Marketing release |
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Zi announces North American availability of eZiText® and eZiNet™ advanced prediction technologies at CTIA
New technology releases, coupled with recent favorable patent judgment, underscores company commitment to North American market
CTIA Wireless - ORLANDO, Fla. (March 18, 2002) - Zi Corporation (NASDAQ: ZICA) (TSE: ZIC), a leading provider of intelligent interface solutions, today announced at the CTIA Wireless event, the North American availability of its new version of eZiText predictive text input software incorporating advanced personalization and learning functionality, and introduced its eZiNet client/server platform.
"As text messaging becomes a ubiquitous means of communication, the need for user-driven content and efficient text input is growing," said Gary Mendel, vice president of Sales and Marketing Zi Corporation. "Zi recognizes that every user is unique, and how they like to use their device differs from the next person; with eZiText and eZiNet, users are provided a truly unique personal texting experience."
With the latest version of eZiText, an embedded predictive text input software that makes mobile devices more useable for the end-consumer, electronic devices requiring text input can become much more user-friendly and personalized, learning a person's usage patterns and behaviors. The eZiNet client/server platform facilitates bringing the content, services and capabilities resident on a network to the hand-held device for a more personalized and relevant user experience. Zi is demonstrating the advanced features of eZiText and its new eZiNet platform at booth 641 at CTIA Wireless taking place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from March 18 - 20.
eZiText Makes Texting Easier
Zi Corporation is a global leader in the predictive text input space and currently offers its eZiText technology in 35 languages and regional language dialects. The company's nearly 60 licensing agreements include Asian and European Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), such as Ericsson, Alcatel, Samsung, LG Electronics, Kenwood, Kyocera and Sewon, to name a few. As well, Zi recently received a favourable ruling in the United States in a patent infringement lawsuit launched by Tegic Communications, a unit of AOL Time Warner, and Asian Communications (see Zi press release "Zi Successful in Summary Judgement Defence to Tegic Lawsuit," February 27, 2002). This track record, combined with Zi's launch of its latest version of eZiText in North America, positions the company at the forefront of the predictive text input market for text messaging, a fast-growing means of mobile communication via hand-held devices. Now the device will learn from a person's usage patterns and behaviors, and access words from various applications within the device such as personalized user-created dictionaries and the user's phone book.
The eZiTap™ Input Mode: Ideal for Multi-Tappers
In addition to the advanced personalization and learning functionality now available in eZiText, Zi has added a powerful new input mode to its offering - eZiTap. eZiTap is ideal for multi-tap users who like to create their own vocabulary, while enjoying the benefits of prediction to make the experience faster and more efficient. Combining the learning and personalization with a multi-tap environment, eZiTap also allows users to enter their own words and texting shortcuts into a personal dictionary, including 2nite (tonight), lol (laughing out loud), cul8r (see you later), or anything else they can imagine, and have these words predicted for future use.
eZiText's added functionality and the new eZiTap input mode are now readily available for license.
eZiNet - bridging the device to the network
Zi's new eZiNet client/server platform provides wireless device manufacturers and operators the ability to give users access to information beyond what is stored on the device, including rich content and data that may be stored on networks and across applications, despite the memory restrictions of the device. Users will be able to easily access the information and applications they desire on a small form factor device, without having to navigate complex menus and/or irrelevant information. The first eZiNet application module released by Zi Corporation is MyLingo™, which provides users with vocabulary additions that can be downloaded quickly and easily to wireless devices.
About Zi Corporation
Zi Corporation (www.zicorp.com) is a market-driven technology company delivering intelligent interface solutions to enhance the user experience of wireless and consumer technologies. The company's core technology product, eZiText connects people to short messaging, e-mail, e-commerce, Web browsing and similar applications in almost any written language. Zi supports its strategic partners from offices in Calgary, Beijing, Hong Kong, London, San Francisco, Shenzhen and Stockholm. A publicly traded company, Zi Corporation is listed on the NASDAQ National Market (ZICA) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (ZIC).
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For more information:
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Media Inquiries: Shawn Kelly Zi Corporation Corporate Communications Manager Phone: 403 537 9770 skelly@zicorp.com |
Investor Inquiries: Dale Kearns Zi Corporation Chief Financial Officer Phone: 403 233 8875 investor@zicorp.com |