Phoenix enhances PhoenixBIOS 4.0 to improve PC flexibility, ease-of-use and system management capabilities; appliance-like power-on options, multiple booting options, enhanced power management, UMA, USB and DMI support significantly enhance industry-leading desktop BIOS

Business Wire, Nov 13, 1995

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 1995--Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PTEC), a leading supplier of essential software for PC manufacturers, today announced enhanced features in the newest release of its Phoenix BIOS 4.0 product.

With Release 5.1, Phoenix has extended the overall usefulness of computers, with support for new PC design options including embedded systems and servers.

"These significant improvements ensure that our customers' systems support the latest technology and industry standards," said Clay Clatur, Phoenix vice president of desktop and server systems. "However, the most important feature of the new 5.1 release is that it is easy for system manufacturers to implement. We've provided a very easy upgrade for PhoenixBIOS 4.0 to OEMs to integrate the new functionality of Release 5.1," Clatur explained.

The 5.1 release includes the following key features:

-- 24 Hour PC -- Providing appliance-like functionality for managing automatic PC operations like e-mail, voice mail and faxing.

-- MultiBoot II -- allowing system users to boot from an even greater variety of options including SCSI disks and LAN cards.

-- Mode 4 IDE -- improved data transfer mode that supports transfer speeds up to 16 megabytes per second.

-- DMI Version 2 -- support for the new industry standard Desktop Management Interface (DMI), a component identification process.

-- NuMISER power management -- Enhanced power management, based on Phoenix notebook capabilities, designed to meet emerging needs for extensive power management of all PCs.

PhoenixBIOS 4.0, Release 5.1 also incorporates support for the latest architecture features including Unified Memory Architectures (UMA) and Universal Serial Bus (USB). UMA support includes BIOS Setup support for any needed memory sizing and configuration requirements. USB support is provided to enable future USB controllers to be added to today's PCs. As USB becomes available in core silicon, Phoenix will provide needed support for detection and configuration of boot devices.

Phoenix Technologies Ltd. is a worldwide leader supplying essential software to PC manufacturers. The company's system-level software products, such as PhoenixBIOS, NoteBIOS, PhoenixPICO, and PhoenixCard Manager, allow PC manufacturers to increase product differentiation, reduce product cycle time to market and reduce internal engineering costs.

Capitalizing on its unique position and resources, Phoenix is developing an expanding family of software products, including Phoenix Telephony Suite and Phoenix MUSE, that increase personal computer functionality and make PCs easier to use. Information on all Phoenix Technologies products is available on the Worldwide Web at: http://www.ptltd.com. -0-

Note to Editors: The Phoenix logo is a registered trademark and PhoenixBIOS, NoteBIOS, PhoenixPICO, PhoenixCard Manager Plus, Phoenix MUSE, and Phoenix Telephony Suite, are trademarks of Phoenix Technologies Ltd. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Phoenix Technologies Ltd.

Thomas Benoit, 408/452-6507

or

The Benjamin Group, Inc.

Elizabeth Deans, 714/753-0755