LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZTE, a top global handset manufacturer, today announced the debut of new voice control technology for easier hands-free operation of its latest smartphones. The upcoming Grand S II flagship smartphone is the latest evolution in ZTE’s high-end Grand Series line and it will be ZTE’s first implementation of the new technology, which will include voice recognition unlocking, voice photography and an upgraded ZTE My-drive assistant.

“We developed this technology internally and feel that it represents a significant leap forward in man-machine interaction. The Grand S II will be the first of many ZTE products that will demonstrate our innovation in this area.”

ZTE’s latest voice processing technology is exemplified in the Grand S II’s suite of voice control features. The voice recognition unlocking feature enables the Grand S II to recognize its owners’ voices and differentiate between them, and for its owners to unlock the phone with a simple voice command. Users will be able to command the Grand S II to snap a photo using voice photography, making it easier than ever to take group photos and “selfies.” Lastly, My-drive features a higher voice recognition rate, reducing distraction while driving and enabling users to more accurately receive calls, listen to messages and play music via voice commands. Also, “do not disturb” mode allows drivers to focus on the road and automatically send incoming calls into voice mail or automatically reply to texts.

“We pulled out all of the stops with the Grand S II; we built upon the success of the original Grand S, and added the latest high-performance hardware and features, including voice control,” said Mr. Zeng Xuezhong, EVP and Head of the Mobile Devices Division, ZTE. “We developed this technology internally and feel that it represents a significant leap forward in man-machine interaction. The Grand S II will be the first of many ZTE products that will demonstrate our innovation in this area.”

The Grand S II also offers a host of high-precision audio features to enhance the user experience. With triple-MIC noise reduction for higher quality and clearer calls, users can expect the utmost in call performance in any environment. This model also features high-precision voice recording, Dolby sound effects and a professional BOX speaker to round out the sensational audio experience.

The new voice control technology features are a result of ZTE’s ongoing commitment to research and development. ZTE devotes 10 percent of annual revenues to R&D and is one of the leading patent holders among vendors in the telecommunications industry internationally, having filed applications for 48,000 patents globally, with more than 13,000 patents granted and 90% being invention-related.

ZTE’s latest voice control technology and the Grand S II will be on display ZTE’s booth at CES 2014, located at South Hall 4, booth 31431. More information is also available at http://www.cesweb.org

About ZTE Mobile Devices

ZTE Mobile Devices is a division of ZTE Corporation, a global telecommunications equipment, networks and mobile devices company headquartered in Shenzhen, China. ZTE is a publicly traded company listed on the Hong Kong and Shenzhen stock exchanges. ZTE is one of the Top 5 mobile handset and smartphone manufacturers in the world, according to global industry analyst IDC. The company produces a complete range of mobile devices, including mobile phones, tablets, mobile broadband modems and hotspots and family desktop integration terminals. A global leader, ZTE has partnerships with more than 230 major carriers and distributors in over 160 countries and regions around the globe. It also has strategic partnerships with 47 of the world’s top 50 carriers.