OKI Offers New Communication Style With "eSound Positioning".

- Adds New Function to Its eSound Engine-

TOKYO -- Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:6703) today introduced "eSound (1) Positioning," a new function for its software engine, the "eSound engine" that offers high voice quality communication over IP networks. eSound Positioning introduces an entirely new communication style over IP networks, as it adds directions to voice, enabling users to hear multiple people speaking from different directions. OKI's eSound engine with the eSound Positioning function has been selected as the Ubiquitous Communicator (2) for "Tokyo Ubiquitous Technology Project" part of the Free Mobility Project (3), promoted by the Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport in Japan and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

"We are pleased to offer a new communication style unique to IP networks with our eSound and eSound Positioning, making conversations as real as possible," said Shinji Usuba, Director of eSound Venture Unit at Oki Electric Industry. "We have been developing various voice communication technologies and we are committed to offering a natural and realistic voice conversation over IP networks that is beyond what is possible with conventional phones."

eSound Positioning is the second function to be added to the eSound engine, following "My eSound," which enables users to enjoy high-quality voice conversation even when communicating with users on a regular phone. The new eSound Positioning is based on OKI's original technology that allocates each participant's voice in a certain direction by applying the localization of sound technology. In a face-to-face conversation, people can sense the delicate difference of sound characteristics depending on the direction a voice is coming from. However, this is difficult to duplicate in a regular phone conversation. With eSound Positioning, users can now hear voices from different directions simultaneously, based on an advanced signal processing technology.

eSound Positioning to be used in many applications

With the eSound Positioning, various new applications can be achieved, which had previously been impossible. For example, in a regular conference call with multiple participants, it is difficult to differentiate the speakers when they speak at once. OKI's eSound Positioning assigns a virtual location to each individual thus enabling users to hear each other each speaking from his or her unique direction, just as in a real conversation. This is accomplished by using a wide bandwidth codec for high voice quality communication. Thus, it significantly increases the performance of effectiveness conference calls.

In a regular phone conversation, it is also difficult to leverage the "cocktail party effect," in which people can focus on a certain talker among a mixture of voices. However, with the eSound Positioning, users can focus on a single talker, such as in situations when working with a simultaneous interpreter over the phone.

Other such applications are possible in cases where IP network is used, such as in communication equipment including IP telephones, soft phones, PDAs, smart phones and mobile phones, digital home appliances, and game consoles.

eSound Positioning in Free Mobility Project

The eSound engine has been selected to be used in the "Ubiquitous Communicator," at the "Tokyo Ubiquitous Technology Project in Ginza (4)." This is a field test for the Free Mobility Project being held from January 20, 2007 in Ginza Tokyo. In this experiment, by combining the eSound Positioning function with applications such as accelerometer sensors or location information, the Ubiquitous Communicator can work as destination guides for travelers or as evacuation guides when blackouts or disasters occur

"We appreciate OKI's participation as a corporate supporter in the Free Mobility Project," said Ken Sakamura, Ph,D., Chairman of Free Mobility Project, Professor of The University of Tokyo Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies Graduate School of The University of Tokyo, and Director of YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory. "We hope OKI will continue to offer applications and user-friendly services like the eSound engine, which is a middleware that will enrich the information infrastructure with its wide range of applications. We expect that this ultimately will help to enrich Japan's lifestyle, as we enter the era of low birth rates and an aging society."

(Glossary)

1 eSound

This is a VoIP technology developed by OKI to enable high quality voice conversation over IP networks. The technology is compliant to various voice signal methods. For more information go to: http://www.oki.com/en/IPtel/product/esound/

2 Ubiquitous Communicator

A portable information terminal developed by YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory. For more information please visit http://www.ubin.jp/english/index.html

3 Free Mobility Project

A project promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for a Universal Society, established by mutual support and bringing in all individual's ability together, to enable information on transportation and directions accessible to anyone, anytime from anywhere.

4 Tokyo Ubiquitous Technology Project in Ginza

A field test with the general public, offering information and services using ubiquitous ID technology. For more information please visit http://www.tokyo-ubinavi.jp/en/ginza.html

About Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1881, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is Japan's first telecommunications manufacturer, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. OKI provides top-quality products, technologies and solutions to its customers through its info-telecom system business, semiconductor business and printer business. All three businesses function as a collective force to create exciting new products and technologies that satisfy a spectrum of customer needs in various markets. Visit OKI's global web site at http://www.oki.com/.

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