Zi captures a larger slice of China's domestic market
CALGARY, June 28 /CNW-PRN/ - Zi Corporation (NASDAQ: ZICA - news; TSE: ZIC - news) has sealed a licensing agreement with a seventh designated Chinese domestic handset manufacturer, Ningbo Bird Co. Ltd. This is the latest contract win for Zi in a series of agreements with leading Chinese handset manufacturers. Zi's predictive software, eZiText(TM), will be embedded in Bird's new series of GSM phones. The phones, which will be launched in early 2001, will be equipped with eZiText in simplified Chinese (pinyin and stroke-based) and English.
``Domestic manufacturers like Bird, will play a key role in setting the standards for Chinese user interface,'' says Antoine Blondeau, president and chief operating officer at Zi. ``This licensing agreement with Bird, demonstrates the market acceptance for our technology and the confidence that Zi has earned with Chinese manufacturers.''
Currently, Bird is the second largest manufacturer of pagers sold in China and is moving quickly to introduce mobile phones to the market. It is estimated that by 2001, Bird will be the fourth largest GSM manufacturer in China.
``We chose eZiText as an input solution because of Zi's proven experience in China,'' said Xu Xiguang, vice general manager, Ningbo Bird. ``Zi's worldwide presence and local support makes them an excellent long term partner that will enhance our mobile phone offering.''
Bird is known for its strong emphasis on research and development, and has won several national awards. The company introduced its first mobile phone, RC838, in 1999. Ningbo Bird Co. trades on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. |
