CALGARY, Nov. 21 /CNW/ - As the world's largest cellular phone makers
look to Taiwan to manufacture their cell phone designs, Zi Corporation
(Nasdaq: ZICA) (TSE: ZIC) has announced its latest licensing agreement with
Quanta Computer Inc., one of Taiwan's largest manufacturers. Zi's eZiText(TM)
will be the language interface software for Quanta Computer's expansion into
wireless handset manufacturing. Quanta has licensed eZiText(TM) for use in 18
languages and will initially be implemented in a GSM handset design.
"Zi Corporation works with ODMs (original design manufacturers) like
Quanta to push forward industry expectations for quality and time-to-market,"
says Gary Kovacs, president, Zi Corporation. "As Taiwan's manufacturing focus
shifts to mobile phones, Zi Corporation is there to support ODMs, with two
design centres in Asia."
Taiwan is a hub for IT hardware manufacturing, following only the US and
Japan in terms of production. Taiwan's telecom industry boom is evidenced by
an investment initiative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) to boost
3G innovation. Under this initiative, Quanta received a multi-million dollar
grant for the development of tri-band GPRS mobile handset technology.
"After careful evaluation of competitive bids, Quanta's engineering team
recommended that the company license Zi Corporation's software," said Vincent
Lai, director and program manager, Wireless Communication Business Unit,
Quanta Computer. "With eZiText(TM), we can concentrate on product design,
rather than multilingual text complexities, allowing us to quickly develop
advanced designs."
Quanta is a newcomer to wireless handset manufacturing, but is an
experienced ODM. Leading international firms like Compaq, Dell, IBM, Apple,
Hewlett-Packard and Gateway turn to Quanta for the manufacture of their
notebook computers. The key to Quanta's success is not the simple soldering
of assembly. Quanta brings engineering talent and innovation to the process,
handling design, software and hardware management and inventory control for
its notebook customers. Quanta is the largest PC notebook manufacturing
company in Taiwan. In 1999, Quanta realized US$2.3 billion in sales and
recorded 11.2% per cent of the world market share for notebook computer
manufacturing.
Zi Corporation is a market-driven technology company focused on
developing and delivering intelligent interface solutions to the wireless and
consumer Internet spaces. The company's core product, eZiText(TM) connects
people to short messaging, e-mail, e-commerce, Web browsing and similar
applications in almost any written language. Zi supports its strategic
partners from offices in Calgary, Beijing, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Shenzhen,
Stockholm and Tokyo. A publicly traded company, Zi Corporation is listed on
the Nasdaq National Market (ZICA) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (ZIC). |
