INDUSTRY COMMITMENT TO A+ CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

April 27, 1993 -- Phase one of the A+ Certification Program, under which
service technicians will be certified, has received the backing of many of
the microcomputer industry's largest vendors and resellers in the form of
dollars, time and commitment to implement the program.

Apple Computer, Inc. 

Apple Computer, Inc. supports cross-company programs like A+ that establish
qualification standards in the computer industry. Apple is encouraging
employees who service equipment, and its reseller partners to use the A+
Certification Program to test the knowledge of service technicians.

COMPAQ Computer 

COMPAQ Computer will require all phone support and case management
personnel, as well as technical trainers and selected system engineer to
be A+ Certified by October 1, 1993. COMPAQ will also require A+
Certification for new third-party service providers who become authorized
after October 1,1993.

Digital Equipment Corp.

Beginning July 1, 1994, Digital Equipment Corp. will require all employees
that service microcomputers and related hardware to become A+ certified,
as well as all service technicians working for authorized service
providers. In addition, service technicians at authorized reseller
locations can test-out of required training by successfully passing the A+
exam. Digital will also require that service technicians submit warranty
claims to be A+ certified before any claim is processed.

Epson America, Inc. 

Beginning June 1, 1993, Technicians at new authorized service centers must
be A+ Certified prior to attending required service training seminars. In
addition, by October 1,1993, technicians must be A+ Certified prior to
enrolling in Epson service training seminars. As of April 1, 1994, all
Epson trained technicians at existing authorized service center must be A+
Certified in order for these service centers to maintain their authorized
status.

Hewlett Packard Company 

Service technicians at HP authorized reseller locations can test-out of
required training for LaserJet Basics and PC Basics by passing the A+
Certification Exam.

Intelligent Electronics 

Intelligent Electronics will recommend and encourage all resellers to
require A+ Certification for new hires with no experience and other
technicians with less than two years experience.

Intel Corp. 

Intel Corp. will require some of its service technicians to be A+ Certified
and recommends that its external service providers do the same.

NCR Corp. 

NCR will recognize A+ Certification as equivalent to completing either
NCR's PC Systems course or the company's PC Systems Course equivalency
exam. NCR will also require new service technicians to be A+ Certified in
future expansion programs.

Okidata 

All technical personnel within Okidata's Customer Service Group will be
required to have A+ Certification by April 1994. Okidata's Elite service
centers will be required to have A+ Certified technicians at each location
by December 1993, while authorized service dealers will be required to
have A+ Certified technicians at each location by December 1994.

Packard Bell 

Packard Bell expects all employees who service microcomputers and related
hardware to become A+ Certified by December 31, 1993. In addition, all new
service employees will be have to pass the A+ Certification Exam within 90
days. All service technicians who work for the company's authorized
service providers must be A+ Certified by April 30, 1994. The company
plans to implement the A+ Certification Program worldwide.

Tandy Services 

Tandy Services expects all of its employees that service microcomputers and
related hardware to become A+ Certified by December 31, 1994.

U.S. Robotics 

U.S. Robotics will require all of its employees that service microcomputers
and related hardware to become A+ Certified by May, 1994.

abcd, The Microcomputer Industry Association
450 East 22nd St, Suite 230, Lombard, IL 60148-6158
800-333-9532

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