OKI Starts Shipping Samples of High-Quality Speech LSIs

- Improvement of Hearing Experience by Adjusting Playback Speed
and Tone -
TOKYO--(Business Wire)--
Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:6703) today announced it
has developed the "ML2272X Series" speech-synthesis LSIs that enable
users to adjust playback speed and speech tone. While the speech tone,
or pitch, in previous speech-synthesis devices increased or decreased
as the playback speed changed, with these new devices, users can
adjust both the speed and tone. Because the chip is equipped with a
16-bit audio-class D/A converter, it also offers high voice quality
compared to previous OKI speech-synthesis LSIs. Samples of the product
will be shipped today and volume shipment is scheduled to start in
June 2008.

"With OKI's ML2272X Series, users can now offer more user-friendly
products -- such as language learning devices, electronic
dictionaries, educational toys and products for the elderly -- by
integrating voice guidance features into these products," said
Masahiko Morioka, President of Silicon Solutions Company at OKI. "As a
leader in the field of speech-synthesis LSIs, OKI will continue to
leverage its total support expertise and proprietary speech technology
such as OKI-ADPCM(1), and technical knowledge it has gained for over
20 years with a focus on voice quality, to provide speech solutions
that offer added value."

Speech functions are used in a variety of user-friendly products,
such as for voice guidance in high-end white goods, home appliances
and alarm systems. Instead of a buzzer, voice guidance is used to
notify users when a certain task has been finished or to alert and
warn them in a dangerous situation. This allows children and the
elderly to be aware of the situation.

Conventional speech for voice guidance is recorded at a certain
predefined tone, which makes it difficult to adapt the playback voice
to the situation or environment. In addition, people hear voice
guidance differently depending on their age or the environment and
situation they are in at that time (quiet, loud, open space, etc).

The newly developed ML2272X Series can adjust the tone or speed of
the voice in such voice guidance applications depending on the
situation. For example, for emergency situations where urgency is
needed, the tone and speech of the voice should be different from
situations where calm action is required. As an additional example,
the elderly tend to hear low pitch sounds better, thus in home
appliances a high-pitched voice of 4kHz or more can be changed to a
slow and low pitch voice for better hearing.

The ML2272X Series

Compared to OKI's previous voice LSI products, the voice quality
of ML2272X Series is notably improved. Also, by including a speaker
amplifier, OKI has made it easy for customers to incorporate voice
playback functionality in their products. Moreover, the built-in
memory has been increased to a maximum of 16Mbit, making it possible
to record and play back an increased number of messages.

(Glossary)

(1) ADPCM: Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation

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 www.oki.com/.

Notes:

-- P2ROM is a trademark of Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. in
Japan.

-- Names of companies and products are trademarks or registered
trademarks of the respective companies and organizations.

Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
For Europe and Americas:
Naomi Takeuchi, +1-408-737-6279
Public Relations Division
press@oki.com
For Asia and Other Areas:
Akiko Horiguchi, +81-3-3580-8950
Public Relations Division
press@oki.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008