news release
Zi Corporation Licenses eZiText to Nintendo for Revolutionary Wii Games Console
eZiText® Enters Rapidly Expanding Global Video Gaming Industry
CALGARY, AB, November 6, 2006 - Zi Corporation (NASDAQ:ZICA) (TSX:ZIC), a leading provider of intelligent interface solutions, today announced that it has signed, exclusive licensing agreement with Nintendo Co., Ltd. to embed its predictive text input technology, eZiText, into Wii, Nintendo's revolutionary new video games console. Wii launches on 19th November in North America, 2nd December in Japan and 8th December in Europe.
"Nintendo is a worldwide leader in video game systems and has a reputation for bringing innovative technology to the market," said Milos Djokovic, President and CEO, Zi Corporation. "By embedding eZiText in Wii, Nintendo is empowering its customer with a more user friendly method for text input."
"This announcement heralds the future use of eZiText outside of conventional mobile usage," continued Djokovic. "The global gaming industry has become a worldwide phenomenon and is becoming an important new avenue for the distribution of our products. As such, we will continue to progressively pursue new gaming customers."
Nintendo characterizes Wii as a console that "will revolutionize how people play games...it will entice new players into the world of video games by offering a variety of entertainment, information and communication channels."
The announcement with Nintendo is the third entrance into the multi-billion dollar international gaming industry for Zi products and the second agreement with Nintendo, a well-known Japanese company and a global leader in video gaming. In 2005, Zi licensed its Decuma® handwriting recognition technology to Nintendo for use in the Nintendo DS handheld video game system. Also in early 2005, Gizmondo Europe Ltd embedded Zi Corporation's eZiTap predictive text technology into a feature-rich handheld entertainment console.
About Nintendo Co., Ltd.
The worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home and portable video game systems. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's Web site at www.nintendo.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 provides device manufacturers and network operators with a full range of intuitive and easy-to-use input solutions, including: eZiType for keyboard prediction with auto-correction; eZiText for one-touch predictive text entry; Decuma for predictive pen-input handwriting recognition; and the Qix search and service discovery engine to enhance the user experience and drive service usage and adoption. Zi's product portfolio dramatically improves the usability of mobile phones, PDAs, gaming consoles and television set-top boxes and the applications on them including SMS, MMS, e-mail and Internet browsing. 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).-30-
Zi, eZiType, eZiText, Decuma and Qix and are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Zi Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
For more information:
For Zi Corporation:
GBCS PR
Brian Dolby
brian@gbcspr.com
+44 (0) 115 948 6901
or
Allen & Caron Inc.
Jill Bertotti (investors)
jill@allencaron.com
Len Hall (media)
(949) 474-4300