Zi wins global contract with Kyocera
CALGARY, May 31 /CNW/ - Zi Corporation (NASDAQ: ZICA - news; TSE: ZIC - news) has licensed it's eZiText(TM) technology to Kyocera Corporation of Japan for global distribution in the company's entire range of cellular products. eZiText(TM) is a predictive software technology that connects people to text messaging, e-mail, e-commerce, and Web browsing in over 24 languages. The licensing and royalty agreement allows Kyocera to use the technology in Zi's currently supported European, Chinese and Japanese languages. As a result, eZitext(TM) may be embedded on as many as 16 million wireless handsets in Kyocera's fiscal year 2001.
``Cell phone usage is shifting toward data applications such as short messaging services (SMS) and Web browsing,'' says Yasuyuki Yamamoto, director of Mobile Communication Equipment, Kyocera Corporation. ``We were seeking the most powerful language based user interface available. eZiText(TM) is by far the best solution.''
Kyocera has been concentrating on the full-scale expansion of their telecommunications business. To that end, they recently acquired Qualcomm's handset manufacturing division.
``Zi's technology can be integrated across a wide range of platforms and we are continually developing new language databases as required by our customers,'' says Antoine Blondeau, president and chief operating officer, Zi Corporation. ``These features enable our customers to compete in the global marketplace by providing an intuitive user interface for language use on their electronic devices.''
Kyocera is one of Japan's largest technology companies, with consolidated revenues of (Japanese Dollars) 812.626 billion (US$ 7.637 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2000. Expansion into the global marketplace for mobile communications began in the 1999 fiscal year. Since then, the company has continued to cultivate efforts toward developing a global sales network and expanded production facilities. Kyocera is currently developing relationships with companies who will help develop new products and build Kyocera's presence in new markets.
Zi Corporation is a leading provider of embedded software technology and educational products and services. The company's core product, eZitext(TM) connects people to short messaging, email, e-commerce, web browsing, and similar applications in almost any language. Zi's wholly owned subsidiary, Oztime.com, is China's first Web-based education service provider. Zi supports its strategic partners from offices in Calgary, Beijing, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Shenzhen and Stockholm. A publicly traded company, Zi Corporation is listed on the NASDAQ National Market (ZICA) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (ZIC). |
