news release

 Zi Corporation


Zi Corporation to unveil world firsts in dual language text entry and other predictive text breakthroughs at 3GSM World Congress

February 12, 2004 – Zi Corporation (Nasdaq: ZICA) (TSX: ZIC), whose technology lies at the heart of more than 70 million mobile phones around the world, will be unveiling the world's first dual language text entry capability and other predictive text breakthroughs at this month's 3GSM World Congress from February 23 to 26 in Cannes, France at Stand E21 in Hall 2. It will also have on hand the first eZiTap™-enabled physical handsets for demonstration, a new text input system from Zi. These new developments are part of what will be the widest ever range of its applications' capabilities shown by Zi Corporation at an exhibition in Europe.

"The unique dual language text entry capability is essential for today's European multilingual community," said Terry Hughes, UK-based European Director of Sales and Business Development for Zi Corporation. "For mobile users who find conventional predictive text too complex to use but would benefit from regular words being prompted to them on screen as they compose a message, eZiTap is the solution," added Hughes.

Dual Language allows the user to compose a message in a combination of two languages using simultaneous text entry and prediction. For example, it allows users to text input in two languages without the need to change menus. A user can compose a message in Spanish; then compose the next message in English, or even compose a single message with a mixture of languages. This capability builds on the success of Zi's predictive text applications eZiText® and eZiTap to address the diversity of user preferences for personalised messaging capabilities.

eZiTap is a breakthrough text input software which is complimentary to the generic multi-tap entry system all users are familiar with. It is designed to make predictive 'texting' in many languages much more simple to use for the ever-growing global market demand for SMS communication and for new smart phone applications, such as Calendar, Contacts, Notes, E-mail, mobile Internet browsing, and more.

"Predictive text continues to be a core requirement of every handset manufacturer and network operator. Our partnering business philosophy combined with our responsive customer support and product modularity are key factors to our success in collaborating with manufacturers and operators to provide the most user-friendly products for today and tomorrow's users," said Mike Donnell, president and CEO of Zi Corporation.

Zi Corporation is a truly global company, with 72 million handset units in the market worldwide that use Zi technology. In 2003 Zi took the mobile market by storm:

Senior personnel from Zi Corporation, including the organisation's president and chief executive officer, will be attending the 3GSM World Congress and will be available for scheduled interviews and to show their new technology in action. If you would be interested in talking to Zi Corporation, contact Helen Lyman Smith or Brian Dolby at +44 (0)115 950 8399, or e-mail helen@gbcspr.com or brian@gbcspr.com.

About Zi Corporation

Zi Corporation (www.zicorp.com) is a technology company that delivers intelligent interface solutions to enhance the user experience of wireless and consumer technologies. The company's intelligent predictive text interfaces, eZiTap and eZiText, allow users to personalize the device and simplify text entry providing consumers with easy interaction for short messaging, e-mail, e-commerce, Web browsing and similar applications in almost any written language. eZiNet™, Zi's client/network based data indexing and retrieval solution, increases the usability for data-centric devices by reducing the number of key strokes required to access multiple types of data resident on a device, a network or both. Zi supports its strategic partners and customers from offices in Asia, Europe and North America. A publicly traded company, Zi Corporation is listed on the Nasdaq National Market (ZICA) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (ZIC).

Certain statements in this press release that involve expectations or intentions (such as those relating to future deployments or planned cooperation) may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The information in this press release is based on Zi Corporation's current expectations and assumptions, and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such risks include, among others, general business and economic conditions, competitive actions, continued acceptance of Zi Corporation's products and services and dependence on third party performance as well as the risks and uncertainties referred to in Zi Corporation's 20-F for the most recent calendar year that is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The reader should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Zi Corporation does not assume any obligation to update such forward looking statements.

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For more information:

Media inquires:
Brian Dolby
GBCS PR Ltd
+44 (0)115 950 8399
brian@gbcspr.com

Other inquiries:
Linda Wu
Global Marketing Manager
Zi Corporation
+1 403 537 9779
lwu@zicorp.com

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