Turin and Rome, Italy, and Barcelona, Spain, December 16th, 2008

Loquendo, global provider of speech technology, and Code Factory, world leader in software development for the blind and visually impaired, announce they are powering mobile phone TTS screen readers - TIM Mobile Speak - and screen magnifiers - TIM Mobile Magnifier - on TIM mobile phones.

TIM Mobile Speak and TIM Mobile Magnifier are accessible service solutions which allow the blind and visually impaired to use their mobile phone, even if they cannot read the visual screen. Information displayed on the screen is rendered in synthesized speech - generated using Loquendo's lifelike and expressive text-to-speech (TTS) technology - and routed through the device's speaker or headset.

Telecom Italia has been working in close collaboration with the Unione Italiana dei Ciechi (Italian Union for the Blind and Visually Impaired), experts in accessible technologies, along with Loquendo and Code Factory.

"Until a few years ago, the mere idea of an accessible mobile phone was a dream. Nowadays, not only do such products exist, they work well," said Tommaso Daniele, National Chairman of the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired. "Breaking through the inaccessibility barrier for mobile phones is a major step forward in the independence of the blind and visually impaired, and a step forward for equal opportunities too."

Screen contents can also be presented in Braille if the mobile phone is connected to a Braille device with a refreshable Braille display. Speech and Braille output can be used at the same time or independently, to:

• Make and receive calls, manage contacts and call lists.
• Review the numbers entered in the dialer screen, and check the caller ID on incoming calls.
• Compose and read text messages (SMS), multimedia messages (MMS), and e-mail.
• Browse the internet.
• Create and read different types of files.
• Schedule appointments and tasks, and keep track of them using alarms and reminders.
• Listen to locally saved media files or internet audio streams.
• Configure phone settings, profiles and ringtones, speed dial keys and voice tags.
• Use other programs such as the Notes application, calculator, instant messenger, and file system browser.
• Share data between your device and other mobile phones and computers. .

TIM Mobile Speak and TIM Mobile Magnifier are compatible with Nokia E51, E61i, E65, N73, N81 and N95.

About Code Factory
Code Factory is the leading provider of screen readers, screen magnifiers, and Braille interfaces for the widest range of mainstream mobile devices. Our mission is to break down barriers to the accessibility of mobile technology for the blind and visually impaired. Making accessibility means not just simple opportunity but also flexibility and affordability!

Our accessible solutions are used in more than 50 countries and 30 languages. Among Code Factory's customers are well known organizations for the blind such as ONCE, and carriers such as AT&T, Bouygues Telecom, SFR, TIM and Vodafone. We've also built strong partnerships with mainstream companies like HP, Microsoft, and Nokia as well as leading AT companies like Baum, HumanWare, Optelec and Sendero. For more information, please visit: www.codefactory.es

About Loquendo - Vocal Technology and Services
Winner of "Market Leader - Best Speech Engine" at the 2008 and 2007 Speech Industry Awards, Loquendo is the leading innovator in speech recognition and speech synthesis - providing a complete range of technologies for server, embedded and desktop solutions. Currently available in 26 languages with 61 voices, and continually growing, Loquendo’s best-in-breed technologies enhance customer satisfaction and greatly reduce costs.

Loquendo TTS, Loquendo ASR, Loquendo Embedded Technologies, and Loquendo Speaker Identification and Verification are high-quality, high-performance technologies which are also available on the Loquendo MRCP Server and VoiceXML and CCXML platforms.

Loquendo Embedded Technologies are innovative and easy to integrate solutions that can be found powering navigation systems and on-board devices, as well as virtual assistants on the websites of leading companies all over the world.

Loquendo is a Telecom Italia company headquartered in Turin, Italy, with offices in the US, Spain, Germany and France, and a worldwide network of partners.

For more information about Loquendo, and to hear demos of all Loquendo voices, go to www.loquendo.com.