newsbytes@clarinet.com (02/04/90)
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 FEB 1 (NB) -- Seiko Instruments will enter the hand-held organizer market now dominated by Sharp and Casio with the release of industry's first electronic organizer with voice features on the 15th of this month. The new system called EX-3000 will have an original STN (super twisted nematic) LCD (liquid crystal display) screen which the firm claims is capable of clearly displaying 8 characters by 4 lines of Kanji characters and 21 characters by 8 lines of alphabetical characters on the 40 by 106 millimeters screen. The unit, which measures 160 by 90.3 by 22.5 millimeters and weighs about 290 grams, will come with a QWERTY-type standard keyboard with rubber keys. The price for the unit is 28,000 yen ($193). Seiko Instruments will also release six original IC (integrated circuit) cards: English-Japanese dictionary (13,000 yen or $89.7), phone directory (10,000 yen or $69), travel English conversation voice card (10,000 yen or $69), business English conversation voice card (10,000 yen or $69), golf score management (8,000 yen or $55), and fortune-telling calendar (8,000 yen or $55). The two voice cards allow a user to hear English voices via an earphone from the unit. The IC card, measuring 54 by 86 by 2.1 millimeters, however, is not compatible with other makers' electronic organizers. A communication cable between two organizers will be optionally available for 2,800 yen ($19.3). Seiko Instruments intends to export its hand-held organizer overseas, but has not decided any details yet. (Ken Takahashi/19900201/Press Contact: Seiko Instruments, 03- 682-1111)