FONIX (FONX)

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(COMTEX) B: NEC Electronics and Fonix Announce Availability of Speech Re
B: NEC Electronics and Fonix Announce Availability of Speech Recognition
Software For NEC's VR4122 and VR4131 Microprocessors Used in Automotive
Applications Companies Team Together to Deliver Complete Speech Interface
Solution For Automotive Applications Requiring Hands-Free Operation

CONVERGENCE CONFERENCE 2002, DETROIT, Oct 21, 2002 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
NEC Electronics Inc. and Fonix Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: FONX), a leading
provider of natural-user interface technology and voice solutions, today
announced that the Fonix Speech Interface Software Solutions now support NEC's
highly integrated VR4122(TM) and VR4131(TM) 64-bit MIPS(R)-based
microprocessors. The processors and software target automotive applications that
can benefit from hands-free operation, such as cell phone dialing, navigation
systems, Internet access, climate control and entertainment functions. NEC
Electronics and Fonix will demonstrate this solution in their respective booths
#233 and #116 at the Convergence Conference 2002 in Detroit, October 21-23.

"Speech interface solutions will be a must-have for many of tomorrow's
automotive systems," said Yukio Kabeya, general manager, automotive strategic
business unit, NEC Electronics Inc. "By offering a complete solution in
conjunction with Fonix, we can simplify system designs and enable our customers
to focus on other aspects of their projects. Today's announcement further
demonstrates NEC Electronics' commitment to work with strategic software
partners to enable our customers to save resources and significantly reduce
overall development time."

"Speech is a natural interface and an ideal way to improve safety, particularly
in vehicles where electronic systems are growing increasingly complex," said
Lynn Shepherd, vice president and general manager of the Wireless & Mobile Group
at Fonix Corporation. "Fonix is committed to delivering market-leading solutions
to the automotive market and is pleased to work with NEC Electronics due to its
long-standing reputation as one of the top semiconductor suppliers in this
industry."

Fonix automotive solutions provide "hands-free" control and can improve safety
and driver satisfaction by using interactive, highly intelligible speech
dialogues to initiate cellular phone calls, check e-mail, get directions from a
navigational system or subscriber service, control basic vehicle functions and
access other types of information.

The Fonix proprietary Neural Network Technology enables accurate speech
recognition, particularly in noisy environments, and does not require the user
to train his or her voice to the system. The neural network architecture is well
suited to NEC's VR Series(TM) 64-bit MIPS-based microprocessors because of their
enhanced architecture and support for DSP-type (digital signal processor)
instructions to enable greater speech functionality and performance to end
users.

NEC's VR Series microprocessors provide comprehensive solutions for embedded
system designers at a variety of performance/price points. NEC Electronics'
broad portfolio of high-speed, highly integrated 64-bit processors is ideally
suited for automotive applications that require high performance and the ability
to support multimedia functionality such as navigation and entertainment
systems. Developed around the MIPS architecture, all of the VR Series
microprocessors are forward code-compatible and highly scaleable, allowing
application software to be used across the series of processors with only minor
modifications. Furthermore, NEC Electronics is committed to providing complete
design environment support for its VR Series microprocessors by offering a wide
range of companion chipsets, development platforms and a comprehensive set of
development tools.

Availability

NEC's VR4122 and VR4131 microprocessors are available in mass production, and
Fonix' Speech Interface Software Solution is available now. For more
information, contact [e-mail].

About NEC Electronics' Automotive Strategic Business Unit

NEC Electronics' Automotive Strategic Business Unit (SBU) offers a wide range of
64-bit MIPS microprocessors and application-specific microcontrollers for
automotive systems such as body control, dashboard, airbag, engine control and
multimedia systems. The Automotive SBU leverages NEC Corporation's worldwide
resources with highly experienced staff in the United States, Japan and Europe.
Furthermore, NEC Corporation's worldwide manufacturing facilities are QS-9000
certified to meet the high-quality standards of customers in the North American
automotive industry.

About NEC Electronics Inc.

NEC Electronics Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., is one of the
leading developers, manufacturers and suppliers of semiconductor products in the
United States. Committed to meeting customers' cost, performance and
time-to-market requirements, the company offers solutions ranging from standard
products to system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions, as well as customized products for
next-generation designs. NEC Electronics also offers customers the benefits of a
local manufacturing facility in Roseville, Calif., and the global manufacturing
capabilities of its parent company, NEC Corporation (Nasdaq: NIPNY). For more
information about products offered by NEC Electronics Inc., visit the NEC
Electronics website at http://www.necel.com .

About Fonix

Fonix Corporation is a leading provider of natural-user interface technology
solutions for wireless and mobile devices, Internet and telephony systems, and
vehicle telematics. Leading chip manufacturers, independent software and
hardware vendors, and Internet content and service providers incorporate Fonix
technology to provide their customers with an easier and more convenient user
experience. Fonix products, including Text-To-Speech (TTS), Automatic Speech
Recognition (ASR), and Handwriting Recognition (HWR), provide the most natural
communication solutions available. For more information, visit www.fonix.com or
call 801-553-6600.

The statements released by Fonix Corporation that are not purely historical are
forward-looking within the meaning of the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, include statements regarding
the Company's expectations, hopes, intentions, and strategies for the future.
Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risk and
uncertainties that may affect the Company's business prospects and performance.
It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ
materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Risk factors include
general economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors as
discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. The
Company does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking
statements contained in this release.

NOTE: NEC Electronics Inc., VR Series, VR4122 and VR4131 are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of NEC Corporation in the United States and/or other
countries. MIPS is a registered trademark of MIPS Technologies, Inc. Fonix is a
registered trademark of Fonix Corporation In the United States and/or other
countries. All other registered trademarks or trademarks are property of their
respective owners.


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SOURCE NEC Electronics Inc.


CONTACT: Denise Viereck Garibaldi of NEC Electronics Inc.,
[phone], or [e-mail]; or Bob Nelso
of Porter
Novelli, [phone], ext. 24, or bob.nelson@porternovell
.com, for NEC
Electronics Inc.; or Peter Foss, [phone], or mediarel
fonix.com, or
investors, Michelle Aamodt, [phone], or invrel@fonix.
om, both of
Fonix Corporation; or Steve Simon of S&S Public Relations, In
.,
[phone], ext. 237, or [e-mail], for Fonix Corpo
ation

URL: http://www.fonix.com
http://www.necel.com
http://www.prnewswire.com

Copyright (C) 2002 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.

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