ZI CORP CONSOLIDATING FOOTHOLD IN ASIAN MOBILE SPACE

Mobile search, text input, and advertising solutions provider Zi Corporation said it has entered into several new licensing agreements within the Asian mobile space. Zi has extended its eZiText licensing agreements with Guohong Communication and Digital Technology Company, an OEM focused primarily on the Chinese domestic market, and with UTStarcom for its mobile device division in addition to the previously announced deal with UTStarcom's IPTV set-top-box division. Zi has also formed an agreement with Longcheer Telecommunication Limited of China, which has licensed eZiText in several languages for use in its mobile handsets. CK Telecom, a Shenzhen manufacturer, has licensed Zi's handwriting recognition product Decuma. Under these agreements, Zi will receive both licensing fees and royalties. Earlier this year with China’s ZTE and Lenovo Mobile, UTStarcom, Kyocera Corp., and Trolltech, all licensed Zi products. Zi Corporation’s president and CEO Milos Djokovic said, "The mobile market in Asia is one of the fastest growing in the world. It is at the forefront of technological design and development, making it a highly competitive and desirable market in which to be a leader. This makes the fact that we have won these major deals in the region over the past few months, all the more satisfying for Zi and proves that our products are recognised as some of the most innovative and forward looking in a market where users are continually looking to maximise the capabilities of their device." Zi has subsidiaries in China and supports the entire region from its Beijing offices. -Smarajit Dasgupta