BantamUSA MP3 Player To Feature Fonix iSpeak(R) Text Reader Fonix(R) and Bantam Offer Free Trial of Personal Text Reader on Portable Players SALT LAKE CITY, and ST. LOUIS, March 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fonix® Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: FONX - news), a leading provider of natural-user interface technology solutions for wireless and mobile devices, Internet and telephony systems, and vehicle telematics, and Bantam Interactive, Inc., a leading manufacturer of Web-enabled digital audio devices, announced today that Bantam's Explor BA350 digital audio MP3 player will now include iSpeak, a personal text reader from Fonix.
``Bantam is focused on delivering new concepts and features which meet market demand, and we recognized the need for more innovative electronic components aimed towards the active lifestyles we live,'' said Santosh Patel, President of Bantam Interactive, Inc. ``The BA350 combined with iSpeak is a breakthrough in portable text-to-speech and music technology, and is the ideal device for listeners on the go.''
``We see the inclusion of iSpeak in Bantam's BA350 player as a real benefit to customers -- particularly college students -- who can now take a wide variety of text information from their computers, convert it to a speech file, and listen to it anywhere on this innovative miniature device,'' said Kirk Feller, vice president and general manager, Consumer Applications, Fonix Corporation. ``The bundling of iSpeak with the BA350 provides a highly versatile and useful tool.''
Bantam's BA350 is the smallest, lightest, and slimmest 128MB digital audio device available and plays MP3, WMA, and future formats. The credit card-sized product, winner of the Consumer Electronics Association's Innovations 2002 Design and Engineering Award, includes the market's first built-in Lithium Ion battery that automatically recharges while downloading files, all through a USB port, delivering more than twelve hours of skip-free listening. The BA350 also features seven custom color changeable face plates, preloaded interactive audio guide for easy set-up, high-resolution back-lit LCD display, a memory expansion slot, and free accessories worth more than $100.
Fonix iSpeak is a leading text-to-speech application that transforms text into clear, natural-sounding audio files. iSpeak automatically reads aloud any ASCII text and allows users to easily adjust pitch, speed, and volume. Users can easily and conveniently scan email, review websites, and listen to lengthy documents, all while performing other tasks. Text files can be saved as portable MP3s for later listening on planes, in cars, at the gym, or anywhere the user chooses.
Bantam's BA350 is available exclusively at www.bantamusa.com and is priced at $199.
About Fonix Corporation
Fonix Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: FONX - news) 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 Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Text-To-Speech (TTS) Recognition, and Handwriting Recognition (HWR), provide the most natural communication solutions available. For additional information, visit www.fonix.com or contact a Fonix representative at (801) 553-6600.
Investor Contact, Michelle Aamodt, (801) 328-0161, invrel at fonix.com.
About Bantam USA
Bantam Interactive Technologies, Inc. is an emerging developer in Web-enabled audio and visual technology. The company's mission is to develop, manufacture and distribute market leading personal audio and video devices that provide customers with performance, value, unique features and innovative ultra compact bantam-sized design. The company is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. For further sales information, visit www.bantamusa.com , email sales at bantamusa.com or contact (314) 802-0132.