Averatec notebook computer

MILPITAS, Calif. -- AVERATEC's Innovative, Thin Notebook PCs Leverage The Phoenix Pre-OS Recover Pro Application To Enable, Protect And Recover Systems & User Data

Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq:PTEC) today announced that AVERATEC Inc., one of the fastest growing notebook vendors in the world, will be pre-installing the Phoenix Technologies FirstWare(R) Recover Pro(TM) secure recovery application as standard software on every notebook PC the company ships in North America. Phoenix Recover Pro is pre-OS mode software that gives PC users protection and recovery from viruses and intrusions.

AVERATEC will ship Phoenix applications including FirstWare Recover Pro on its notebook PCs throughout the United States and Canada to leading retailers. AVERATEC selected the Phoenix Recover Pro solution to better support its customer base and provide mobile workers and small and medium businesses the built-in capability to recover and protect critical data and applications housed in their PCs.

AVERATEC builds a high amount of functionality into a very lightweight notebook PC. The company selected Phoenix Recover Pro because AVERATEC required a secure recovery and backup solution as a 'must-have' always-on recovery feature of the system. The AVERATEC agreement demonstrates continued rapid adoption of Phoenix Technologies applications by system builders in North America and around the world. This relationship also provides increased distribution strength in the U.S. market for Phoenix.

"According to our recent research, 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."

"Mobile users have the highest expectations of their equipment, and they require seamless, responsive recovery and instant-on applications that recover their precious data, information and work," said Saeed Shahbazi, President of AVERATEC. "Phoenix provides benefits for our customers in terms of greater productivity and peace of mind while on the road or using their computer on the Internet. 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.

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.

Phoenix FirstWare applications cover all aspects of starting, managing, securing, maintaining, recovering and shutting down PCs and other intelligent digital devices. With Phoenix FirstWare 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.

Because the Recover Pro backup and restore functions are part of 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 -- via the Phoenix cME Console(TM), a customizable dashboard for application launch and management -- that requires just a few keystrokes to restore the PC to its pre-attack condition.

"Leading computer manufacturers such as AVERATEC recognize the need to offer recovery and security applications to their target market so that users feel safe with their data and applications. Phoenix provides a secure recovery application as standard software in the innovative, thin, light AVERATEC notebook PCs that allows 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 while reducing manufacturing and support costs. Phoenix is committed to helping leading companies such as AVERATEC create and deliver products that are 'Secure from the Start.'"

Phoenix Technologies FirstWare Recover Pro 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 AVERATEC Inc.

Headquartered in Orange County, the heart of Southern California's technology center, AVERATEC is dedicated to delivering the highest quality portable electronic products backed by superior service. AVERATEC pursues 100% customer satisfaction by creating innovative computer products and marketing them at affordable prices. Led by a team with more than a century of combined high-tech experience, AVERATEC services small home offices, the Fortune 500, government, and education markets with groundbreaking portable systems sold through retail, distribution, and reseller channels. For where to buy and to learn more about AVERATEC, please visit www.averatec.com.

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, and cME are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.