About T9 Text Input software Users of Philips GSM mobile phones with T9® Text Input software will be able to make faster and more easy use of their applications, like for example Short Message Service (SMS). The key feature of T9 Text Input is that it replaces conventional 'multi-tap' text entry, for the first time allowing users to compose their text messages with just one key press per letter. Each key on a telephone keypad has more than one letter, so that a single press on the '5' key could mean 'J,' 'K' or 'L.' With T9 Text Input, users' key presses are automatically compared with an internal linguistic database to determine the correct word. For example, entering the word 'call' into a mobile phone takes just four key presses with T9 Text Input, compared with ten key presses using conventional multi-tap text entry.
T9 Text Input is available in a variety of languages including Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean (Hangul), Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. T9 Text Input supports both simplified and traditional stroke-based Chinese, as well as phonetic Pinyin and BoPoMoFo text input. Work is also underway toward the completion of versions of T9 Text Input software for Eastern European and Middle Eastern languages.
T9 Text Input software is a product from Tegic Communications, with which Philips Consumer Communications has signed a licensing agreement for use of the software on its future GSM mobile phones. Philips plans initially to integrate the Chinese-language version of T9 Text Input software into the Genie 2000 to be distributed in China towards the end of this year, followed by other Philips mobile phones in all major GSM markets during 2000.
"By making text input as fast and easy as dialing, we are giving our customers another choice for communicating in ways that fit their needs," said Harry Strasser, Worldwide Marketing Director of Philips Consumer Communications Group. "Over the past year we have seen a rapid take-up of the use of SMS messaging. This is also reflected in the popularity of the emotion icons attached to SMS messages, which have been pioneered by Philips and successfully introduced in the Philips Savvy range:
With the T9 Text Input software, the full potential of a mobile phone keypad is unlocked by making it easy to input words and sentences."
"Advanced communications services such as SMS and wireless Internet access are the most exciting and rapidly growing areas in the wireless industry," said Don Davidge, vice president of sales and marketing for Tegic Communications. "The combination of Philips' world-class mobile phones and our leading text input software will give customers a powerful communication device."
Easy access to advanced communication functions The introduction of Tegic's T9 software is a significant step forward in Philips' strategy of giving users the easiest possible access to advanced communication functions. Philips has already taken a step in this direction by the emotion icons incorporated in its Savvy mobile phones range. Used with the SMS function, these icons enable users to convey personalized messages with icons representing a wide range of familiar emotions which are shown on the display of the recipient's phone. A further breakthrough in convenience has been achieved by Philips' unique Voice Dial and Voice Command functions on its successful Genie and Savvy mobile phone ranges.
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