News release |
 |
Ericsson awards world-wide contract to Zi Corporation
Calgary, AB (March 21, 2001) - Zi Corporation (NASDAQ: ZICA) (TSE: ZIC) has won a global agreement with Ericsson Mobile Communications AB and Ericsson Inc., increasing the range for eZiText™ to Ericsson's entire product offering - worldwide. Ericsson has now licensed the full complement of 32 languages currently supported by Zi Corporation. This new licensing and royalty agreement builds upon Zi Corporation's successful relationship with Ericsson, established under a previous contract where Ericsson had licensed eZiText™ for Chinese. Ericsson is currently the world's third largest mobile phone manufacturer, with global sales in excess of 43 million phones in 2000.
"Zi Corporation has earned the trust of Ericsson and has built a reputation among industry leaders around the world," says Gary Kovacs, president, Zi Corporation. "eZiText™ has helped manufacturers provide a superior interface for functions such as short messaging. Zi Corporation is ready to work with Ericsson under this new agreement to bring the interface offered by eZiText™ to consumers around the world."
Ericsson first implemented Zi Corporation's Chinese eZiText™ solution on their T-10sc, T-18sc, T-28sc and A series of phones. In the first half of 2000, Ericsson expanded their use of eZiText™ to their R320sc and R380sc smart phones for China. The new agreement incorporates all royalties received from the Chinese licensing agreement and will realize additional royalties as products are released under the global agreement.
Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation in mobility and Internet in creating the new era of mobile Internet. Ericsson provides total solutions covering everything from systems and applications to mobile phones and other communications tools. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for customers all over the world.
Zi Corporation 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. The company's service division provides market-leading engineering design in Bluetooth, VoIP and man-machine interface.
Zi supports its strategic partners from offices in Calgary, Beijing, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Shenzhen, Stockholm and Tokyo. A publicly traded company, Zi Corporation is listed on the NASDAQ National Market (ZICA) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (ZIC).
-30-
For further information, please contact:
|
David Hunt Zi Corporation Vice President, Finance 403 231 4580 investor@zicorp.com www.zicorp.com |