Max Group To Deliver Phoenix Pre-OS Recovery Applications To PC Users

    Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

    MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 26, 2005--

    Phoenix Recover Pro Provides Hardened Protection For Max Group's
    MGC PCs, Allowing Users To Enable, Protect And Recover Information

    Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq:PTEC) today announced that Max Group, one of the largest North American PC system builders, has agreed to include the Phoenix Technologies FirstWare(R) Recover Pro(TM) secure recovery application as standard software in all of its MGC desktop and notebook PCs.
    Max Group will ship Phoenix applications including FirstWare Recover Pro and cME Console(TM) on its MGC desktop and notebook PCs throughout the United States and Canada to provide computer buyers outstanding features, performance and value. Max Group required a secure recovery and backup solution that provides continuous data backup as a 'must-have' always-on recovery feature of the system.
    The agreement further demonstrates continued momentum for the rapid adoption of Phoenix Technologies OS-independent software products by system builders and the PC enhancement market in North America and around the world. This relationship also provides increased distribution strength in the U.S. market for Phoenix.
    Phoenix Recover Pro gives PC users the built-in capability to recover and protect critical data and applications housed in their PCs. The Recover Pro application is a vital addition to any company's IT security protection regimen, complementing network protection and virus scanning with the industry's most convenient and powerful PC backup, recovery and protection software.
    "According to our recent research (www.aberdeen.com/summary/report/benchmark/ibd.asp), 82% of businesses just want to avoid and prevent Internet-based security events, including viruses, worms, and spyware from disrupting business operations," said Jim Hurley, Vice President of Research with the Aberdeen Group. "Turning-back the clock, to just-before the Internet security-event hit, could be a very attractive method of achieving this objective."
    "Our customers are increasingly security-conscious -- demanding built-in, seamless ways to back up, recover and protect their systems. Business users and consumers alike are looking for optimum backup and recovery without the hassle of using CDs," said Sue Tsai, CEO of Max Group. "Phoenix's leadership in developing secure and trust-enabled products provides clear benefits for our customers in terms of greater productivity and peace of mind while on the road or using their computer on the Internet in the face of myriad malware and virus attacks that can delete or corrupt their data. The Phoenix Recover Pro application allows us to deliver a worry-free portfolio that includes firmware-advantaged Instant-on applications that allow users to enable, protect and recover their data and devices."

    About Phoenix FirstWare Applications

    Today, people spend an increasing amount of time away from the desk and office. In the U.S. alone, more than 55 million employees are on the road at least 20 percent of their time. Workdays continue to lengthen, business travel constantly increases, and the daily commute becomes more important work time. As a result, efficiency and productivity enhancements are essential for enterprise success.
    Phoenix FirstWare applications cover all aspects of starting, managing, securing, maintaining, recovering and shutting down PCs and other intelligent digital devices. Because Phoenix FirstWare applications are built-in to a PC's hard drive -- either during the manufacturing process or as an add-on to an existing system -- they are protected from security attacks and can operate independently from the operating system.
    Viruses, worms and other infections continue to barrage PCs, yet 60 percent of all data still resides on the individual PC as opposed to the network. Additionally, mobile users and small and medium businesses typically don't have access to a dedicated IT staff, and are most susceptible to security breaches and infection.
    With Recover Pro, users can automatically back up their PC operating system, applications, user settings and data files and easily recover them in the event of an attack. There is no need for IT support or training or to connect to the Internet for recovery assistance. Because the backup and restore functions are built in to the PC's hard drive as a "pre-OS" application, additional CDs, DVDs or a separate USB device aren't necessary to get back to business. After an attack, users will be guided by an easy graphical user interface that requires just a few keystrokes to restore the PC to its pre-attack condition.
    Also, Recover Pro gives users the flexibility to choose how they would like to set up the incremental and automatic backups. Restore points can be set monthly, weekly, daily or hourly. In the event users contract a virus, with Recover Pro, they will be able to restore their systems to a point prior to infection, and their recovered data would be free from infection or contamination and they could safely return to work.
    "Leading system builders such as Max Group have recognized their need to offer critical recovery and security applications to their targeted market so that users feel safe with their data and applications. Phoenix provides a secure recovery application as standard software in the Max Group PCs that allows these users to restore their important data," said Michael D. Goldgof, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Phoenix Technologies Corporate Marketing and Products Division. "Our FirstWare applications continue to gain momentum with top PC OEMs, ODMs, integrators and system builders, who can add quality and reliability to their offerings, deliver information to users that is encrypted and password protected, while reducing manufacturing and support costs. Phoenix is committed to making security and recovery the new must-have in X86-based PCs and consumer devices and help leading companies such as Max Group create and deliver products that are 'Secure from the Start.'"

    Phoenix Technologies FirstWare Products Availability

    The Phoenix Technologies FirstWare products are available now in volume pricing to qualified system builders. For more information, call toll free: in North America at 1-800-446-9202, or outside North America at 781-BUY-PTEC. Or contact Phoenix Technologies Sales via the website at http://www.phoenix.com/en/Contact+Us/Worldwide+Sales/default.htm.

    About Max Group Computer Systems

    Max Group, founded in 1985, is recognized as one of the largest national computer distributors today. With Headquarters located in Los Angeles, California, Max Group has built a strong presence in the domestic U.S. market over the past decade. Max Group started with a staff of four located in Gardena, California. Since then, Max Group has grown rapidly into a much larger computer distributor. Max Group develops and markets a family of PCs called MGC systems that are sold to a 5,000-company customer base of system builders that customize and ship five to 30 systems per month. Contact Max Group at 1-800-256-9040 or via their Web Site at http://www.maxgroup.com/homepage.asp.

    About Phoenix Technologies

    Phoenix Technologies Ltd. develops a complete product suite of Core System Software, tools and applications to deliver trusted, seamless computing to digital devices for an Internet-connected world. Phoenix Technologies helped launch the PC industry nearly 25 years ago. Today the company is extending its leadership and knowledge at the core of machines, beyond the PC to a wide range of platforms and devices.
    Phoenix Core System Software has set the standard for the world's leading branded PC OEMs and their global network of supply chain and software partners. Today, Phoenix solutions enable, secure, connect, and recover the world's best-known systems. These solutions are built into the device core, where they are protected from viruses, user errors, hackers, and corruption. Phoenix is headquartered in Milpitas, Calif. (Silicon Valley), with offices in global business and technology centers. For more information, visit www.phoenix.com.

    Phoenix, Phoenix Technologies and the Phoenix Technologies logo, FirstWare, FirstWare Assistant, Recover Pro, Console and cME are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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CONTACT: The Hoffman Agency Kristin Hehir, 408-975-3098 khehir@hoffman.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE SOFTWARE PRODUCT MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Phoenix Technologies Ltd.

Copyright Business Wire 2005