(Yicai Global) Aug. 22 -- Chinese voice technology specialist Iflytek pocketed some CNY189 million (USD27 million) in net profit during the first half of this year, a 45 percent surge after promotions boosted sales across a range of industries.

Operating income was up 31.7 percent at CNY4.2 billion (USD), the Anhui province-based firm said in its earnings report yesterday. The firm attributed its success to sales and promotions across its education, open platform, consumer and e-government businesses and offered a CNY1 (14 US cents) dividend for every 10 shares held.

Its stock [SHE:002230] started higher this morning but closed for lunch down 2.4 percent at CNY32.20 as all three of the country's major benchmarks waned in the early session.

The company's open platform generated CNY485 million in revenue, up 55.7 percent to be the biggest gainer, it said. Income from education products and services leaped 48.9 percent to CNY979 million; smart hardware brought in CNY493 million, up 47.8 percent, and revenue from its e-government offerings climbed 31.6 percent to CNY459 million.

Founded in 1999, Iflytek is renowned for its technological developments in voice recognition and artificial intelligence.

Editor: James Boynton