NEC PARTNERS WITH LEADING CD-ROM SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS
Helps Software Developers Keep Pace With Hardware Advances

(Wood Dale, Ill., October 5, 1993)--In order to drive the CD-ROM and
multimedia markets forward, the NEC Technologies, Inc. Advanced Media
Group today announced the formation of its new Strategic Software
Partnership (SSP) program. SSP creates a framework for hardware and
software manufacturers to work together in the areas of product
development, marketing and promotions, enabling the creation of multimedia
products that fully take advantage of the latest technology and market
trends.

An integral element of NEC's launch of its new MultiSpin 3X CD-ROM readers,
the program will yield software that takes advantage of the technological
advancements of NEC's new readers just months after their announcement.

NEC recognized that the current CD-ROM hardware and software development
process was not as efficient as it could be, due to the lack of
communication between hardware and software companies. With CD-ROM
hardware manufacturers constantly improving the technology and releasing
new readers at a rapid rate, software developers have traditionally been
as much as a year behind. To improve the situation, NEC created the SSP
program, which brings software companies on board early in the hardware
development process, allowing them to tailor their software to take
advantage of CD-ROM hardware advances much sooner. That way, software will
be available at the same time or soon after the hardware is introduced.
Some of NEC's SSPs will have software ready for the MultiSpin 3X readers
as early as December.

"The creation of the SSP program represents a fundamentally new strategic
paradigm for cooperation between hardware and software companies in the
multimedia industry," explained Jeff Veis, product manager at NEC.

NEC believes that bringing software developers on board earlier in the
product development process will move the market ahead by making it easier
for them to develop 'scalable software'--applications that take advantage
of NEC's triple-speed advances, but are also backwardly compatible and
work with single- and double-speed drives. Scalable software allows those
who want to maximize their CD-ROM and multimedia potential to do so, while
allowing software companies to easily serve the current installed base as
well.

"This is a win-win relationship for us, software developers and our
customers," said Veis.

In addition to driving the market forward by shortening the lead time
between the introduction of hardware and the introduction of software that
fully takes advantage of it, NEC hopes to better serve the multimedia
market by soliciting input from its SSP partners on their recommendations
for future product features and functionality.

As well as getting compatible product onto the shelves earlier, SSP members
will benefit from NEC's efforts to promote their products. The first
co-promotion effort will consist of a demonstration CD-ROM disc which
contains demonstrations of SSP members' software. This disc will be
distributed in every NEC MultiSpin reader box, giving customers a taste of
each title.
Comments Veis, "The idea is to create an open alliance that is concentrated
on establishing industry-wide standards and driving the multimedia market
forward."

To help customers recognize which titles are scalable and support NEC's
MultiSpin 3X readers, NEC has developed a trademarked MultiSpin logo which
SSP members may use on their packaging.

Software Company Response Has Been Strong

Software companies have responded to the SSP program enthusiastically.
Leading software companies covering a broad range of applications from
education, reference, business and entertainment have already signed onto
this ongoing program. Current participants include:

** American Business Information
** Broderbund Software Inc
** Compact Publishing
** Corel Systems
** DeLorme Mapping
** Drew Pictures
** Grolier Electronic Publishing
** Knowledge Adventure
** Macromedia
** Pop Rocket
** Presto Studios
** Spectrum HoloByte
** Time Warner Interactive Group
** Trilobyte
** Voyager

(Note: see separate press releases from some of the above companies posted
separately -- Ed.)

NEC Technologies Inc

NEC Technologies, Inc. is a leading supplier of computers, peripherals and
presentation products for the North American market. Product lines include
award-winning MultiSpin CD-ROM readers, MultiSync monitors and
presentation products, ProSpeed laptop and UltraLite notebook computers,
Silentwriter and Colormate printers, PowerMate, Image, Express and Ready
computers. NEC Technologies, Inc. is a subsidiary of NEC Corporation.

NEC Technologies
1255 Michael Dr, Wood Dale, IL 60191
708-860-9500

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