AGORACOM - The Small Cap Epicenter reports on the day's best small cap and micro cap press releases before the opening bell. Today's show features: Freewest Resources - TSX-V:FWR $0.245### Perfectenergy International - OTC BB:PFGY $0.99### Zi Corporation - TSX:ZIC, NASDAQ:ZICA $0.73###

In a partnership with Zi Corporation, UTStarcom has begun shipping Internet Protocol television “set-top-boxes” in China, featuring eZiText, a predictive text-input solution. The Alameda, Calif. company (NASDAQ: UTSI) signed a licensing agreement with Zi Corporation in November of 2007, and both companies plan to work together on other products and services.

“We have chosen Zi Corporation again because of the quality of its text-entry solutions and superior technical support, especially in Asia,” said BaiJun Zhao, UTStarcom senior vice president. “We are very focused on developing our strategic base of IP solutions and Zi provides us with the text input capabilities we need in Asia.”

eZiText “learns” usage patterns and new vocabularies, and has predictive entry and word completion abilities. It is for use by electronic manufacturers and telecom carriers.

“We are very pleased that UTStarcom continues to use our award-winning products to succeed in the global marketplace,” said Milos Djokovic, Zi Corporation president

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Nuance Communications, Inc. (NUAN), a leading provider of speech and imaging solutions worldwide, announced that it has officially submitted a proposal to acquire Zi Corporation (ZICA) for $0.80 per share. The proposal is subject to a mutually agreeable definitive agreement, the completion of limited and confirmatory due diligence, and the satisfaction of other general approvals and conditions.

“Nuance can offer customers a broader and more fully integrated product and technology portfolio than Zi Corporation can offer independently,” stated Steve Chambers, President of the Mobile and Consumer Services Division at Nuance. “We believe the combination of Nuance and Zi delivers significant benefits to both companies’ shareholders.”

The full-cash proposal represents a 150% premium over the August 13 Zi common stock closing price. Looking at the past 20 trading days, the offer represents a 125% premium over Zi’s average closing price.

Chambers added, “Our U.S. $0.80 per share all-cash proposal provides Zi shareholders

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