Story Filed: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 3:52 PM EST
SEATTLE, Jul 11, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Toshiba to Enable a Wide Range of Advanced Handsets with
T9(R) Text Input Built in
Tegic Communications, the leading developer of software for wireless phones and a wholly-owned subsidiary of America
Online, Inc. (NYSE:AOL), announced today it has signed a global licensing agreement with Toshiba Corporation ("Toshiba").
As part of the agreement, Toshiba will incorporate T9(R) Text Input software into its wireless phones to enable easy text input.
The T9-enabled Toshiba wireless phones are planned for release over a variety of networks, including CDMA (code division
multiple access) in North America. Tegic Communications' flagship product, T9 Text Input, is quickly becoming the leading
solution for easy text entry on mobile phones enabling wireless services, such as wireless email, Internet access and SMS (short
message service).
Toshiba expects to introduce the first T9-enabled wireless phones in the United States under the Audiovox brand name by
fourth quarter 2000. Audiovox Communications Corporation distributes Toshiba products in the United States.
"The growing demand for text style services such as Mobile Originated Two-Way SMS, has made easy text input technology
like T9 Text Input a `must' for wireless phones. That's the reason why we've decided to introduce it," said Toshiba.
"We're honored to be a part of Toshiba's first generation CDMA handsets," said Don Davidge, vice president of sales and
marketing for Tegic Communications. "Toshiba has a long and distinguished history in the handsets market and their vast
experience will be hugely beneficial to the end user. With T9 Text Input onboard, typing on a Toshiba wireless phone will be as
easy as typing on a laptop keyboard."
About T9 Text Input
By incorporating T9 Text Input into mobile communications products, companies are solving the fundamental problem of how
to quickly and easily type and send messages. Although each key on a telephone keypad can be interpreted in multiple ways --
a single press on the "5" key could be "J," "K," or "L" -- T9 Text Input uses an internal database to automatically scan possible
variations to determine the correct word. For example, entering the word "call" into a mobile phone will take just four key
presses with T9 Text Input rather than ten key presses required by conventional "multi-tap" text entry.
Language Availability
T9 Text Input is available in a variety of languages including Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek,
Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish. T9 Text Input supports Simplified and Traditional
stroke-based Chinese, as well as phonetic Pinyin and BoPoMoFo text input. Work is underway toward the completion of
versions of T9 Text Input software for Eastern European and Middle Eastern languages. Language support is continually
expanding.
About Toshiba Corporation
Toshiba Corporation is a global leader in information and communications systems, electronic components, consumer products,
and power systems. The company's integration of these wide-ranging capabilities assures its position as a leading company in
notebook PCs, digital audio/visual products, semiconductors, LCD and other advanced devices. Toshiba has 191,000
employees worldwide, and annual sales of over US$ 50 billion. Visit Toshiba's Website at toshiba.co.jp.
About Audiovox Communications Corporation
Audiovox Communications Corporation (ACC), a subsidiary of Audiovox Corporation (VOX), is one of the leading suppliers
of wireless products with more than 15 years experience in the wireless industry. ACC markets its products under the brand
"Audiovox" or private labels for its customer base. ACC has operations and sales offices in 10 countries and through its
customer base, markets and distributes product in 42 countries on six continents.
About Tegic Communications
Tegic Communications was founded in 1995 to develop and market communication technologies for the telecommunications
and computing industries. The company is headquartered in Seattle and has offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong and the UK.
Tegic's flagship product is T9 Text Input, the leading alphabet-based and Chinese and Japanese character-based text input
software. T9 Text Input technology has been licensed to major consumer electronics and communications equipment
manufacturers representing more than 90 percent of annual wireless phone production worldwide. There are more than 50
T9-enabled wireless phone models available throughout the world today.
In addition to Toshiba, current licensees include Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, Benefon, Bosch, Denso, Fujitsu, Hyundai, Fujitsu,
LG Information & Communications, Maxon, Memory Corporation, Mitsubishi, NEC, NeoPoint, Optimay, Panasonic, Philips,
Qualcomm, Sagem, Samsung, Sanyo, Shintom, Siemens, Sony, Telit and Voxson. The company has worldwide patents, both
issued and pending, on T9 Text Input technology.
For more information about Tegic Communications or T9 Text Input, call 206/343-7001, send e-mail to info@tegic.com, or
visit the Company's Web site at www.tegic.com.
Tegic is a trademark and T9 is a registered trademark of Tegic Communications. All other trademarks or registered trademarks
belong to their respective holders.
CONTACT: Tegic Communications
Jaymelina Esmele, 206/268-7554
jesmele@tegic.com
or
Tegic Communications
Jennifer Gehrt, 206/268-7526
Jennifer@Tegic.com
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