SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 13, 2000
                                                        -----------------

                  VOICE POWERED TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                   California
                                   ----------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

                         1-11476        95-3977501
                         -------------------------

        (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer Identification Number)

              One Franklin Plaza, Burlington, New Jersey 08016-4907
              -----------------------------------------------------

               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (609) 386-2500
                                                           --------------


                                       1
<PAGE>

ITEM 5 OTHER EVENTS

            Voice Powered Technology International, Inc. announced that it has
agreed to merge into a subsidiary of Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc.


                                       2
<PAGE>

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

      (c) Exhibits:

            1.    Voice Powered Technology International, Inc. Press Release,
                  dated December 13, 2000.


                                       3
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        VOICE POWERED TECHNOLOGY
                                        INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                                        By /s/ Gregory J. Winsky
                                           -------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Gregory J. Winsky
                                         Title: President

Date: December 19, 2000


                                       4
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT 1

              VOICE POWERED TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL TO MERGE INTO
                         FRANKLIN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHERS

Burlington, New Jersey - December 13, 2000 - Voice Powered Technology
International, Inc. ("VPTI-OTC Bulletin Board") today announced that the Company
has agreed to merge into a subsidiary of Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc.
("FEP:NYSE"). The Company is an 82% owned subsidiary of Franklin. Under the
proposed merger, each share of the Company's common stock not held by Franklin
is valued at $.03 and will be exchanged for shares of the common stock of
Franklin at the closing price of those shares on the New York Stock Exchange on
the day preceding the date of the proxy statement relating to the merger. The
transaction is subject to approval by Franklin's Board of Directors and the
execution of a definitive merger agreement.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed
throughout this release, including, but not limited to, those that are stated as
VPTI's belief or expectation or preceded by the word "should" are forward
looking statements that involve risks to and uncertainties in VPTI's business,
including, among other things, the timely availability and acceptance of new
electronic products, changes in technology, the impact of competitive electronic
products, the impact of certain alleged patent claims, the management of
inventories, VPTI's dependence on third party component suppliers and
manufacturers, including those that provide VPTI -specific parts, and other
risks and uncertainties that may be detailed from time to time in VPTI's reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                       5
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 13, 2000
                                                        -----------------

                  VOICE POWERED TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                   California
                                   ----------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

                         1-11476        95-3977501
                         -------------------------

        (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer Identification Number)

              One Franklin Plaza, Burlington, New Jersey 08016-4907
              -----------------------------------------------------

               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (609) 386-2500
                                                           --------------

                                       1
ITEM 5 OTHER EVENTS

            Voice Powered Technology International, Inc. announced that it has
agreed to merge into a subsidiary of Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc.

                                       2
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

      (c) Exhibits:

            1.    Voice Powered Technology International, Inc. Press Release,
                  dated December 13, 2000.

                                       3
SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        VOICE POWERED TECHNOLOGY
                                        INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                        By /s/ Gregory J. Winsky
                                           -------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Gregory J. Winsky
                                         Title: President

Date: December 19, 2000

                                       4
EXHIBIT 1

              VOICE POWERED TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL TO MERGE INTO
                         FRANKLIN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHERS

Burlington, New Jersey - December 13, 2000 - Voice Powered Technology
International, Inc. ("VPTI-OTC Bulletin Board") today announced that the Company
has agreed to merge into a subsidiary of Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc.
("FEP:NYSE"). The Company is an 82% owned subsidiary of Franklin. Under the
proposed merger, each share of the Company's common stock not held by Franklin
is valued at $.03 and will be exchanged for shares of the common stock of
Franklin at the closing price of those shares on the New York Stock Exchange on
the day preceding the date of the proxy statement relating to the merger. The
transaction is subject to approval by Franklin's Board of Directors and the
execution of a definitive merger agreement.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed
throughout this release, including, but not limited to, those that are stated as
VPTI's belief or expectation or preceded by the word "should" are forward
looking statements that involve risks to and uncertainties in VPTI's business,
including, among other things, the timely availability and acceptance of new
electronic products, changes in technology, the impact of competitive electronic
products, the impact of certain alleged patent claims, the management of
inventories, VPTI's dependence on third party component suppliers and
manufacturers, including those that provide VPTI -specific parts, and other
risks and uncertainties that may be detailed from time to time in VPTI's reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                       5