Tuesday May 20 3:34 PM EDT
Company Press Release
MSU has no comment on the Justice Department's inquiry regarding
Microsoft & WEBTV
Milton Keynes, UK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 1997--In response to a number of inquiries from the media and
investment communities, MSU Corporation (OTC:MUCP) announced today that it had no comment regarding the Justice
Department's formal request to Microsoft Corporation for documents regarding its planned $425 million purchase of
WebTV Networks Inc.
MSU Corporation is the designer and producer of the Slipstream(tm), a proprietary chipset technology which is also the
brand name of MSU's Slipstream(tm), a TV Set-Top Internet Appliance which is one of the few known competitors of
WebTV.
The Slipstream(tm), similar to a cable TV box, allows consumers to access the Internet through their televisions and
through their preferred commercial ISP provider.
``Microsoft Corporation's attempt to acquire WebTV Networks Inc. has given validity to the marketplace for
television-based Internet access appliances,'' said Wyn Holloway, Chairman of the Board of MSU Corporation. ``While our
approach differs significantly from WebTV's, we both share the same goal, which is to make television sets Internet
accessible at a low cost, while offering quality, speed and other services which consumers have come to expect with
computer-like products.''
The Slipstream(tm) (version 1.0) combines browser and e-mail features, has NTSC and PAL formats and includes a
printer port. The Slipstream(tm) differs most significantly from WebTV in that it is an open architecture product which
allows end-users to continue using their existing ISP service, in contrast with WebTV's product, which offers only
WebTV as the service provider.
MSU Corporation licenses its technology; WebTV does not. MSU has been licensing its Internet service processor
technology and the reference design technology for the Slipstream(tm) Internet technology to interested third parties.
Another major difference in the products is that WebTV has an encryption problem, which restricts its sale to the U.S.
market; MSU's technology does not, which means that it can be shipped anywhere worldwide. MSU has already shipped
approximately 8,000 Slipstream(tm) units to date. In addition, MSU has shipped 150 Slipstream(tm) samples over the past
few months to companies in 20 countries, including 20 samples to Internet Service Providers in the United States. This
was in response to some of the 600 inquiries received from companies in 35 countries after last November's Comdex
Show held in Las Vegas, NV. A London-based hotel group has already been beta testing the Slipstream(tm) (version 1.0)
for commercial applications in the hotel industry.
MSU's strategy is to offer OEM manufacturers and Internet Service Providers the opportunity to market their TV Set-Top
Internet Appliances under their own private brand or under MSU's Slipstream(tm) and to arrange their manufacturing as
well. MSU's marketing partner is Mitac Group, a $2 billion Taiwanese company.
MSU also has a partnering alliance with Zilog, Inc. who is licensed to incorporate MSU's Slipstream(tm) technology in its
proprietary Z90602 ISP chip, which will be marketed to Zilog's client base of OEM television manufacturers. Zilog has
already announced that it intends to begin shipping samples this June; in addition, the Company has entered a licensing
agreement with America Interactive Media, Inc. and its WebPASSPORT System, an enhanced Internet entertainment
service.
The MSU Internet service processor technology and the reference design technology for the Slipstream(tm) Internet and
Envoy(tm) technology has been available for licensing to interested third parties whereas WebTV Networks Inc.
technology. MSU Corporation designs, licenses and sells proprietary computer chips, chipsets and other products for use
by OEM manufacturers of multimedia consumer and computer products.
The MSU Internet service processor technology and the reference design technology for the Slipstream(tm) Internet and
Envoy(tm) technology are available for licensing to interested third parties. MSU Corporation designs, licenses and sells
proprietary computer chips, chipsets and other products for use by OEM manufacturers of multimedia consumer and
computer products. |
