BusinessWire
February 15, 2006 06:07 AM US Pacific Timezone

Fonix Speech Interfaces Available for Analog Devices Blackfin Processors; Fonix Demonstrates Speech Capabilities on Blackfin Processors at 3GSM 2006

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15, 2006--Fonix Speech Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fonix Corp. (OTCBB: FNIX) specializing in embedded speech interfaces for mobile devices, handheld electronic products, and systems and processors, releases its enhanced speech interface solution for the Blackfin(R) family of processors, made by Analog Devices Inc., a global manufacturer of high-performance semiconductors for signal processing applications. Fonix representatives will demonstrate Fonix speech interfaces running on Blackfin processors at 3GSM World Congress, Barcelona, Spain, Feb. 13-16, Fira de Barcelona, Hall 1, Booth D106.

Fonix's software developer's kit (SDK) for Blackfin is available to developers looking to add automatic speech recognition (ASR) and text-to-speech (TTS) interfaces to embedded devices and products such as:

-- Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems

-- Handheld devices with speech interface access to multimedia features (i.e., audio and video)

-- Integrated speech interface applications for aviation and automotive

-- Entertainment devices

-- Mobile phones

"Fonix's new advances in ASR and TTS are ideal for Analog Device's growing markets," said Walt Nawrocki, senior VP and GM, Fonix Speech. "Blackfin's high computing performance and digital signal processing capabilities provide the means to apply more advanced speech interface algorithms to enhance device performance in noisy conditions where the speaker may not be directly in front of a microphone. The Fonix Blackfin solution is ideal for consumer electronic and media devices that require high performance in noisy environments."

The Fonix Blackfin solution incorporates Fonix DECtalk TTS and proprietary neural network-based Fonix VoiceIn ASR. The components are designed to operate directly on the main processor, eliminating the need for an additional CPU or DSP, which saves device memory for other functions. The flexible building block structure allows developers to utilize only the required components needed to create the most efficient applications for limited-memory devices and systems.

TTS enhancements include:

-- SDK now supports seven languages using less than 2MB memory

-- Improvements to English, German, Italian and Latin American/Castilian Spanish

-- Unified phoneme set across languages

ASR enhancements include:

-- Phonetic localization

-- Improved phoneme estimates

-- Improved speech detection

The Fonix speech solution for Blackfin processors is available from Fonix. For more information, visit www.fonix.com or call 801-553-6600 and say "Sales."

About Fonix VoiceIn

Fonix proprietary neural network-based technology provides accurate speaker-independent ASR in noisy environments and does not require the user to train the system to recognize his or her voice. Fonix VoiceIn is specifically designed to provide robust ASR on small, embedded devices. Integrating Fonix VoiceIn into applications allows developers to add command-and-control functions that respond to continuous speech, enabling users to speak naturally to products.

About Fonix DECtalk

Fonix DECtalk offers the smallest memory footprint for a multi-language, full-dictionary text-to-speech engine in the industry. Fonix DECtalk is specifically engineered for small devices and provides a standard of intelligible and natural sound quality that surpasses competitive offerings. DECtalk 4.6.4 supports the widest array of hardware platforms and operating systems on the market and offers nine TTS voices (four female, four male and one child's voice) and seven languages (U.S. and U.K. English, Castilian and Latin American Spanish, French, German, and Italian).

About Fonix Speech Inc.

Fonix Speech Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fonix Corp. that currently offers voice technology solutions for mobile/wireless devices; interactive videogames, toys and appliances; computer telephony systems; the assistive market and automotive telematics.

About Fonix

Fonix Corp., based in Salt Lake City, is an innovative communications and technology company that provides integrated telecommunications services and value-added speech technologies through Fonix Telecom Inc., LecStar Telecom Inc. and Fonix Speech Inc. The combination of interactive speech technology and integrated telecommunications services allows Fonix to provide customers with comprehensive cost-effective solutions to enhance and expand their communications needs. Visit www.fonix.com for more information, or call 801-553-6600 and say "Sales."

Statements released by Fonix 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, including 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. 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.