Datang Telecom chooses eZiText(tm) for CDMA handsets
Calgary, AB (October 16, 2001) - Zi Corporation (NASDAQ: ZICA) (TSE: ZIC)
will provide expertise in text entry standards to Datang Telecom Technology
Co., Ltd. (Datang Telecom). Datang Telecom is a well-known telecom
infrastructure provider in China and is expanding to develop their own line
of CDMA (code division multiple access) handsets. Datang Telecom signed a
five-year licensing agreement for the use of eZiText(tm) technology in
English and Chinese.
"At Datang Telecom we are expanding beyond our telecommunications
infrastructure products and we have chosen Zi to support us as we begin
development of our first line of CDMA handsets," said, Mr. Chen Xiaozhou,
Vice General Manager, Personal Equipment Business Unit, Datang Telecom.
"Our commitment under this agreement is a reflection of our confidence in
the burgeoning CDMA market in China and the value Zi and its predictive
input solution, eZiText(tm), will bring to our handset."
Datang Telecom is moving to provide total telecommunications solutions. As
a major manufacturer of telecommunications switching equipment for network
operators in China, Datang Telecom currently employs 3,600 people. After
the completion of their new manufacturing facility in northwest China,
Datang Telcom's manufacturing capability will reach as much as 6 million
lines of switches. Datang Telecom is expanding to develop their own line of
CDMA handsets.
China's first CDMA network is being established by China Unicom, resulting
in an increased number of manufacturers developing CDMA handsets for this
emerging market including Datang Telecom. China Unicom's CDMA network is
expected to reach 160 cities in China by the end of this year. The Yankee
group estimates that by 2005 the number of CDMA subscribers in China will
reach 55 million.
"Zi is focused on working with manufacturers in China as a part of our
strategy to capture the growth in mobile device manufacturing in Asia," says
Michael Lobsinger, chairman and CEO, Zi Corporation. "Through our work with
these manufacturers, Zi has proven our leadership in Chinese text input. We
are eager to bring our expertise and to expand our licensees to include the
many emerging manufacturers such as Datang Telecom. Datang Telecom sought
our assistance because eZiText(tm) Chinese is proven, certified and is fast
becoming the standard for text entry on mobile devices."
Datang Telecom Technology Co., Ltd. (Datang Telecom) was jointly established
by the China Academy of Telecommunication Technology (CATT) and twelve other
companies in September 1998. The company is an influential developer of
telecommunications infrastructure such as switching equipment, telephone
exchanges and optical communications. Datang Telecom was listed on the
Shanghai Stock Exchange in October 1998. |
