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Technology Stocks : Zi-Corp (ZICA), formerly MCUAF -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: leigh aulper who wrote (1162)	8/26/1999 11:18:00 PM
From: sPD	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2082

Zi Corp. Hits High On Latest Licensing Deal Thursday August 26 1:14 PM ET By Susan Taylor OTTAWA (Reuters) - Zi Corp. (Nasdaq:ZICA - news) stock hit new highs Thursday as investors gambled that the software developer will see payoffs from its latest in a string of licensing deals. Shares in the Calgary-based firm rose 80 Canadian cents to C$11.85 in moderate afternoon trade. The previous peak was C$11.55, while the stock's low point this year was C$1.23. Zi, which sells software that allows Chinese characters to be entered on traditional keyboards or keypads, announced Thursday it will license its software to Sichuan New Tech Digital Equipment Co. Ltd. New Tech Digital will incorporate Zi technology in set-top TV boxes, which combine computers with televisions. The firm hopes to sell 200,000 such systems in China by the close of 1999. There are currently more than 5 million cable television subscribers in Sichuan province alone, Zi Corp. said. Zi has also recently struck deals with Konka Group Co. Ltd., Ericsson Communications and manufacturer Xiamen Overseas Chinese Electric Co. Ltd. to supply software for cellular phones. Other recent agreements include two of China's largest government ministries to supply the country's 975,000 schools with software and as the preferred product for set-top boxes. Investors are optimistic that Zi is establishing its product as a standard in the massive Chinese market, said Sean Chen, analyst at Groome Capital Inc. in Montreal. ``If everything works out it's a good buy,' he said of the stock. ``But right now it's a bit of a gamble.' Sales from the agreements are expected to begin in the third quarter and gain strength in the fourth quarter, Chen said. ``They can really drive the stock up on the announcement of new deals,' he said. ``It's probably ahead of itself.' ($1-$1.50 Canadian)