For immediate release (Calgary, AB Canada)
January 5,  2000

Calgary, AB  (Jan. 5, 2000) — Zi Corporation (TSE: ZIC) (NASDAQ: ZICA) today announced it has licensed its intuitive language processing software, eZiText™, to Amoisonic.  The licensing and royalty agreement allows Amoisonic to use eZiText™ in both English and Chinese on their new GSM phone.  Amoisonic expects to produce 300,000 GSM phones in 2000, which will be distributed both in China and overseas.
 
“Amoisonic is the fourth company using Lucent’s GSM platform that has licensed our technology,” says Tomson Lee, marketing director for Zi Corporation.  “We are highly experienced with the Lucent GSM platform.” 

Amoisonic is also known as Xiaxin Electronics in Xiamen, PRC.  The company is one of the 40 largest electronics manufacturers in China and produces a range of products including DVDs, VCRs and wireless telephones.  Amoisonic has over 4,000 employees and is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Zi Corporation is a software and educational products company.  The company’s eZiText™ input software is licensed in numerous languages for devices such as mobile phones, PDAs and TV set-top boxes.  Zi’s common shares trade on both the Toronto Stock Exchange (ZIC) and the NASDAQ stock market (ZICA).  Zi markets its technology through strategic partnerships worldwide from offices in Calgary, Beijing, Hong Kong, Stockholm and San Francisco.

Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without limitation, statements concerning the anticipated benefits to Zi Corporation of its agreement with the licensee (the “Licensee”) described herein.  The expected inclusion of Zi Input technology in products developed by the Licensee and potential revenue therefrom involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Zi Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such factors include uncertainties in the ability to successfully collaborate with the Licensee; the ability of Zi Corporation to successfully design, develop, and deliver any application that complies with the Licensee’s specifications and is accepted by the Licensee; the ability of Zi Corporation to successfully meet specific delivery dates set forth by the Licensee; the ability of Zi Corporation to successfully integrate and maintain compatibility with the licensee’s technology; possible failure to continue to be selected as the text input enabling technology by the Licensee; the ability of the Licensee to successfully market and distribute any of its products incorporating Zi technology; economic conditions in Asia; the risks of doing business in foreign countries including China; and the risks and uncertainties referred to in Zi Corporation’s Form 20-F for the most recent calendar year end as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  There can be no assurance that Zi Corporation will achieve commercial success through the agreement described herein.
 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
 

Karen Attwell		Ding Feng
Zi Corporation		Xiaxin Electronics (Amoisonic)
Manager, Investor/Media Relations		Assistant General Manager
Phone: (403) 233-8875		Phone: (86 592) 505-8123 ext. 3200
Email: investor@zicorp.com
Web site: http://www.zicorp.com/