PACKARD BELL GIVES CONSUMERS ONLINE SHOPPING, INTERACTIVE GAMING, FILE
EXCHANGE CAPABILITIES

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Packard Bell owners can now shop, book airline
tickets, bank, exchange files or play games with an across town friend,
all the time conversing over the phone about their actions, thanks to an
integrated voice and data communications software package bundled with the
company's new line of home computers.

Allowing users to talk on the phone with another PC owner or one of the
companies offering services while looking at the same image on the
computer screen creates an inexpensive audio conferencing capability for
every owner. All the consumer pays is the cost of the phone call, which
issometimes an 800 number.

"Everyone is looking for productivity, and VoiceView TalkShop delivers,"
says Mal Ransom, VP marketing, Packard Bell. "You don't have to put down
the phone, print a file and go to the fax machine. All you do is push the
'send' button. You can even exchange business cards at the end of a sales
call."

Consumers who want to use the system's voice/data capabilities simply bring
up a menu where services are accessed at a click of a button. Push
Blockbuster Music and you can hear the track of a CD you're considering
buying. Push the travel button and you can book your next airline ticket.
With VoiceView Talkshop, users can talk to a ticket agent, view graphic
images and complete secure transactions over a single phone line. 1-800
Flowers lets you see a bouquet before you send it to your favorite
relative. The National Look Up Service lets you locate lost friends.

With Virtual Wall Street, investors can retrieve the latest financial data,
news and commentary. Financial services are easily accessed on-line from
Wells Fargo Bank. To see what's new, users can click on the VoiceView
MarketplaceTMicon and download information about special promotions and
new features.

Exchanging files with anotherPC owner is easy. Kids will find it great for
homework, andbusiness associates can discuss a memo both of them can see
on their own home screen. If you're operating a homeoffice, you can make a
sales call, sending your potential customer one of several replies you've
stored or your business card in seconds -- before you hang up! VoiceView
automatically switches between voice and data modes, so you exchange all
types of information quickly.

The program can also be used to make playing games more fun. Because
VoiceView games only use the line during data transfers, you can maintain
a conversation with your opponent while you play.

"Imagine taunting your opponent over the phone as you both look at the same
game screen!" Ransom said.

VoiceView TalkShop will be available on the entire line of Packard Bell's
Platinum Pro and Platinum multimedia systems. Packard Bell's new family
includes Intel 133, 150 and 166 MHz Pentium processors, the fastest
Pentium chips available. The new systems complement Packard Bell's
expansive series of Intel 75 MHz, 100 MHz, 120 MHz and 133 MHz Pentium
processors.

Packard Bell is the largest desktop supplier to the home market and the
fourth largest PC manufacturer, worldwide. &nbsp;The company pioneered the
industry by taking the PC to the consumer through the mass retail channels
and by bundling software and components to make getting started on a PC
easier for the novice user. The company was also the first to offer
on-site repair service for the consumer, and the first to color code plug
and play components, so set-up of a PC in the home only takes seconds.

Packard Bell Electronics is headquartered in Sacramento,Calif.

For product service and support, contact: support@packardbell.com
Members of the press can contact: The Bohle Company PR@Bohle.com
 
 =========================================================
 From the 'New Product News' Electronic News Service on...
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) and Delphi (GO COMP PROD)
 =========================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the
 company/author mentioned. For additional details, please
 contact them directly at the address/phone# indicated.
 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  USA
 Email:   rbakerpc@aol.com   --or--   rbakerpc@delphi.com
 =========================================================
