Hot off the press fellow IOMGians
Iomega Reaches New Level of Acceptance with Broadening Industry Support; Company
Has OEM Relationships With Several of the Top PC Vendors - see note
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 1996--Iomega Corporation (NASDAQ:IOMG) today announced that it
continues to gain significant industry support from major PC and consumer electronics companies that plan to
incorporate Zip drives in their systems. Today's additions to the growing list of supporters of Iomega's Zip
products include Unisys and Bandai Digital Entertainment Corporation.
With support from early adopters of the Zip drive - Power Computing, Micron Electronics, the first
Windows-based PC OEM to adopt all of Iomega's products, Hewlett-Packard Company, Acer Corporation,
Packard Bell Electronics, IBM, and NEC Technologies - Iomega's industry partnerships now span the consumer
electronics and personal computer retail and commercial markets around the world.
"Broad industry support of the Zip drive is a sign of the times," said Kim B. Edwards, Iomega president and CEO.
"Consumers aren't concerned with just text files. They're storing images, audio, PC games, graphics and stuff
from the Internet, and they need a personal storage solution that can handle these demands. Major PC,
consumer electronics and media companies have now responded in full force, identifying Zip as an industry
pacesetter."
Industry analysts also are quick to recognize the trend.
"With its announcement today of broad industry support, Iomega has made significant strides in gaining the
leadership position in removable storage," said Phil Devin, vice president and chief analyst, storage
technologies for Dataquest. "Coupled with its success at retail, Zip is now a stronger candidate to be the
potential replacement for the floppy."
In addition to being included in a range of PC OEM systems, Zip is being supported by several of the world's
leading drive and media manufacturers, including TDK, Fuji, Sony, Maxell and Seiko Epson.
Since Iomega began shipping in March 1995, Iomega's Zip drive has become one of the hottest selling products
at retail, with more than two million Zip drives shipped in a little more than one year. The popular drive provides
more than 70 times the capacity of today's floppy disks, giving consumers unlimited capacity, increased
flexibility, and a built-in back-up system.
Partners Quoted
Following are details of Iomega's current OEM relationships and relevant quotes from each company, listed
alphabetically.
Acer Corporation -
Has chosen Zip to be the storage device in its innovative new PC line, the AcerBasic.
"To manufacture a PC that will sell for $500, we have to be extremely selective about each component we
include," said Dixon Cheng, vice president and general manager, desktop division for Acer Corporation. "The
Zip drive serves many functions in one, as a hard drive, as a backup solution and as a means to help people
manage their stuff. We would not be able to keep costs under $500 without it."
PR contact: Jane Chen, Acer Corporate Communications, 886-2-545-5299 ext. 6418
Bandai Digital Equipment Corporation -
Plans to make the Zip drive an option on its new, ground breaking multimedia Internet and gaming terminal,
Bandai Pippin @World by the end of 1996.
"The Zip drive is a natural addition to the Bandai Pippin @World solution," said Steve McAllister, vice
president of sales and marketing at Bandai Digital Equipment Corporation. "Bandai Pippin @World represents
the next generation of information appliance, and Zip represents the future of personal storage. It was an easy
decision."
PR contact: Jerry Kalman, Ogilvy, Adams and Rinehart, 310/996-0545
Hewlett-Packard Company -
Includes the Zip drive as a standard feature in its HP Pavilion 7110Z multimedia PCs.
"The Zip drive is a great storage compliment to the HP Pavilion RealLife imaging PCs," said Harry W. (Webb)
McKinney, general manager, HP's Home Products Division. "By incorporating the Zip drive into the 7110Z model
of the Pavilion line, we were able to address the need for increased storage when working with photographs and
images."
PR Contact: Jef Holove, Hewlett-Packard, 408/553-3641
IBM -
Plans to include Zip in select models of its Aptiva PCs.
"By including Iomega's Zip drive into select models of Aptivas, IBM is providing its customers with the
flexibility and convenience to significantly expand the storage capacity of their computers," said Jose Garcia,
general manager, consumer desktop systems, IBM. "This reflects our continuing commitment to offer an open
computing platform for consumers."
PR contact: Michael Corrado, manager of media relations, consumer division, 914/766-3419
Micron Electronics -
Offers a full suite of Iomega personal storage solutions.
"We consider Iomega to be the undisputed leader in the industry," said Jeff Moeser, director of desktop
products at Micron. "It has become quite clear that we made the correct decision in including Iomega's products
in our PCs. As expected, Iomega is creating the standard."
PR contact: Steve Laney, Micron Electronics, 208-893-3900
NEC Technologies -
Plans to include Zip in select models of the Ready and PowerMate Pro PCs as well as include Zip software
across their entire line of PCs.
"Because we consider Iomega to be the emerging standard in removable storage, it was easy for us to work
together with Iomega to meet the future storage needs of our consumer and corporate customers," said Murali
Dharan, vice president of desktop systems at NEC Technologies. "Our customers, whether in the office or at
home, are demanding more storage. Zip is simply the best solution."
PR contact: Rich Farana, NEC Technologies, 415/528-5361
Power Computing -
Currently offers Zip in its Mac-compatible desktop and tower systems - the PowerCenter and PowerTower lines.
"The speed, capacity and price point of Zip technology is a true breakthrough in storage," said Stephen Kahng,
president and CEO of Power Computing Corporation. "With this technology we are able to offer customers an
alternative to the floppy disk and the option of saving larger files, more images, video and audio on a very
inexpensive, transportable medium."
PR contact: SoHanna Park, Stirling & Cohan, 415/513-0976
Unisys -
Plans to include Zip in its new Aquanta DM and Aquanta DX computers and offer Zip as an option across the
entire line.
"We believe it's critical to help consumers personalize the PC," said Frank Brandenberg, group vice president
and general manager of the Unisys personal computer division. "We see Zip as the perfect way to satisfy our
customers' demands for a flexible and reliable storage solution as well as being the undisputed new standard in
personal storage."
PR contact: Bruce Halvorsen, Unisys, 408/434-2125
Zip Specifics
There are currently two external models of the Zip drive - a parallel and a SCSI version, and two internal versions
- one IDE version that fits in a 3.5-inch slot on a PC, and one SCSI internal model.
Companies embodying Zip drives in their products will be featured at Iomega's booth (No. 3952) at PC Expo in
New York City, June 18-20.
Iomega Corporation provides personal computer storage solutions that help people manage their computer
stuff--anywhere. These solutions include: Zip drives and disks; Jaz one-gigabyte drives and disks; Ditto tape
backup drives and tape cartridges; and the Bernoulli line of removable drives and disks. Used in homes,
business, government and education, and by creative professionals, Iomega storage solutions are available
through computer retail stores, resellers and major distributors. The Company can be reached at 1
800/MY-STUFF (800/697-8833) or on the World Wide Web at iomega.com.
Note to Editors: Iomega and Bernoulli are registered trademarks of, and Zip, Ditto, Jaz and the Iomega logo are
trademarks of, Iomega Corporation. All other product and brand names are the property of their respective
companies. (1) Dataquest, March 1996.
CONTACT: Iomega Corporation
A. Cory Maloy, 801/778-3712
or
Copithorne and Bellows
Susan Breshears, 415/975-2216
or
Iomega
Investor Relations Department, 801/778-3585
or
Kalt Rosen & Associates
Howard Kalt, 415/397-2686 (IR) |
