                               5,837                 5,697                  4,242

<FN>


           See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

</FN>
</TABLE>


<PAGE>




                         APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                       -------------------------   Additional     Deferred                       Total
                                             Common Stock            paid-in       compen-      Retained      shareholders'
                                          Shares          Amount     capital       sation       earnings        equity
                                       ------------   ----------  -------------  ------------  ------------  --------------
                                                              (in thousands, except share data)

     <S>                               <C>              <C>       <C>          <C>          <C>             <C>
     
       Balance at December 31, 1993     3,543,191        $     35  $  5,931      $  (227)   $   (944)       $     4,795

       Issuance of shares in public
          offering, net of underwriting
          discount and $497 of
          offering expenses             1,350,000              14    15,811           --           --            15,825



       Exercise of stock options           10,401              --        32           --           --                32

       Stock compensation expense           --                 --        --          108           --               108

       Net income                           --                 --        --           --        4,238             4,238
                                        ------------      --------  --------     --------    ---------       -----------
       Balance at December 31, 1994     4,903,592              49    21,774         (119)       3,294            24,998


       Unrealized gain on investments       --                 --        --           --           22                22

       Exercise of overallotment
         option from initial
         public offering                   168,750              1     2,039           --           --             2,040

       Exercise of stock options            71,698              1       409           --           --               410

       Stock compensation expense           --                 --        --           85           --                85

       Net income                           --                 --        --           --         5,334            5,334
                                        ------------      --------  --------     --------    ---------       -----------
       Balance at December 31, 1995     5,144,040              51    24,222          (34         8,650           32,889

       Unrealized loss on investments       --                 --        --           --           (22)             (22)

       Stock compensation expense           --                 --        --           34           --                34

       Exercise of stock options          118,374               1       617           --           --               618
       Stock issued in acquisition        163,299               2     3,428           --           --             3,430

       Net income                           --                 --        --           --         1,934            1,934

                                        ------------      --------  --------     --------    ---------       -----------
       Balance at December 31, 1996     5,425,713        $     54  $ 28,267      $    --      $ 10,562       $   38,883   
                                        ============      ========  ========     ========    =========       ===========

<FN>
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


                                       APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                           Year Ended December 31,
                                                                 1996              1995                1994
                                                            --------------   -----------------    ---------------
<S>                                                        <C>             <C>                 <C>                     
                                                                               (in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
     Net income                                             $    1,934       $      5,334       $       4,238

                                                            --------------  -----------------   -----------------
Adjustments  to  reconcile net  income  to  net  cash
      provided  by  operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization                               1,395                809                 427
     Write-off of purchased, in-process research and
      development                                                4,140                 --                  --
     Stock compensation expense                                     34                 85                 108
     Changes in current assets and liabilities:
         Accounts receivable                                         5             (1,732)                (19)
         Inventories                                              (551)              (332)                 70
         Deferred income taxes                                    (137)                 2                (671)
         Prepaid expenses and other assets                        (237)              (539)                 40
         Accounts payable                                          241                 60                 134
         Accrued compensation and benefits                         514                (80)               (342)
         Income taxes payable                                      546               (859)                870
         Other accrued liabilities                                 271               (460)                440

                                                            --------------  -----------------   -----------------
         Total adjustments                                       6,221             (3,046)              1,057

                                                            --------------  -----------------   -----------------

              Net cash provided by operating activities          8,155              2,288               5,295
                                                            --------------  -----------------   -----------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
     Purchase of equipment and leasehold improvements             (930)              (691)               (432)
     Cash paid in acquisition, net of cash acquired             (3,318)                --                  --
     Purchase of short-term investments                         (3,309)           (12,175)                 --

     Other intangibles and long-term assets                         --             (1,807)                148
                                                            --------------  -----------------   -----------------

               Net cash used by investing activities            (7,557)           (14,673)               (284)
                                                            --------------  -----------------   -----------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
     Net proceeds from initial public offering                      --                 --              15,825
     Net proceeds from overallotment exercise                       --              2,040                  --
     Repayment of long-term debt                                  (983)              (289)                 --
     Proceeds from sale of common stock                            331                198                  32
                                                            --------------  -----------------   -----------------

               Net cash (used) provided by financing              (652)             1,949              15,857
               activities
                                                            --------------  -----------------   -----------------
               Net (decrease) increase in cash                     (54)           (10,436)             20,868
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                   12,249            22,685               1,817
                                                            ==============  =================   =================
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                    $    12,195     $      12,249       $      22,685

                                                            ==============  =================   =================

Cash paid for interest                                      $       129     $          44       $          --        



<FN>

                        See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>



                                      APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                                NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.       Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

         Nature of Business
         Applied Voice Technology, Inc. (the Company), a Washington corporation,
develops, manufactures,  markets and supports a broad line of open systems-based
computer-telephony  and call  processing  software  products  and  systems  that
automate call  answering and enable a user to manage  multiple types of messages
from  either a personal  computer or a  telephone.  The  consolidated  financial
statements  include the  accounts of all  subsidiaries,  all of which are wholly
owned. All intercompany accounts have been eliminated.

         Cash and Cash Equivalents
         The  Company's  policy  is  to  invest  cash  in  excess  of  operating
requirements in income-producing  investments. For purposes of the statements of
cash flows, the Company  considers all highly liquid debt instruments  purchased
with a maturity of three  months or less to be cash  equivalents.  Cash and cash
equivalents  include all cash balances and highly liquid  investments in a money
market fund. Investments are recorded at cost, which approximates market prices.

         Inventories
         Inventories  consist primarily of computer  assemblies,  components and
related equipment, and are stated at the lower of cost (first-in,  first-out) or
market (net realizable value). Inventory consists of the following:

                                            December 31,
                                     1996                  1995
                              ------------------------------------
                                           (in thousands)
                               -----------------------------------

Raw materials and service parts $    2,193           $    1,477

Finished goods                         265                  251

                                $    2,458           $    1,728





         Equipment and Leasehold Improvements
         Equipment  and  leasehold  improvements  are  stated  at  cost  and are
depreciated on the  straight-line  method over the estimated useful lives of the
assets,  which  range  from  three  to  five  years.   Equipment  and  leasehold
improvements consist of the following:

                                                         December 31,
                                                  1996                 1995
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                                        (in thousands)
                                        ---------------------------------------
   Computers and other equipment        $        4,015          $     3,016
   Leasehold improvements                          339                  311
   Furniture and fixtures                          372                  256
                                                 4,726                3,583
   Less accumulated depreciation                (3,247)              (2,629)
   Equipment and leasehold
       improvements, net                $        1,479          $       954

 



<PAGE>



                         APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


1. Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

         Intangibles
         Goodwill is being  amortized  using the  straight-line  method over its
estimated useful life of seven years. License agreements are amortized using the
straight-line method over the remaining lives of the related patents which range
from approximately 5.6 to 12 years.

                                                         December 31,
                                                 1996                 1995
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                                       (in thousands)
                                         ---------------------------------------
   Goodwill on RightFAX acquisition        $     4,070          $      --
   License agreements                            4,068                3,622
                                          -------------------- ----------------
                                                 8,138                3,622
   Less accumulated amortization                (1,291)                (458)
                                           -------------------- ----------------
   Intangibles, net                        $     6,847          $     3,164
                                           ==================== ================
  

      
         Other Current Liabilities

                                                         December 31,
                                                  1996                 1995
                                           ------------------------------------
                                                       (in thousands)
                                           ------------------------------------
   Accrued compensation and benefits       $     1,252           $      644

   Acquisition costs                             1,408                   --
   Other                                         1,307                  849
                                           --------------------- --------------
   Other current liabilities               $     3,967           $    1,493
                                           ===================== ==============

         Use of Estimates
         The preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements,  in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, requires management to
make estimates and  assumptions  that affect the reported  amounts of assets and
liabilities  and disclosure of contingent  assets and liabilities at the date of
the  financial  statements  and the  reported  amounts of revenues  and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

         Revenue Recognition
         Revenues  from sales to dealers are  recognized  when the  products are
shipped.  When  the  Company  has  an  installation  obligation,   revenues  are
recognized when product installation is complete.  Revenues from system-extended
warranty  agreements  are  recognized  over  the  lives of the  related  service
contracts on the  straight-line  method.  The Company accrues estimated costs of
technical support to customers as related revenues are recognized.

         Research and Development Costs
         Research and  development  costs are expensed as incurred.  The Company
has not capitalized any software development costs, as technological feasibility
is not generally established until substantially all development is complete.



<PAGE>



                         APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


1. Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

         Net Income per Share
         Net income per share is  determined  based on the  adjusted net income,
divided  by  the  weighted   average  number  of  shares  of  common  stock  and
equivalents, using the treasury stock method. Net income used in the calculation
includes the addition of hypothetical  interest on additional proceeds remaining
under the treasury stock method using an average rate of return that the Company
has received on its investments.  Common stock equivalents  include common stock
options  as well as  additional  shares  to be  issued  in  connection  with the
RightFAX earn out.

         Concentration of Credit Risk;  Export Sales
         The  Company  achieves  broad U.S.  market  coverage  for its  products
primarily  through a  nationwide  network  of  independent  telephone  equipment
dealers, voice processing specialists and data-oriented  resellers. For the year
ended December 31, 1996, no customer  represented  over 10% of total sales.  The
Company's  largest customer  represented  12.1% and 12.4% of total sales for the
years  ended  December  31,  1995 and  1994,  respectively.  No  other  customer
represented  more than 10% of sales in any year.  The Company  performs  ongoing
credit evaluations of its customers'  financial  conditions and,  generally,  no
collateral is required.
         The Company's export sales were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                         Year Ended December 31,
                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1996                       1995                     1994
                                 ------------------         ------------------       -----------------
                                                              (in thousands)
         <S>                        <C>                        <C>                     <C>   
         Canada                      $    2,660                 $    2,055              $   2,135
         Other                            5,338                      2,315                  1,665
                                 ==================         ==================       =================
                                     $    7,998                 $    4,370              $   3,800
                                 ==================         ==================       =================
</TABLE>

2.       Income Taxes

         Income taxes are provided for in the consolidated  statements of income
using the asset and liability method.  The difference  between the provision for
income  taxes and the  statutory  tax rate applied to income  before  income tax
expense  is due to  certain  expenses  not being  deductible  for tax  purposes,
research and experimentation  credits and the reduction of valuation  allowances
as the Company realized the benefits of net operating loss carryforwards.

         The following is a reconciliation from the U.S. statutory rate to the
 effective tax rate:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                        1996                    1995                     1994
                                 --------------------  -----------------------  ---------------------
                                 Amount         %         Amount        %         Amount         %
                                 ----------  --------  -------------  --------  -----------  --------
                                                           (in thousands)
<S>                           <C>             <C>      <C>             <C>     <C>            <C>   

Tax at statutory rate          $ 1,820         34.0%    $ 2,667         34.0%   $    1,916     34.0%
Research and
experimentation
     credit                        (69)        (1.3%)       (45)        (0.6%)        (306)    (5.4%)
Write-off of purchased,
    in-process research and
    development                  1,408         26.3%         --           --           --        --
Change in valuation
     allowance                      --          --           --           --          (604)   (10.7%)                          

Nontaxable interest income        (217)        (4.0%)      (148)        (1.9%)         --        --

State taxes and other              477          8.9%         38          0.5%          392      6.9%                   
                              ------------  ---------  -------------- --------  ------------  --------
Income tax expense             $ 3,419         63.9%    $   2,512       32.0%   $    1,398     24.8%
                              ============  =========  ============== ========  ============  ========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                       APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                                 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


2.       Income Taxes (continued)

         Deferred taxes result from temporary  differences  relating to bad debt
and obsolescence reserves, depreciation and amortization and other accruals that
are expensed for  financial  reporting,  but are not  currently  deductible  for
income tax purposes.

         Income tax expense and cash paid for income taxes are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                          1996                       1995                      1994
                                   --------------------       --------------------      --------------------
                                                                (in thousands)

<S>                               <C>                        <C>                       <C>                        

Current                            $         3,556            $         2,510           $           2,069

Deferred                                      (137)                         2                        (671)
                                   --------------------       --------------------      --------------------
     Total income tax expense      $         3,419            $         2,512           $           1,398
                                   ====================       ====================      ====================

Cash paid for income taxes         $         3,010            $         3,677           $           1,199

                                   ====================       ====================      ====================
</TABLE>

         Significant  components  of the  Company's  deferred tax asset as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           December 31,
                                             -----------------------------------------
                                                    1996                 1995
                                             -------------------- --------------------
     <S>                                     <C>                 <C>                              
      Deferred tax assets:
      Accounts receivable allowances         $             244    $             172
      Inventory                                            118                  129
      Depreciation and amortization                        195                  205
      Accrued compensation and benefits                    137                   83
      Other                                                362                  302
                                             -------------------- --------------------
      Net deferred tax assets                $           1,056    $             891

</TABLE>



3.       Shareholders' Equity

         The Company has stock  option plans under which  employees,  directors,
officers and other agents may be granted options to purchase  common stock.  The
Company has reserved approximately 1,860,000 shares of common stock for issuance
pursuant to these plans upon exercise of  outstanding  options and upon exercise
of options to be granted in the  future.  Options  generally  vest over three to
four  years  and  expire  10 years  from  the date of  grant.  The  options  are
exercisable  at prices  determined at the  discretion of the Board of Directors.
The Company accounts for these plans under  Accounting  Principles Board Opinion
No. 25,  "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," under which no compensation
cost has been recognized based on the difference  between the exercise price and
fair market value at the date of grant, if any. Had compensation  cost for stock
option grants made in 1995 and 1996 been determined  using the fair value method
consistent with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting
for Stock-Based  Compensation" (SFAS 123), the Company's net income and earnings
per share would have been reduced to the following pro forma amounts:

                                                    1996                1995
                                           ------------------   ----------------
   Net Income:        As Reported         $      1,934,000     $    5,334,000
                      Pro Forma                    793,000          5,324,000

   Primary EPS:       As Reported         $           0.33     $         0.94
                      Pro Forma           $           0.16     $         0.94







<PAGE>



                         APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


3.       Shareholders' Equity (continued)

         The fair value of each option  grant is  estimated on the date of grant
using   the   Black-Scholes   options   pricing   model   with   the   following
weighted-average  assumptions  used for  grants  in 1996  and  1995:  risk  free
interest rates of 6.25%;  expected lives of five years;  expected  volatility of
45%; and $0 dividends.

         Because  the SFAS 123  method of  accounting  has not been  applied  to
options  granted prior to January 1, 1995, the resulting pro forma  compensation
cost may not be representative of that to be expected in future years.

         A summary of the status of the Company's stock option plans at December
31,  1996,  1995 and  1994,  and the  changes  during  the years  then  ended is
presented in the table and narrative below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                           1996                         1995                        1994
                                   -----------------------  --------------------------  -------------------------
                                                Wtd. Avg.                    Wtd. Avg.                   Wtd. Avg.
                                     Shares     Ex. Price       Shares       Ex. Price      Shares       Ex. Price
                                   ----------  -----------  ------------  ------------   -------------  ----------
<S>                                <C>          <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>         <C>

Outstanding at beg. of year         738,284      $    2.95      809,175       $    2.74     821,729     $    2.55
Granted                             891,900          13.26       16,487           15.56      30,625          8.43
Exercised                          (118,374)          2.82      (71,699)           2.76     (10,401)         3.00
Canceled                            (61,445)         13.02      (15,679)           5.86     (32,778)         3.33
                                -------------                -------------                -----------
Outstanding at year-end           1,450,365           8.87      738,284            2.95     809,175          2.74
                                -------------                -------------                -----------
Exercisable at end of year          598,236           2.76      657,619            2.61     616,177          2.61
Weighted average fair value
    of options granted                           $    5.77                    $    7.50                       --
</TABLE>


         Options  outstanding at December 31, 1996,  have exercise  prices
between $1.00 and $19.00,  with a weighted average remaining contractual life
of  7.2 years.


4.       Line of Credit

         At  December  31,  1996,  the  Company  had a  $4.0  million  unsecured
revolving line of credit, none of which was used during the years ended December
31, 1996 and 1995. The Company's line of credit expires in May 1997 and contains
certain  financial  covenants and restrictions as to various matters,  including
the Company's  ability to pay cash dividends  without the bank's prior approval.
The  Company is  currently  in  compliance  with such  financial  covenants  and
restrictions.  Borrowings  under the line of credit bear  interest at the bank's
prime rate or, at the Company's option,  its interbank offering rate plus 1.75%.
At  December  31,  1996,  the bank's  prime rate was  8.25%,  and its  interbank
offering rate was 5.5%.


5.       Short-Term Investments

         The Company has classified its investments as "available-for-sale"  and
recorded these  investments at estimated fair value,  with unrealized  gains and
losses reported as a component of Shareholders' Equity.

         Interest income is recorded using an effective  interest rate, with the
associated premium or discount amortized to interest income over the term of the
investment.   The  cost  of   securities   sold  is  based  upon  the   specific
identification  method.  Available-for-sale  securities as of December 31, 1996,
consisted  of  municipal  notes  and bonds  whose  amortized  cost  approximates
estimated fair value. The average maturity for these investments is four months.




<PAGE>



                         APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


6.       Commitments

         Leases
         The  Company  leases its office  space  under  noncancelable  operating
leases.  Rent expense  under the  noncancelable  leases  amounted to $654,000 in
1996, $520,000 in 1995 and $618,000 in 1994. Future minimum lease payments under
noncancelable operating leases are as follows (in thousands):

  1997     $          742
  1998                250
  1999                176
          =====================
           $        1,168
          =====================

         Retirement Savings Plan
         The Company offers a 401(k)  profit-sharing  plan to  substantially
all of its employees.  Company contributions  are determined  annually and are
at the  discretion of the Board of Directors.  Contributions made to the plan
were $54,000 in 1996, $40,000 in 1995 and $43,000 in 1994.

         License Agreements
         In connection  with the  acquisition of a business in 1989, the Company
agreed to make royalty payments from future sales of the Company's products,  up
to a maximum of $2,800,000 in total,  payable up to $70,000 per quarter,  before
adjustment  for increases in the consumer  price index.  In February  1995,  the
Company made a prepayment of $1,808,000 to satisfy this royalty commitment. This
intangible is being  amortized  over the  remainder of the original  agreement's
term (67 months).  Amounts charged to expense under this agreement were $324,000
in 1996 and 1995, and $331,000 in 1994.
         In  addition  to the  agreement  mentioned  above,  the Company has two
nonexclusive  licenses to sell products using patented  technology.  In exchange
for the licenses,  the Company has made  quarterly  payments  equal to 6% of net
revenues  from sales of components  utilized in the Company's  products that use
the licensed technology.

         In September 1995, the Company  renegotiated its royalty obligation for
one of these licenses, by issuing a note in the amount of $1,937,000, payable in
12 equal quarterly  installments of $161,417,  with the first  installment  paid
upon the signing of the agreement.  The Company accrues  interest  expense at an
imputed rate of 8.75%. The Company recorded an intangible for this prepayment in
the amount of $1,725,000.  The intangible is being  amortized on a straight-line
basis over the remaining average lives of the related patents  (approximately 12
years).

         In July 1996, the Company  renegotiated its royalty  obligation for the
second  license by issuing a note in the amount of  $450,000,  payable  over two
quarters, with the first installment paid upon the signing of the agreement. The
Company accrued  interest at an imputed rate of 8.5%. This note was satisfied at
December 31, 1996. The Company recorded an intangible for this prepayment in the
amount of $446,000.  The intangible is being amortized on a straight-line  basis
over the remaining  average lives of the related  patents  (approximately  seven
years).  Amounts  charged  to expense  for the two  nonexclusive  licenses  were
$212,000 in 1996, $533,000 in 1995 and $598,000 in 1994.





<PAGE>



                                      APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                                 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<TABLE>

7.       Supplemental Information - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

<CAPTION>

                                 Balance at       Charged to      Charged to                    Balance at
         Description            beginning of      costs and          other          (1)        end of period
                                   period          expenses        accounts      Deductions
       ---------------------   -------------  ----------------  -------------  -------------  -------------             
                                               (in thousands)
<S>                              <C>               <C>               <C>            <C>             <C>        

Allowance for doubtful accounts:

December 31, 1994                 $   436            227               --             168            495
December 31, 1995                 $   495            77                --             89             483
December 31, 1996                 $   483            248               --             125            606
<FN>

(1) Amounts include write-offs of accounts receivable deemed uncollectible.
</FN>
</TABLE>


8.       Acquisition of RightFAX

         On January 2, 1996,  the  Company  acquired  Cracchiolo  & Feder,  Inc.
(d/b/a  RightFAX),  a privately held developer of fax server  software for local
area  networks,  through a merger of RightFAX into a wholly owned  subsidiary of
the Company. The purchase price for the acquisition paid at the closing was $4.2
million in cash plus 163,000 shares of the Company's  common stock. In addition,
the Company paid  consideration of $1.4 million in cash and 95,000 shares of the
Company's  common  stock in 1997,  relating to the 1996 earn out and  guaranteed
value of the Company's  common  stock.  As a result of the earn out, the Company
recorded an additional $2.0 million of goodwill at December 31, 1996. The former
shareholders  of  RightFAX  will  be  further  entitled  to  receive  additional
consideration  worth $1.8  million in a  combination  of cash and the  Company's
common stock over the next two years, if certain revenue and profit margin goals
are achieved by RightFAX.

         The pro forma unaudited  operating  results of the Company in the above
transaction  for the year ended December 31, 1995,  assuming the acquisition had
been made as of January 1, 1995, are summarized below:

                                                                  Pro Forma
                                              Actual             (unaudited)
                                        --------------------  ------------------
                                           (in thousands, except per share data)

 Net sales                                $      31,284         $      37,405
 Net income                               $       5,334         $       5,866
 Net income per common share              $        0.94         $        1.00
  Weighted average
      common shares outstanding                   5,697                 5,888

         These pro forma  results have been  prepared for  comparative  purposes
only and include certain adjustments such as additional  amortization  resulting
from allocating a portion of the purchase price to goodwill. They do not purport
to be indicative of the results of operations which actually would have resulted
had the  combination  been in effect on January 1,  1995,  or future  results of
operations of the consolidated entity.





<PAGE>



                                      APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                                 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


9.       Subsequent Events
         On  January  3,  1997,  the  Company   acquired   selected  assets  and
liabilities   of  Telcom   Technologies,   Inc.,   a   developer   of   NT-based
open-architecture  automatic call distribution (ACD) systems. The purchase price
for the acquisition was $3.5 million in cash, plus warrants to purchase  100,000
shares of the Company's common stock exercisable at $13.36 per share,  which may
be exercised at any time prior to January 3, 2002.  The Company will account for
the business  combination  as a purchase and expects to recognize a nonrecurring
charge of $3.6 million in the first quarter of 1997,  representing  the value of
the purchased, in-process research and development acquired.



<PAGE>



                                      APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                                 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<TABLE>

10.      Quarterly Financial Data and Market Information (unaudited)
<CAPTION>

                                                                          Quarter
                                                -------------------------------------------------------------
                      1996                         First          Second            Third           Fourth
- ----------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------------  ----------------  -------------
                                                           (in thousands except per share data)
<S>                                            <C>              <C>             <C>              <C>          
Net sales                                       $     9,556      $  10,680       $    11,221      $   12,670
Gross profit                                          5,779          6,575             7,019           7,859
Operating (loss) income                             (2,604)          2,036             2,207           2,795
(Loss) income before income tax expense             (2,431)          2,261             2,459           3,064
Net (loss) income                                   (3,039)          1,440             1,573           1,960


Net (loss) income per common share (1)          $     (.52)      $     .24       $       .26      $      .33

Weighted average common shares
outstanding                                           5,793          6,033             6,106           5,904

Stock price range (2)
     High                                       $     14.75      $   15.63      $      14.13      $    15.19
     Low                                        $      8.25      $    9.00      $       9.75      $    10.25



                      1995
Net sales                                       $     7,277     $    7,647      $      7,959     $     8,401
Gross profit                                          4,208          4,440             4,760           4,512
Operating income                                      1,553          1,644             1,914           1,619
Income before income tax expense                      1,900          1,938             2,160           1,848
Net income                                            1,235          1,302             1,502           1,295

Net income per common share (1)                 $       .21    $       .23      $        .26     $       .23


Weighted average common shares outstanding

                                                      5,766          5,750             5,705           5,717


Stock price range (2)
     High                                       $     23.25     $    20.38      $      16.50     $     15.00
     Low                                        $     15.50     $    13.75      $      12.25     $     10.75

<FN>

         (1) Net  income  per share is  computed  independently  for each of the
quarters  presented.  Therefore,  the sum of the  quarterly net income per share
amounts will not necessarily equal the total for the year.

         (2) The Company's  common stock is traded on the NASDAQ national market
under the symbol  "AVTC."  The stock price  range  above  reflects  the range of
trading  prices for each period  subsequent  to December 8, 1994,  the effective
date of the Company's  initial  public  offering,  as reported by NASDAQ.  As of
December 31, 1996,  there were  approximately  75  stockholders of record of the
Company's  common  stock.  The  Company has not paid any cash  dividends  on its
common stock.

</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>



The Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Applied Voice Technology, Inc.:

         We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Applied
Voice  Technology,  Inc. (a Washington  corporation)  and its subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related  consolidated  statements of income,
shareholders'  equity and cash  flows for each of the three  years in the period
ended December 31, 1996. These financial  statements are the  responsibility  of
the Company's  management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

         We conducted our audits in accordance with generally  accepted auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

         In our opinion,  the  financial  statements  referred to above  present
fairly,  in all  material  respects,  the  financial  position of Applied  Voice
Technology,  Inc. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the
results of their  operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended  December 31,  1996,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles.

                                                       ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP





Seattle, Washington
January 24, 1997




<PAGE>



              Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
                     ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE


         None.



<PAGE>



                                    PART III

          Items 10-13. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT


         The  information  required by Part III (Items 10-13) is incorporated by
reference to information in the Company's  definitive proxy statement which will
be filed pursuant to Regulation 14a within 120 days of December 31, 1996.



<PAGE>



                                     PART IV

 Item 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K


A.   LIST OF DOCUMENTS FILED AS A PART OF THIS REPORT
     1.  Index to Financial Statements
         o    Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 1996 and 1995
         o  Consolidated  Statements of Income - Years ended  December 31, 1996,
         1995 and 1994 o Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - Years
         ended December 31, 1996,
              1995 and 1994.
         o    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended
              December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
         o    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
         o    Report of Independent Public Accountants
     2.  Index to Financial Statement Schedules
         o    See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements -
              Valuation and Qualifying
              Accounts
     3.  Index to Exhibits
         Exhibit No.  Description
              3.1     Restated Articles of Incorporation of Applied Voice
                      Technology, Inc. (A)  (Exhibit 3.1)
              3.2     Amended and Restated Bylaws of Applied Voice
                      Technology, Inc. (A)  (Exhibit 3.2)
              4.1     Form of Warrant, dated January 3, 1997, issued by
                      Applied Voice Technology, Inc.  to
                      shareholders of Telcom Technologies, Inc.(E)(Exhibit 4.1)
          + 10.1      1994 Nonemployee Directors Stock Option Plan (A)
                      (Exhibit 10.1)
          + 10.2      Restated 1989 Stock Option Plan (A)  (Exhibit 10.2)
          + 10.3      1986 Incentive Stock Option Plan (A)  (Exhibit 10.3)
          + 10.4      Management Incentive Compensation Plan (A)  (Exhibit 10.4)
          + 10.5      Employment Agreement dated May 1, 1993 between Applied
                      Voice Technology, Inc. and Richard J. LaPorte (A)
                      (Exhibit 10.5)
          + 10.6      Form of Indemnification Agreement between Applied Voice
                      Technology, Inc. and each of its directors and officers
                      (A) (Exhibit  10.6)
            10.7      Registration  Rights Agreement dated May 24, 1985 between
                      Gull Industries, Inc.
                      and Applied Voice Technology, Inc. (A)  (Exhibit 10.7)
            10.8      Loan Agreement and Promissory Note dated July 14, 1995
                      between U.S. Bank of Washington and Applied Voice
                      Technology, Inc. (D)  (Exhibit 10.9)
            10.9      Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1989 between Riggs
                      National Bank of Washington D.C. and Applied Voice
                      Technology, Inc. as amended (A)  (Exhibit 10.11)
            10.10     Second Amendment to Lease Agreement dated February 1, 1995
                      between Riggs National Bank of Washington D.C. and
                      Applied Voice Technology, Inc. (D)  (Exhibit 10.11)
          # 10.11     Amended Patent License Agreement dated September 29, 1995
                      between Syntellect Technology Corp. and Applied Voice
                      Technology, Inc. (B)  (Exhibit 10.1)
            10.12     Master Software Manufacturing License Agreemented dated
                      June 11, 1992 between Intelligent Environments Inc. and
                      Applied Voice Technology, Inc. as amended (A)
                      (Exhibit 10.16)
            10.13     Agreement and Plan of Merger among Applied Voice
                      Technology, Inc., Cracchiolo & Feder, Inc., the
                      shareholders of Cracchiolo & Feder, Inc. and CFI
                      Acquisition Corp., dated as of January 2, 1996. (C)
                      (Exhibit 10.1)
            10.14     Registration Rights Agreement among Applied Voice
                      Technology, Inc., Joseph J. Cracchiolo and Bradley H.
                      Feder, dated as of January 2, 1996 (C)  (Exhibit 10.2)
            21.1      Subsidiaries of Applied Voice Technology, Inc.(D)(Exhibit
                      21.1)
            23.1      Consent of Arthur Andersen
            27.1      Financial Data Schedule



       (A)  Previously filed with, and incorporated herein by reference to,
            designated exhibit to
            Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Applied Voice Technology,
            Inc.  File No. 33-85452.
       (B)  Previously filed with, and incorporated by reference to, designated
            exhibit to the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the
            quarter  ended September 30, 1995.
       (C)  Previously filed with, and incorporated by reference to, designated
            exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
            January 2, 1996.
       (D)  Previously   filed  with,  and   incorporated   by  reference  to,
            designated  exhibit to the  Company's  1995 Annual  Report on Form
            10-K.
       (E)  Previously filed with, and incorporated by reference to, designated
            exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
            January 3, 1997.
       +    Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
       #    Confidential treatment requested for a portion of this agreement.

B.    Reports on Form 8-K
         There have been no reports  on Form 8-K filed with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission on behalf of Applied Voice Technology,  Inc. during the last
quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.



<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its
behalf the the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Kirkland,
State of Washington, on the 26th day of March, 1997.

                                         APPLIED VOICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.


                                         By:   /s/ Richard J. LaPorte
                                             ------------------------------
                                         Richard J. LaPorte
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, this Report has been
signed by the following  persons in the capacities  indicated  below on the 26th
day of March, 1997.

              Signature                          Title

  /s/ Richard J. LaPorte          President, Chief Executive Officer and
- ----------------------------------Director (Principal Executive Officer)
      Richard J. LaPorte

  /s/ Roger A. Fukai              Executive Vice President of Finance and
- ----------------------------------Administration and Chief Financial Officer
      Roger A. Fukai              (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  /s/ James S. Campbell           Director
- ----------------------------------
      James S. Campbell

 /s/  Robert L. Lovely            Director
- ----------------------------------
      Robert L. Lovely

/s/   William L. True             Director
- ----------------------------------
      William L. True



               CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of
our reports included in this Form 10-K into the Company's previously filed 
Registration Statements, File Nos. 33-92438 and 333-85452.

                                   ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

March 26, 1997

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
    This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the 
consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996 and the Consolidated
Statements of Income for the Year Ended December 31, 1996 and is qualified 
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements
</LEGEND>                
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                  DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                        12,195
<SECURITIES>                                  15,484
<RECEIVABLES>                                  6,712
<ALLOWANCES>                                     606
<INVENTORY>                                    2,458
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              37,801
<PP&E>                                         1,479
<DEPRECIATION>                                     0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                46,127
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          6,931
<BONDS>                                          313  
                              0
                                        0
<COMMON>                                          54
<OTHER-SE>                                    38,829
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  46,127
<SALES>                                       44,127
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              44,127
<CGS>                                         16,895
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 16,895
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              22,798
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 248
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               129
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                5,353
<INCOME-TAX>                                   3,419
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            1,934
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                   1,934
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   .033
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   .033
        



</TABLE>


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