Softbank On Hand CD-ROM Software Discs Bundled with AST Computer Products

AST Advantage! Adventure Systems and Bravo LC and MT Products

Monterey, Calif.--June 20, 1994 -- Softbank Inc. announced a bundling
agreement with AST Research Inc., the world's fifth-largest PC
manufacturer, to include Softbank On Hand CD-ROM discs with its Advantage!
Adventure consumer-oriented systems and CD-ROM-equipped Bravo LC and Bravo
MT business value-line products.

Softbank On Hand is a CD-ROM disc set that enables users to "desktop shop"
for software and other products without leaving their homes or offices. It
includes multimedia product advertisements, interactive product trials,
demonstrations and actual software titles that can be purchased toll-free
by phone, unlocked, and fulfilled immediately to the user's hard drive.

"Now is an exciting time for consumers to be purchasing CD-ROM-equipped and
multimedia systems from companies like AST; the technology has come of
age, and Softbank On Hand makes the technology and its power accessible to
a wide range of consumers," said David Blumstein, president and CEO of
Softbank Inc. "Shopping for software and other computer products while
sitting at your new multimedia computer places innovative products from a
multitude of vendors within almost everyone's grasp."

AST's Advantage! family of products is sold in the consumer retail market
and offers low-cost, ready-to-use desktop, multimedia and portable systems
designed for today's home or small office. The Advantage! systems,
designed for education, entertainment, home office or business
applications, are powered by a wide range of microprocessors ranging from
entry-level 486 to state-of-the-art Pentium architecture.

AST's Bravo line offered the industry its first value brand and continues
to provide a complete range of computing options for small- and mid-size
businesses all the way up to Fortune 500 companies. The Bravo family,
which provided AST with its first line of "Energy Star" compliant
computers, offers energy-efficient low-profile and mid-range desktops as
well as powerful mini-tower systems for virtually every working
environment.

"At AST we are always looking for ways to make our products it easier for
the customer to use, " said Howard Elias, vice president of worldwide
marketing. "With Softbank On Hand, Bravo and Advantage! users can
immediately sample or buy more than 170 software packages directly from
their PCs."

As a result of Softbank Inc.'s extensive distribution network and numerous
OEM agreements, more than 600,000 Softbank On Hand disc sets will have
been distributed from February, 1994 through the end of July, 1994.
Softbank Inc. plans to distribute in excess of 100,000 units per month
through 1994. In addition to OEM bundles, Softbank On Hand is distributed
through Merisel Inc. to resellers in North America.

Softbank Inc. has bundling agreements with original equipment manufacturers
including AT&T Global Information Solutions, Austin Computer Systems,
CompuAdd Computer Corp., Micron Computer, Inc., Mitsumi Electronics Corp.,
Northgate Computer Systems and Zenith Data Systems.

In addition, Softbank On Hand discs are also bundled with Creative Labs,
MediaMagic and Media Vision, leading manufacturers of multimedia upgrade
hardware.

AST Research, Inc., is located in Irvine Calif. AST is the world's fifth
largest personal computer manufacturer. The company develops PC products
ranging from handheld portable systems to superservers under the
Advantage!, Bravo, Premmia, Manhattan SMP, PowerExec, GRiD and Victor
brand names. AST is ranked number 287 on the Fortune 500 list of America's
largest industrial companies and is represented in 100 countries and
operates 43 subsidiaries and sales offices worldwide.

Headquartered in Monterey, Calif., Softbank Inc. is a partnership of
SOFTBANK Corporation, Japan's largest distributor of computer software and
peripherals; Merisel Inc., and world's largest publicly-held distributor
of microcomputer hardware and software products; Phoenix Technologies
Ltd., the leading independent designer, developer and marketer of systems
software; and Alexander & Lord, the leader in telemarketing and
fulfillment services for the software industry.

Softbank Inc
8 Harris Court, Bldg A
Monterey, CA 93940
408-644-7800,  fax 408-644-7899

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