PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES COMPLETE BATTERY MANAGEMENT SOLUTION FOR
PORTABLE COMPUTERS

BatteryScope provides

 Optimized battery information for the user
 Greater design flexibility
 Faster time-to-market for computer manufacturers

Santa Clara, CA (April 18, 1996) -- Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:
PTEC), a leading supplier of essential software for PC manufacturers,
announced the release of BatteryScope, an integrated firmware and software
package for intelligent battery management. It is shipping now to portable
computer developers and manufacturers. BatteryScope provides Windows 95
and Windows 3.1 users with an intuitive tool for viewing accurate and
comprehensive battery information with controls for the battery alarm
system. BatteryScope allows PC manufacturers to include these benefits for
mobile users with maximum design flexibility and minimum time-to-market.

Some of the key features of BatteryScope include support for up to four
batteries in a system, a user interface optimized for Windows 95, and
flexibility in selecting batteries from numerous suppliers.

"BatteryScope is a prominent milestone in Phoenix's dedicated and ongoing
effort to provide improved battery management solutions to the notebook
market," said Gayn Winters, vice president and chief technology officer at
Phoenix Technologies. "We can now enable notebook designers to offer
useful advantages to consumers independent of their choice of battery and
without any development time tradeoffs."

The introduction of BatteryScope follows the successful June 1995 launch of
Phoenix Smart Battery Manager; (PSBM), shipped by several key OEMs
including Canon and Hitachi. Building on the expertise attained in the
PSBM development, BatteryScope offers battery management capabilities
above and beyond the earlier software.

"Phoenix has been playing an important role in the advancement of the Smart
Battery System standards in the industry," said Norm Allen, president,
Duracell's New Products and Technology Division. "BatteryScope gives
notebook manufacturers the flexibility to choose from a variety of
batteries as well as the ability to upgrade to advanced battery
chemistries, ensuring users the longer run times they demand."

BatteryScope end-user benefits:

Accurate battery information: The information displayed is derived from
data provided by onboard intelligent batteries.

Flexible Windows 95 display options: BatteryScope provides convenient and
non-intrusive views of useful battery information such as "time to empty"
and "time to full charge" as well as a choice between audible or on-screen
alarms. BatteryScope also supports Windows 3.1.

Customizable alarm system: A Battery Alarm Wizard allows the user to choose
any number of "low battery" or "full-charge" alarms. Alarms can be set for
individual batteries or total power available (on multiple battery
systems).

Longer system life: By using the data communicated by the battery,
BatteryScope provides NoteBIOS 4.0 power management the ability to further
extend the life of the system, the main objective from the user's
perspective.

New flexibility for notebook users: BatteryScope automatically detects
additional batteries. SMBus batteries of different brands with the same
form factor are interchangeable.

BatteryScope manufacturer benefits:

Support for up to four batteries: BatteryScope allows the integration of up
to four batteries in one system.

SMBus-compatible: BatteryScope fully supports the SMBus industry
specification. This allows the OEM to integrate any smart battery or smart
charger that are SMBus-compatible.

Dallas one-wire compatible: BatteryScope allows OEMs to integrate Sony
Lithium Ion (Li Ion) Intelligent Batteries by using Dallas one-wire
protocol.

Flexibility in battery selection: Designers using BatteryScope are free to
choose from a variety of Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) or Li Ion batteries
in various sizes, including: Duracell Rechargeable Batteries with
PowerSmart, Sony Li Ion Intelligent Battery, Sanyo SMBus Compatible Li Ion
Batteries, Energizer SMBus Compatible Batteries and any other battery with
embedded SMBus-compatible battery gauge chips.

End-User benefits are independent of battery configuration: Regardless of
the OEM choice of battery type and number of batteries present in the
system, BatteryScope end-user benefits are always available.

Standard building blocks shorten time-to-market: BatteryScope provides an
integrated package of standard building blocks, including BatteryScope
user interface, BatteryScope NoteBIOS extensions, and BatteryScope
MultiKey extensions.

Micron Computer is currently shipping an early version of BatteryScope on
its Millennia Transport P120 notebook designed by Sanyo.

Phoenix Technologies Ltd. is a worldwide leader supplying essential
software to PC manufacturers such as PhoenixBIOS, NoteBIOS, Phoenix
PowerPanel, PhoenixPICO, and PhoenixCard Manager. 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.
 
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