Extends Reach of 120 MB Diskette Platform Co-Developed by Imation

OAKDALE, Minn. (Nov. 18, 1996) -- Today's unveiling by Award Software International of PC system BIOS software support for LS-120 technology has added more momentum to the standardization of the high-capacity diskette platform, according to officials at Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN). In an announcement today, Award revealed a BIOS that can boot, read and write using LS-120 drives and media.

Award's customers include manufacturers of motherboards, PC systems and other microprocessor-based devices. A form of system management software, BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is one of the fundamental layers in personal computer architecture and provides an essential interface between a PC's operating system software and hardware.

"This is a significant announcement for LS-120 technology," said Ray Meifert, director, PC Markets Segment, Imation Corp. "It reflects Award's commitment to its system OEM customers and to end users who will benefit from the standardization of LS-120 technology. It also recognizes Award's commitment to emerging technologies and the tremendous strengths of the LS-120 platform."

Imation, the new information and imaging company recently spun-off from 3M, markets the 3M-brand LS-120 Diskette. Imation co-developed LS-120 technology along with Compaq Computer Corporation, OR Technology and Matsushita-Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd. (MKE).

"Award initiated support of the LS-120 drive to meet the demands of end users who generate files such as multimedia, programs and web pages that require storage space larger than conventional 3.5-inch magnetic media can accommodate," said Dr. Ann Shen, senior vice president, marketing and strategic business, Award. "OEMs requesting high-capacity floppy drive support in the Award BIOS can plan to install the LS-120 drive in new computers, offering their customers the ability to back up without additional drives, transport large files on a single disk, and create working disks with independent operating systems."

Other companies that manufacture products based on the LS-120 platform, or have announced plans to do so, include Hitachi-Maxell, Ltd., Kaifa Group and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.

LS-120 drives are fully read/write backward compatible to the 1.44 MB diskette, meaning that users can continue to use the billions of existing 1.44 MB and 720 KB diskettes that have been sold worldwide. With LS-120 technology users can store 120 MB on a single diskette -- more than 80 times the capacity of the 1.44 MB diskette. LS-120 drives are fully supported under Windows 95 (OEM System Release 2) and Windows NT 4.0, offering an easily integrated, high-capacity solution for PC users.

Award designs, develops, and markets system management software for the global computing market. Information about the company, headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., can be found at the company's website at http://www.award.com.

Imation supplies a variety of products and services worldwide for the information processing industry, specializing in imaging applications and information storage. The business units that make up Imation had 1995 revenues of $2.2 billion while part of 3M. The company employs approximately 9,400 people worldwide and is based in Oakdale, Minn.

Additional information about Imation is available on the company's website at http://www.imation.com.

Copyright 1996 Imation. All rights reserved.