Nuance buys speech-recognition firm Zi Corp

Nuance Communications has completed its acquisition of Zi Corp for USD35m and is ready to integrate Zi’s mobile search technology into its suite of services. The company plans to incorporate Zi’s speech-recognition software on Nokia handsets, allowing users to send text messages and navigate by issuing voice commands.

The acquisition could help Nuance expand in Asian markets, where users are keen to use speech and handwriting recognition features instead of tablet-based alphabet characters.