Cobra and iSpeech Announce Partnership to Enable DriveSafe.ly Text and Email Reading Application in Cobra Products

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Jan 04, 2011, 06:00 ET

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 2011 INTERNATIONAL CES - Cobra Electronics Corporation (Nasdaq: COBR), a leading manufacturer of mobile electronic devices, and iSpeech® (www.iSpeech.org), a leading mobile speech technology provider, are proud to announce their partnership today which will enable users with a BlackBerry or Android Smartphone to instantly listen and respond to incoming text and email messages in real time through their Citizen Band Radios and Marine products. By integrating iSpeech® technology into these Cobra products, the user experience will be further enhanced, enabling Cobra product users to stay connected without having to look at their mobile device.

"Putting efforts into partnerships such as this with iSpeech is important to enhancing our products for a better user experience," said Sally Washlow, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Cobra Electronics. "The iSpeech mobile application called DriveSafe.ly® reads text (SMS) messages and emails aloud on our Bluetooth® enabled CB radios, in real time, without drivers touching the mobile phone. This will be a great tool for many professional drivers!"

iSpeech's DriveSafe.ly® technology provides a smooth user experience with human-sounding text to speech (TTS) and human quality automated speech recognition (ASR). Once activated, it is possible to communicate by sending and receiving messages, hands-free. After an incoming text message is read aloud through the compatible CB radio's speaker system, the user can choose to replay the message, speak a response back to the sender or even call back the sender. By expanding the quality of communication, iSpeech's text to speech software combined with compatible Cobra products will provide a top-notch solution to consumers. The DriveSafe.ly® text to speech feature is compatible with specific Cobra CB and marine products.

"iSpeech is committed to discouraging distracted driving through the use of speech technology and mobile applications. We are excited to team up with an industry leader like Cobra to deliver on this promise," said Yaron Oren, Chief Marketing Officer, iSpeech.

Cobra and iSpeech® will be available for product demos at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (www.CESweb.org) in Las Vegas, NV from Jan 6-9, 2011. iSpeech booth #2431 (Safe Driver -North Hall) and Cobra booths #9845 (Central Hall) and #4135 (iLounge – North Hall).

About iSpeech

iSpeech® is a leading provider of cloud-based speech technology and mobile apps that utilize the iSpeech cloud. iSpeech cloud incorporates several technologies including text to speech (TTS), automated speech recognition (ASR) and voice to text. The unprecedented DriveSafe.ly® app, developed by iSpeech, has read over a quarter billion text messages and emails aloud in real time to over 7 million people. The app also allows voice response, completely hands-free. For more information or to download the app please visit www.iSpeech.org.

About Cobra Electronics

Cobra Electronics is a leading global designer and marketer of communication and navigation products, with a track record of delivering innovative and award-winning products. Building upon its leadership position in the GMRS/FRS two-way radio, radar detector and Citizens Band radio industries, Cobra identified new growth opportunities and has aggressively expanded into the marine market and has expanded its European operations. The Consumer Electronics Association, Forbes and Deloitte & Touche have all recognized Cobra for the company's innovation and industry leadership. To learn more about Cobra Electronics, please visit the Cobra site at www.cobra.com. Follow Cobra on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CobraElectronic or become a fan at www.facebook.com/CobraElectronics.

SOURCE Cobra Electronics