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Zi CORPORATION
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate
release (Calgary, Alberta)
Nov. 24, 1999
Zi announces
112 per cent increase in third quarter revenues
Calgary, AB (Nov.
24, 1999) - Zi Corporation (TSE: ZIC, NASDAQ: ZICA) today
announced results for the third quarter ended September 30,
1999. Third quarter revenues increased 112 per cent to $772,881
compared to $364,430 recorded in the third quarter of 1998
and 108 per cent over the second quarter 1999. The increase
reflects the initial 60-day ramp-up in royalty payments from
Ericsson Mobile Communications for the two GSM cellular telephones
using Zi's intuitive language processing software, eZiTEXT(tm),
as well as licensing fees. Year to date revenues were $1.4
million compared to $1.6 million in the same nine months of
1998. Year to date revenues for 1998 were higher due to licensing
fees and non-recurring engineering fees recognized on Zi's
contract with Ericsson Mobile Communications.
Since July, Zi
has secured thirteen licensing and royalty agreements for
its intuitive language processing software, eZiTEXT(tm). The
company is currently integrating its technology on 10 -15
new platforms, which will enter the market place by the end
of the first quarter of 2000. The agreements will yield approximately
30 platforms in the global market place before the end of
the second quarter of 2000. Zi expects 2000 and 2001 to be
breakthrough years for the company as it continuously attracts
new licensees of its technology. "There are between 10 and
15 platforms with our technology poised to enter the market
place during the next four months," says Michael Lobsinger,
chairman and chief executive officer, Zi Corporation. "The
strategy for embedding our technology in hand-held consumer
devices and information appliances is showing results. In
addition, Zi's technology will enable the interactive delivery
of courseware and educational products over the Internet in
Asia." Zi's technology was embedded on two platforms selling
in the Asian market place during the third quarter. Ericsson
Mobile Communications launched their T-10 and T-18 phones
at the beginning of August and the T-28 in late September.
Ericsson continues to report strong consumer demand for the
new handsets and is ramping up production at its Swedish facility
as well as opening Chinese and Philippine facilities before
the end of 1999. Ericsson predicts that consumer demand will
continue to outpace supply until the first quarter of 2000.
In October, Zi
announced the acquisition of Beijing Oz Educational Network
System (Beijing Oz). This acquisition provides greater market
share for Zi's technology and a new income stream from the
sale of web-based educational and re-training courseware.
Beijing Oz's core business is the delivery of on-line career
and educational software in Asia. Beijing Oz intends to use
eZiTEXT(tm) for the delivery of its educational products.
"Expansion into
the educational products market space began with our July
1999 agreement with the Ministry of Education. The acquisition
of Beijing Oz compliments our relationship with the Ministry
of Education and provides an excellent way to improve the
share of the Chinese consumer market using Zi enabled technology
products," says Michael Lobsinger, chairman and chief executive
officer.
Zi continues to
recruit employees in both project management and product development.
Providing support to new licensees of Zi's technology is the
motivation behind doubling the company's staff compliment,
which is planned for the next six months.
Zi Corporation
is Y2K ready in that neither the performance nor functionality
of our products or internal management information systems
and related hardware are affected by dates prior to, during
and after the year 2000. Zi has completed testing to verify
its Y2K ready status.
Zi Corporation
is a software company making modern electronic technology
more accessible to people in a way that is consistent with
their language and culture. The company's eZiTEXT(tm) input
software is licensed in numerous languages for devices ranging
from mobile phones to TV set-top boxes. Zi's common shares
trade on both the Toronto Stock Exchange (ZIC) and the NASDAQ
stock market (ZICA). Zi markets its technology through strategic
partnerships worldwide from offices in Beijing, Hong Kong,
Calgary, San Francisco and Stockholm.
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.
-30-
For further information,
please contact:
Rod Mitton
Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (403) 233-8875
Email: investor@zicorp.com
Web site: http://www.zicorp.com/
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NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30
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NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30
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THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30
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THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30
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| (UNAUDITED) |
1999
|
1998
|
1 9 9 9
|
1 9 9 8
|
| Revenue |
$ 1,375, 530
|
$ 1,611,435
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$ 772,881
|
$ 364,430
|
| Operating Costs
and Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
Operating costs
|
3,041,230
|
1,699,274
|
1,179,905
|
660,339
|
|
General and administrative
|
1,351,803
|
545,059
|
486,401
|
(204,131)
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
790,059
|
406,439
|
272,963
|
145,500
|
| |
5,183,092
|
2,650,772
|
1,943,269
|
601,708
|
| Operating loss
before undernoted |
(3,807,562)
|
(1,039,337)
|
(1,170,388)
|
(237,278)
|
|
Interest and other income
|
56,644
|
122,393
|
38,716
|
50,831
|
|
Interest expense
|
(29,918)
|
(23,671)
|
(10,082)
|
(10,082)
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| Net Loss |
$ (3,780,836)
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$ (940,615)
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$ (1,141,754)
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$ (196,529)
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| Loss per share |
$ (0.126)
|
$ (0.033)
|
(0.038)
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$ (0.007)
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| Weighted average
common shares outstanding at end of period |
29,922,512
|
28,348,817
|
29,922,512
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28,348,817
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