For immediate release (Calgary, AB Canada)
March 16, 2000
 

Calgary, AB (March 16, 2000) - Zi Corporation (NASDAQ: ZICA) (TSE: ZIC) and Wavecom S.A. (NASDAQ:WVCM) (Nouveau March? WAVECOM) today announced a global marketing agreement to promote eZiText^TM, Zi’s intuitive input technology for information and Internet appliances.

"Wavecom’s decision to promote eZiText^TM to their customers and licensees is a significant recognition of the acceptance of eZiText^TM as a leading input solution," commented Michael Lobsinger, chairman and chief executive officer, Zi Corporation. "Wavecom will recommend Zi’s user interface and text entry expertise to their customers as a part of their WISMO^TM solution."

WISMO^TM, which stands for Wireless Standard Module, is a compact, fully integrated device containing all of the software, hardware and other technology needed to implement a wireless telecommunications standard. Designed for use in a wide variety of systems and wireless terminals, WISMOs modules constitute complete implementation of the GSM Phase 2+ standard in the 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz bands.

"We are always looking for differentiating elements to further enhance the value of our solution," says Aram Hekimian, chief executive officer of Wavecom. "Zi’s expertise in global smart text entry for Arabic, Chinese, Japanese as well as the major European languages adds great value to our offering for all segments of mobile phones."

Wavecom is a leading developer of digital wireless standard modules. Founded in 1993 and headquartered near Paris in Issy-les-Moulineaux, Wavecom designs, develops, manufactures and sells a range of fully integrated plug-in modules for GSM and GPRS communications. Divided into three distinct lines - WISMO modules, external modems and integrated modems - all Wavecom products are based on its unique WISMO^TM technology. Wavecom is publicly traded on the Nouveau March?exchange in Paris and the NASDAQ exchange in the US. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at www.wavecom.com.

Zi Corporation is a leading provider of embedded software technology and educational products. The company’s core product, eZiText^TM connects people to short messaging, email, e-commerce, web browsing and similar applications in almost any written language. Zi’s strategic partners use the technology to enable information and Internet appliances that meet the needs of consumers, business, government and education systems. Zi Corporation supports its strategic partners from offices in Calgary, Beijing, Hong Kong, San Francisco and Stockholm. A publicly traded company, Zi Corporation is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (ZICA) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (ZIC).

Certain statements in this press release 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 expectation 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 and competitive actions as well as the risks and uncertainties referred to in Zi Corporation’s 20-F for the most recent calendar year.

For further information, please contact: 

Karen Attwell 
Manager, Investor/Media Relations 
Phone: (403) 233-8875 
Email: investor@zicorp.com
Web site: http://www.zicorp.com/