(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 voicerec@el.nec.com.
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.
CONTACT: Denise Viereck Garibaldi of NEC Electronics Inc., +1-408-588-6620, or denise_garibaldi@el.nec.com; or Bob Nelso of Porter Novelli, +1-408-369-1500, ext. 24, or bob.nelson@porternovell .com, for NEC Electronics Inc.; or Peter Foss, +1-801-553-6600, or mediarel fonix.com, or investors, Michelle Aamodt, +1-801-328-0161, or invrel@fonix. om, both of Fonix Corporation; or Steve Simon of S&S Public Relations, In ., +1-847-955-0700, ext. 237, or steve@sspr.com, for Fonix Corpo ation