Zi has announced details of the latest version of its Decuma product, available on UIQ phones as Decuma Alphabetic. New in version 4 is predictive input, more supported languages, dual language support (use more than one language at once), used word dictionary (tracks, learns and prioritise words you write), personal dictionary, and user defined shortcuts.

The predictive inputs works by looking at the word you are writing and suggesting completed words you may be writing. These can be selected using the pen avoiding the need to have to write the full word.

The program is self learning so it will remember words that you use frequently and promote these in it suggestion lists. This means the speed of input increases as the program learns about your writing habits.

Zi will be demoing the new version at 3GSM. 

Zi Corporation announces world's first mobile device handwriting recognition solution with text prediction

Doubles Language Capabilities of Decuma Handwriting to 31 Languages

Lund, Sweden and Calgary, AB, Canada, February 9, 2006 - Zi Corporation (Nasdaq: ZICA) (TSX: ZIC), a leading provider of intelligent interface solutions, today announced the release of the latest version of its state-of-the art Decuma^® handwriting recognition. Decuma Version 4 is a new predictive, personal and powerful pen-input solution now available for OEMs to embed. It adds predictive text capabilities, including word completion and increased personalization to handwriting input. It also more than doubles the language repertoire of the award winning Decuma software to 31 languages - including the complex Chinese and Japanese scripts. Zi Corporation will be demonstrating Decuma Version 4 at stand E40 in Hall 2 at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, February 13 to 16, 2006.

Powered by Zi's world class prediction technology, Decuma V4 promises to revolutionize pen-input for mobile device users. In addition to alphabetic languages, Zi's prediction expertise extends to Decuma Chinese with phrase-level association and phonetic input conversion. The system is expressly designed for mobility, and to work optimally on small form factor devices such as mobile phones, portable gaming consoles and other terminals that otherwise produce poor and shaky handwriting results. Decuma recognizes 100% naturally shaped letters in upper and lower cases, numbers, symbols and punctuation, and even enables users to text in two languages at the same time without having to switch input modes.

"Standard handwriting on mobile devices has never quite worked for some consumers. Conventional methods are too awkward, and the process is too slow and frustrating," said Milos Djokovic, Zi Corporation's chief operating officer and chief technology officer. "With Zi's unequalled predictive text capability, Decuma is providing a whole new experience in pen-input speed and usability."

Djokovic adds that, from a device OEM standpoint, Decuma V4 was specifically designed to allow OEMs to continue using their current pen-input user interface and to easily add support for prediction. Decuma also enables immediate time-to-market, being quick and easy to implement or use as a replacement for existing conventional handwriting recognition solutions.

Decuma languages include Afrikaans, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (British and American), Estonian, Finnish, French (European and Canadian), German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (European and Brazilian), Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish (European and Latin American), Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog and Turkish.