BURLINGTON, N.J. and TOKYO, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Franklin
Electronic Publishers, Inc. (Amex: FEP), a world leader in handheld
electronic information, and Seiko Instruments Inc. of Chiba, Japan, a
world-class supplier of electronic dictionaries, today announced that Seiko
Instruments intends to launch Franklin's line of network e-Dictionaries in
the burgeoning Japanese e-Dictionary market next month.
The new network e-Dictionary line includes Franklin's Model DB-J990, a
speaking handheld co-branded "SII by Franklin" that has a unique sliding
screen feature to provide to the user instant access to "Cracking the
TOEIC" test preparation materials published by The Princeton Review, even
with the keyboard of the handheld hidden. The DB-J990 also has an
English/Japanese keyboard accessible with the keyboard opened that allows
the user to search and retrieve nine additional Japanese Dictionary and
English language learning titles. The DB-J990 marks the first in a series
of standardized test-taking products expected to be introduced by Franklin
in the Pacific Rim. The product provides a wealth of content from
well-respected publishers, including: Kojien (Japanese Monolingual
Dictionary), Kanjigen (Chinese Character Dictionary), Unabridged Genius
English-Japanese Dictionary, Genius Japanese-English Dictionary, and speaks
out loud the audio portions of the TOEIC test preparation materials.
The new line also includes Franklin's Model DB-J260, an electronic
handheld Japanese-English dictionary suite that marks the debut of American
English content in handheld electronic format in Japan by incorporating the
11th Edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate(R) Dictionary, the
authoritative American English language dictionary.
Unlike other e-Dictionaries on the Japanese market, Franklin's DB-J
series products are fully customizable by the user and boast versatile PC
connectivity using Franklin's exclusive PC View(TM) functionality that
allows a user to access and view content stored in the device on any
Windows-based personal computer. Users can bookmark, annotate, and
highlight content on the personal computer, then upload the handcrafted
data to the Franklin handheld for storage, travel, and reading. The new
Franklin line also marks the debut of a Japanese localized version of the
Mobipocket Reader that users can deploy to access and download more than
30,000 reference and prose works in eBook format which can be essential to
a user immersing himself in English language learning activities. The
devices also support customized content to be added by the user, allowing
one to add RSS formatted e-News, as well as to view Word, and PowerPoint
files. The DB-J series products are the perfect solutions for serious
and/or advanced English Language Learners in Japan by providing the
advantages of a hybrid e-Dictionary for use in the new eBook era.
The DB-J990 and DB-J260 are expected to be available in major
electronic retailers, direct marketing, and bookstores throughout Japan
beginning in February 2007 and will carry estimated street prices of around
35,000 Yen (US$295) and 30,000 Yen (US$253), respectively.
"We're excited to be launching our flagship products into the
ubiquitous Japanese e-Dictionary market. Japan alone accounts for over
US$500 million annually in electronic dictionary sales, which represents
over 50% of the worldwide market. In Japan, our partner Seiko Instruments
commands about 20% of the market," said Barry Lipsky, CEO and President of
Franklin. "Franklin is uniquely positioned to offer English language
learning solutions for the Asian markets and you can expect to see a number
of additional products launched in the future for the Japanese, Korean and
Chinese markets," he added.
About Seiko Instruments Inc. (SII)
Originally established in 1937 as the watch manufacturer for the Seiko
Group, SII has become a world-class supplier of electronic components,
modules, and displays; micro-mechatronic assemblies; electronic
dictionaries; leading-edge instrumentation and process equipment for the
nano-technology market; restaurant and service industry ordering systems;
and ultra-high- performance large-format inkjet printers. In 1992, SII was
the first in the electronics industry to bring out a handheld model
containing the full content of Kenkyusha's Collegiate
English-Japanese/Japanese-English Dictionary, which was provided on many
subsequent models. SII, headquartered in Chiba, Japan, employs about 15,000
people worldwide. For more information, please refer to the SII website at
http://www.sii.co.jp/corp/eg/index.html.
About Franklin
Franklin Electronic Publishers (Amex: FEP) is a world leader in
electronic handheld information, having sold more than 37,000,000
electronic books since 1986. Current titles available directly or through
partners number more than 26,000 in sixteen languages under license from
world-class publishers, such as Merriam-Webster and HarperCollins, focused
in five genres: Learning, Language Learning, Travel, Spiritual, and
Leisure. The Company also licenses its underlying technology to an array of
partners including Adobe, Sun Microsystems, and Ademco (a division of
Honeywell). Franklin distributes ROLODEX(R) Electronics branded organizers
worldwide and SEIKO branded reference products in North and South America,
Australia and the European Community. Franklin's products are available at
43,000 retail outlets worldwide, through catalogs, and online at
http://www.franklin.com.
ROLODEX(R) is a registered trademark of Berol Corporation, a subsidiary
of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. SEIKO is a registered trademark of SEIKO
Corporation. Collegiate and Merriam-Webster are trademarks of
Merriam-Webster, Inc. TOEIC is a trademark of Educational Testing Service
which does not endorse any product referenced herein. Word and PowerPoint
are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed throughout this release, including, but not limited to, those
that are stated as Franklin's belief or expectation or preceded by the word
"should" are forward-looking statements that involve risks to and
uncertainties in Franklin's business, including, among other things, the
timely availability and acceptance of electronic products, changes in
technology, the impact of competitive electronic products, risks associated
with contractual and licensing relationships and other risks and
uncertainties that may be detailed from time to time in Franklin's reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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