COMPUSERVE ANNOUNCES PNG-BASED GRAPHICS SPECIFICATION

Fully Open 24 Bit Graphics Capability for Electronic Graphics Exchange

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 15, 1995 -- CompuServe Incorporated today announced
the completion of a new 24-bit graphics specification that was announced
earlier this year. This new, enhanced 24-bit lossless specification will
offer the professional graphics community a significant enhancement to the
earlier GIF 89a specification while also eliminating the proprietary LZW
software, replacing it with compression technology compliant with the PNG
(pronounced `ping') specification.

"The new specification is a true 24-bit lossless format that will give
users a 16 million color palette and represents a significant enhancement
over the previous GIF technology," said Tim Oren, CompuServe vice
president of future technology. "More importantly, this new specification
has been created with tremendous attention to making it free, open and
rights clear so that anyone can incorporate it into their products without
fear of patent infringement."

The new specification was developed as a collaboration between CompuServe
and several key communities: The Internet PNG group led by Thomas Boutell,
and including Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler, the developers of Deflate
and Inflate; and the CompuServe online graphics forums (GO GRAPHICS).
Ultimately, CompuServe's new graphics specification adopted compression
technology that was based on the PNG specification. As a result of those
efforts, CompuServe has determined that the PNG format closely meets the
future requirements for graphics interchange on the Internet, on
CompuServe and on other services. Based on current evaluation results, PNG
will also be useful for exchange of information between graphics software
products

"Earlier this year, there was a great deal of attention paid to GIF on the
Internet," continued Oren. "Much of it was constructive and served not
only to move the 24-bit graphics project off the back burner, but also
gave us connections to the Internet team which helped us create the new
PNG-compatible graphics specification in only five months. This
cooperative effort has benefited the whole online community and should
serve as a model for how the Internet's positive and creative forces can
be focused."

PNG makes use of a data compression technology called `deflation' used in
the freeware Info-Zip programs. CompuServe has adopted the PNG format and
is creating a free toolkit that will create graphics meeting the PNG
specification while avoiding patent concerns. The toolkit will be
available within the next few weeks.

Though CompuServe will hold a copyright on the toolkit, it is understood
that its free distribution and use is encouraged and expected. To maintain
the free and clear patent status of the new specification, it will not be
backward compatible with the current GIF89a specification. Adoption of the
new PNG-based specification will take place over time, allowing a smooth
transition to the new format. CompuServe will also provide a conversion
utility from GIF89a to PNG for use in conjunction with the CompuServe
Information Services. This utility will be available within the next few
weeks.

The CompuServe Information Service continues to be the world's most
successful and most popular online and Internet service with millions of
members who go online from more than 3.1 million active, paying accounts
in more than 150 countries. The undisputed industry leader in innovation,
the service offers global email, the industry's first CD-ROM supplement,
libraries of free software, selected 28.8 kbps access and worldwide direct
Internet access services. For a free introductory CompuServe membership,
call 800-524-3388 and ask for representative number 664, or access
CompuServe's home page on the World Wide Web (http://www.compuserve.com).

In addition to the CompuServe Information Service, CompuServe offers
networking, Internet services, electronic mail and business information
services to major corporations worldwide.

CompuServe is an H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) company.

 ============================================================
 From the  'New Product News'  Electronic News Service on....
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) & Delphi (GO COMPUTING PRODUCT)
 ============================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the 
 company or author mentioned. For additional details, please 
 contact them directly at the address/phone number indicated.
 All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
 ============================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  U.S.A.
 Email: RBakerPC (AOL/Delphi), rbakerpc@delphi.com (Internet)
 ============================================================
