Vision Objects and Pentel Co. Ltd. Japan sign Technology Partnership and Distribution Agreement

Nantes (France) and Tokyo (Japan), April 26, 2006, Vision Objects, provider of the industry standard in handwriting recognition technology for pen based user interfaces and Pentel Co. Ltd, a leader in the writing instrument field, announce today the signature of a distribution agreement and a technology partnership. Through the distribution agreement, Pentel, maker of the Airpen Storage Notebook, is the first Japanese partner to propose Vision Objects’ InkMagic handwriting recognition software with their note taking solution.

The Pentel Airpen Storage Notebook is an electronic pen that writes with normal ink on A5 format paper. It stores up to a hundred pages of handwritten notes, diagrams and sketches in its memory that can be uploaded to a PC.

Through its user friendly interface, InkMagic by Vision Objects reliably converts handwritten notes in both Western and Asian languages into digital information. InkMagic handles conversion of text, tables and shapes and makes handwriting ready for use in applications such as Ichitaro, Microsoft Word and various email clients including Outlook. InkMagic covers different Japanese character sets, such as Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana and Rômaji.

“We are pleased to be working closely together with Vision Objects”, said Noriyoshi Otake, Deputy General Manager of Pentel. “Pentel Airpen Storage Notebook and InkMagic are an ideal match and will contribute to increasing the digital pen market”.

By signing the Distribution Agreement, Pentel becomes the first partner to distribute InkMagic in Japan. Pentel also signed a Technology Partnership with Vision Objects, through which they access the MyScript Builder Software Development Kit for integration of MyScript Technology in their professional form processing solutions. “We are very pleased to count Pentel among our partners”, says Stefan Knerr, CEO of Vision Objects. “Through their confidence in MyScript Technology, Vision Objects reinforces its position as a truly global leader in the field of handwriting recognition technology, and together we bring a strong value proposition for note taking to the Japanese market.”

About Pentel
Pentel Co., Ltd. was established in 1946 and at present it is manufacturing and selling writing instruments, drawing materials, electric devices, industrial machines, robots and molds etc. Pentel has 20 selling bases in the world in addition to Japan and 8 production bases in the world, and is a worldwide company of annual turnover of 50 billion yen. Pentel aims for a high quality product range, making new product development a priority. Pentel has been selling digital pen products on the Japanese market since 2004.

About Vision Objects
Vision Objects provides the industry standard in Handwriting Recognition Technology. Vision Objects’ ground-breaking MyScript Technology reliably recognizes and converts handwriting into smart, valuable and searchable digital information. MyScript is available in many Western and Asian languages.
MyScript is integrated into many existing systems for high level form processing, personal information management, messaging and edutainment applications. Vision Objects’ mission is to develop and market accurate and high performance Handwriting Recognition & Understanding software for any platform using handwritten data entry through pen-based user interfaces such as Digital Pens, PDAs, Tablet PCs and Smartphones.

For more information, visit www.visionobjects.com