Joint statement - Zi Corporation licenses eZiTEXT(TM) to Alcatel
CALGARY/PARIS, Nov. 8 /CNW/ - Zi Corporation (TSE: ZIC) (NASDAQ: ZICA)
and Alcatel (Paris Bourse: CGEP.PA) (NYSE: ALA) have signed a license
agreement for the use of Zi's European and Chinese language eZiTEXT(TM) input
system in Alcatel's line-up of GSM mobile phones.
Alcatel is among the top five GSM cellular manufacturers, with a world
market share of 10 per cent and 1998 phone shipments of about eight million
units. Alcatel's award-winning One-Touch GSM handset series are sold in
Europe, the Middle-East, Africa and in Asia Pacific countries. Keeping its
leadership in value-added services, Alcatel launched the world's first end-
to-end, WAP-ready solution based on the Phone.com technology in March 1999.
eZiTEXT(TM) is a leading language processing technology for consumer
information appliances. It provides intuitive, predictive power to allow a
user to type quickly and intelligently in any language on digital mobile
phones, set-top boxes, hand-held computers and other information portals,
which require language processing.
The eZiTEXT(TM) input system for the mobile phone allows users to enter
text via the telephone keypad, using single key presses and true word
prediction to enter text into the phone for Short Message Service (SMS),
phone-book indexing, e-mailing, e-commerce applications and web-browsing.
The single key press feature allows the user to avoid multi-tapping on
the phone keypad in order to arrive at the desired letter. Unlike other
technologies, which require all letters of a word to be entered, eZiTEXT(TM)'s
additional true prediction feature predicts most target words before all
letters are entered. For a message such as ``see you tomorrow' eZiTEXT(TM)
achieves key presses savings of up to 50 per cent versus existing intelligent
text input implementations, and of up to 350 per cent versus multi-tapping.
Input speed is thus greatly enhanced.
Zi currently offers eZiTEXT(TM) in 13 European languages, plus three
ideographic languages, including Japanese and Chinese.
The Alcatel - Zi agreement will further extend to include the integration
of eZiTEXT(TM) with Phone.com's, UP.Browser. In extending the integration of
eZiTEXT(TM) into Phone.com's WAP browser, Alcatel continues to develop
cutting-edge solutions to empower consumers with user-friendly WAP services.
``Zi Corporation's input system technology is probably the most advanced
on the market today, thanks to the automatic word completion feature'
remarked Jacques Combet, general manager of Alcatel's Mobile Phone Business
Unit. ``Managing the increasing amount of Short Messages and new data
applications on a reduced keypad is a challenge for the end-user. Zi's
solution is fast and intuitive, and integrated very well with the UP.Browser.
Its true predictive functionality is key to facilitate the text entry process
and will no doubt appeal to our customers.'
``Alcatel is a dominant player in the European GSM market,' said Antoine
Blondeau, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing, Zi Corporation.
``Alcatel's integration of eZiTEXT(TM) for most alphabetical languages will
set a new standard for text input in the fast growing European GSM markets. By
further integrating with the UP.Browser, we are also demonstrating that
eZiTEXT(TM) is truly an enabling technology for the new wireless data
applications. Alcatel will certainly also benefit from Zi's recognized
expertise in the Chinese marketplace.'
Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end
voice and data communications solutions to established and new carriers, as
well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales
of EURO 21.3 billion (US$25.0 billion), Alcatel operates in more than 130
countries.
Zi Corporation is a software company making modern electronic technology
more accessible to people in a way that is consistent with their language and
culture. The company's eZiTEXT(TM) input software is licensed in several
languages for devices ranging from mobile phones to TV set-top boxes. Zi's
common shares trade on both the Toronto Stock Exchange (ZIC) and the NASDAQ
Stock Market (ZICA). Zi markets its technology through strategic partnerships
worldwide from offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, San Francisco and Calgary.
Certain statements in this press release constitute ``forward-looking
statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 including, without limitation, statements concerning the
anticipated benefits to Zi Corporation of its agreement with the licensee (the
``Licensee') described herein. The expected inclusion of Zi Input technology
in products developed by the Licensee and potential revenue therefrom involve
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of Zi Corporation to be materially different from
any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward looking statements. Such factors include uncertainties in the ability
to successfully collaborate with the Licensee; the ability of Zi Corporation
to successfully design, develop, and deliver any application that complies
with the Licensee's specifications and is accepted by the Licensee; the
ability of Zi Corporation to successfully meet specific delivery dates set
forth by the Licensee; the ability of Zi Corporation to successfully integrate
and maintain compatibility with the licensee's technology; possible failure to
continue to be selected as the text input enabling technology by the Licensee;
the ability of the Licensee to successfully market and distribute any of its
products incorporating Zi technology; economic conditions in Asia; the risks
of doing business in foreign countries including China; and the risks and
uncertainties referred to in Zi Corporation's Form 20-F for the most recent
calendar year end as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
There can be no assurance that Zi Corporation will achieve commercial success
through the agreement described herein.
-30-
For further information: Karen Attwell, Zi Corporation, Manager,
Investor/Media Relations, Phone: (403) 233-8875, Email:
investor@zicorp.com, Web site: zicorp.com, Stephanie Tramicheck,
Alcatel, Corporate Communications, Phone: 33-1-55-66-3014, Web site:
alcatel.com
To request a free copy of this organization's annual report, please go to
www.newswire.ca and click on reports@cnw. |
