Tegic Communications, a subsidiary of America Online, Inc. (NYSE:AOL), and DENSO Wireless announced today the companies have signed a global licensing agreement which allows DENSO Wireless to integrate Tegic Communications' T9(R) Text Input software into its next generation of wireless phones.
The Sprint PCS Touchpoint Phone(tm) will be the first handset manufactured by DENSO Wireless to integrate T9 Text Input software. The phone, available exclusively through Sprint PCS, is slated for availability later this year. T9 Text Input makes text entry on wireless phones quick and easy, enabling wireless phone users to more easily use advanced wireless services such as Internet access and email.
"With the integration of T9 Text Input, we are pleased to offer Sprint PCS subscribers a full-featured phone that makes it even easier to utilize Sprint PCS Wireless Web services," said Stuart Thomson, senior manager of DENSO Wireless. "T9 Text Input fundamentally improves wireless web utilization on the already easy-to-use DENSO wireless phone."
"With the success of their phones in the marketplace
and the recognition of the Sprint PCS Touchpoint Phone as one of the best
products of 1999, we are excited to partner with DENSO Wireless," said Don
Davidge, vice president of sales and marketing for Tegic Communications.
"T9 Text Input is the industry's leading solution for text input on
wireless phones and we look forward to working with DENSO Wireless to help make
today's new wireless services a reality."
About the Sprint PCS Touchpoint Phone(tm)
The Sprint PCS Touchpoint Phone(tm) provides subscribers
with a simple, affordable way to enjoy the clarity of voice and data services,
all within a compact, lightweight design. Among the phone's many features are
the ability to access the Internet, a built-in mouse that allows easy navigation
through menus and functions and a large, easy-to-read 7-line LCD display.
About T9 Text Input
By incorporating T9 Text Input into mobile communications
products, companies are solving the fundamental problem of how to quickly and
easily type and send messages. Although each key on a telephone keypad can be
interpreted in multiple ways -- a single press on the "5" key could be
"J," "K," or "L"-T9 Text Input uses an internal
database to automatically scan possible variations to determine the correct word.
For example, entering the word "call" into a mobile phone will take
just four key presses with T9 Text Input rather than ten key presses required by
conventional "multi-tap" text entry.
Language Availability
While the Sprint PCS Touchpoint Phone(tm) will use Tegic
functionalities for English only, T9 Text Input is available in a variety of
languages including Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German,
Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. T9 Text Input
supports Simplified and Traditional stroke-based Chinese, as well as phonetic
Pinyin and BoPoMoFo text input. Work is underway toward the completion of
versions of T9 Text Input software for Eastern European and Middle Eastern
languages.
About DENSO Wireless
DENSO, a global supplier of advanced technology, systems, and components, is a leading manufacturer of wireless communications products such as PDC and PHS handsets, and intelligent communications systems in Japan, as well as CDMA and AMPS handsets in North America. In North America, DENSO employs more than 11,000 people at 16 sites. North American consolidated sales for 1998 totaled $3.1 billion. Worldwide, DENSO employs more than 72,000 people in 26 countries, including Japan. In 1998-99, consolidated global sales totaled nearly $14.5 billion.
DENSO Wireless is a joint undertaking of three DENSO
companies. DENSO International America's LA Laboratories provides engineering,
research and development, while DENSO Sales California provides product
planning, sales, marketing and technical support. Both are located in Carlsbad,
Calif. The manufacturing facility, DENSO Wireless Systems America, Inc. is
located in Vista, Calif. For more information please visit the DENSO Wireless
web site at www.densowireless.com.
About Tegic Communications
Tegic Communications was founded in 1995 to develop and market communication technologies for the telecommunications and computing industries. The company is headquartered in Seattle and has offices in Tokyo and Hong Kong.
Tegic's flagship product is T9 Text Input, the leading alphabet-based and Chinese and Japanese character-based text input software. T9 Text Input technology has been licensed to major consumer electronics and communications equipment manufacturers representing more than 90 percent of annual wireless phone production worldwide.
In addition to DENSO, current licensees include Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, Benefon, Bosch, Fujitsu, LG Information & Communications, Maxon, Memory Corporation, Mitsubishi, NEC, NeoPoint, Optimay, Panasonic, Philips, Qualcomm, Sagem, Samsung, Sanyo, Siemens, Sony, Telit and Voxson. The company has worldwide patents, both issued and pending, on T9 Text Input technology.
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