Mitsumi Announces Software Licensing Agreement With Microsoft; Licensing Agreement for Internet Explorer and Games for Windows 95 Bundled with Mitsumi CD-ROM Drives

Business Wire, July 15, 1996

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 15, 1996--Mitsumi Electronics Corporation, an industry leading supplier of CD-ROM drives, today announced a software licensing agreement with Microsoft Corporation.

Mitsumi is licensing Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Games for Windows 95 for bundling with Mitsumi's line of CD-ROM drives, starting with Mitsumi's recently announced 8X CD-ROM drive.

Mitsumi's industry-leading CD-ROM drive product line includes 4X, 6X, and the recently announced 8X CD-ROM drive with ATAPI IDE interface. Mitsumi has cooperated with Microsoft to assure that these drives support "plug and play" as well as other advanced software features of Windows 95 and Windows NT. Mitsumi's CD-ROM drives are designed to provide outstanding value to the mass market of PC Users.

"Microsoft's Internet Explorer and game software provide great value with state-of-the-art features," said Jim McCaffrey, vice president of sales and marketing for Mitsumi. "Mitsumi is delighted to be able to offer this software, valued at $39.95, at no extra charge with our CD-ROM drives."

Mitsumi's CD-ROM drives feature true 4X, 6X, and 8X performance utilizing ATAPI IDE interfaces that support full IDE burst transfer rates. All drives are available in half-height, 5 1/4-inch form factors utilizing a caddyless tray design. Recent models include a patented system for holding the CD that allows both horizontal and vertical positioning of the drive.

Retail kits include an audio cable, and installation and diagnostic software. The Microsoft software will be included at no extra charge in kits sold through distribution starting in June.

Microsoft's Internet Explorer for Windows 95 makes browsing the Internet as easy as using Windows 95. Internet Explorer opens the Web to great new content; In-line sound and video support; VRML Add-in; Customizable homepage. It's a complete 32-bit application with a full E-mail package that allows you to send and receive mail over the Internet. It features Multithreading and progressive rendering which greatly increase the responsiveness of the user interface to even the most complex Web pages. Internet Explorer automatically puts in a placeholder for slow-loading graphics and loads the text first. It also includes support for standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology which allows integration with secure sites.

Microsoft Games for Windows 95 includes versions of 13 popular games, including Fury 3 from Microsoft, Return Fire from Time Warner, Doom for Windows 95 from ID software, Al Unser Jr's Arcade Racing from Mindscape, Battle Beast from 7th Level, Dogz from PF Magic, Inc., Double Switch from Digital Pictures, Full Tilt from Cinematronics, Havoc from Reality Bytes, Inc., Locus from Zombie, Mech Warrior 2 from Activision, The Hive from Trimark Interactive, and more.

"Microsoft is delighted with Mitsumi's efforts to support Internet Explorer and Games for Windows 95. And we are happy to provide technical support to Mitsumi to ensure that their customer's experience with this Microsoft software is excellent," said Ken Glass, Microsoft marketing manager, OEM division.

"Mitsumi is known for its consistent product quality and manufacturing expertise. We are pleased that one of the top CD-ROM suppliers is bundling this software," said John Wang, Microsoft group manager, OEM division.

Availability

Microsoft Internet Explorer and Games for Windows 95 software is available immediately with the Mitsumi FX800, 8X CD-ROM drive. The Mitsumi FX800 has a manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) of US $189.00, and includes a one-year manufacturers warranty.

About Mitsumi

Mitsumi Electronics Corp. is the US subsidiary of Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. with over $450 million in revenues in the US. Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. is the world's largest manufacturer of computer peripherals with worldwide sales exceeding $2.4 billion in 1995. During 1995, Mitsumi sold more than 7 Million CD-ROM drives. Mitsumi products are sold worldwide to computer and consumer electronics OEMs, as well as through general distribution. US headquarters are located in Irving, Texas. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

CONTACT: Mitsumi Electronics Corp.

John Antonchick, 408/970-0700, ext. 228

or

Welch Communications

Marianne Welch, 408/395-7363

welchcomm@aol.com