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. DATASOURCE: Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc.
CONTACT: Robin Kelman of Garfield Group Public Relations, +1-215-867-8600 ext. 244, for Franklin Electronic Publishers; or Seiko Instruments Inc., CP Service Center, Fax, +81-47-320-3112 Web site: http://www.franklin.com/ http://www.sii.co.jp/corp/eg/index.html
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