MICROSOFT PHONE NOW AVAILABLE FROM LEADING MANUFACTURERS

Voice Modems and Windows 95 Enable New Generation of Computer Telephony
Applications

REDMOND, WASH. - JAN. 30, 1996 - Microsoft Corp. today announced that
leading manufacturers are now shipping voice modems and complete PC
systems that provide innovative computer-telephony applications based on
Microsoft Phone.

Microsoft Phone is a powerful and easy-to-use software-only speakerphone
and answering machine made possible by new communications technologies
available only in the Microsoft Windows 95 operating system and by new,
voice-enabled modems. Manufacturers offering Microsoft Phone products and
systems include Creative Labs Inc., Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc.,
Micron Electronics Inc. and Miro Computer Products.

"Computers are already essential in fax- and data-modem communications.
Now, with Microsoft Phone, Microsoft is extending the PC into the world of
voice-based telephone communications," said Brad Chase, general manager of
the personal systems division at Microsoft. "The rich communications
technologies in Windows 95 combined with the product offerings of our
hardware and OEM partners result in a powerful and integrated
computer-telephony experience for end users."

MICROSOFT PHONE TURNS PC INTO COMPREHENSIVE VOICE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

Microsoft Phone transforms a voice modem into a comprehensive voice
communications center, helping both individuals and small businesses to be
more productive.

Users can create centralized message centers that turn PCs into
speakerphones; store all e-mail, voice and fax messages in a single inbox;
let callers hear announcements, leave messages or receive faxes by
pressing their phone keys; and use text-to-speech technology to read
electronic- mail messages aloud over the phone. In addition, Microsoft
Phone uses speech-recognition technology that enables users to store
frequently used numbers in memory and to dial merely by saying a name.

With Microsoft Phone, users can also set up password-protected voice
mailboxes at home or on the job. In addition, they can tell the computer
to notify them automatically when new messages arrive via pager or
telephone. Intuitive Windows Wizards in Microsoft Phone make it easy to
set up the answering machine and use new computerized phone features
including caller I.D. and call forwarding.

MICROSOFT PHONE POWERED BY INNOVATIVE WINDOWS 95 COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGIES

Windows 95 is the first PC operating system to enable new voice-telephony
solutions based on the following new technologies and specifications:

 UNIMODEM/V, a new extension to the Universal modem driver, is a
 TAPI service provider that makes supporting voice modems easier.

 TAPI, the industry-leading Windows 95 telephony API, enables
 Microsoft Phone to work with all TAPI-compatible products available
 from hardware and software vendors.

 MAPI, the Windows 95 messaging API, enables Microsoft Phone to
 store and retrieve messages and uses the standard Windows 95 MAPI
 address book.

 MICROSOFT EXCHANGE INBOX, which is standard in Windows 95, enables
 all incoming messages, whether voice or data, to be located in
 asingle place.

 MICROSOFT FAX FEATURES, included in Windows 95, allow users to
 create a fax-back system and to forward fax messages.

 SPEECH API is a new API for developing speech-recognition
 applications. Microsoft Phone is the first Windows 95-based
 application to use the Speech API.

Microsoft Phone is available to end users exclusively through the hardware
and systems manufacturers that package it with their voice modems and
voice-enabled PCs.

LEADING MANUFACTURERS PRAISE MICROSOFT PHONE, MICROSOFT FOR ENABLING NEW
SOLUTIONS

"Creative Phone Blaster&#153; products create a unique, cutting- edge
hardware platform for audio communications on the PC," said Rich Sorkin,
vice president, strategic business division at Creative Labs Inc. "The
primary goal of Creative's long-standing design relationship with
Microsoft was to improve dramatically the ease of use of the software
running on that hardware. By combining Microsoft Phone and Windows 95 with
Creative's industry-leading Blaster&#153; hardware, we expect to
accelerate the adoption of telephony in the PC significantly."

"Our new multimedia systems incorporating Microsoft Phone give individuals
and small businesses the ability to manage their telephone and messaging
needs in a way that's only been available to large corporations until
now," said Kenneth Birch, vice president of strategic relations at Micron.
"The new communications technologies available together for the first time
in Windows 95 were crucial to making this happen."

"The combination of Microsoft Phone with Supra's state-of-the- art
telephony hardware gives the small office/home office (SOHO) user access
to communication technology once restricted to large corporations," said
James H. Cutburth, vice president of marketing of the Supra communications
division at Diamond Multimedia. "We've worked closely with Microsoft to
ensure Microsoft Phone and Supra telephony products work well together."

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

FOR ONLINE PRODUCT INFORMATION:

Windows Web Page: http://www.microsoft.com/windows

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on
Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft home page at
http://www.microsoft.com/corpinfo. To receive Microsoft press releases by
fax, please call (800) 859-5915 in the United States or (201) 333-0314
internationally.
 
 =========================================================
 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
 =========================================================
