America Online and Microsoft Log On as National Co-Sponsors of TechiesDay 2000.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

WASHINGTON, D.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2000

Technology industry giants to provide

support to TechiesDay, the national initiative

to raise students' awareness of technology

TechiesDay 2000, the nationwide initiative that addresses our nation's increasing demand for a qualified technology workforce, has signed America Online Inc. and Microsoft Corporation as national co-sponsors.

TechiesDay, to take place this year on Oct. 3, seeks to create technology awareness and readiness among students in K-12. The organization also recognizes tech professionals' contributions to education. As part of their sponsorships:

-- America Online (NYSE: AOL), the world's leading interactive services
company, will provide promotional support on both its' public and member sites.


-- Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), the worldwide leader in software, services, and
Internet technology for personal and business computing, will provide software
and technology to TechieTeam 2000 winners.

The companies will also attend the TechiesDay Workforce Development Summit, to be held Oct. 3 in Washington, D.C. The gathering features government, education, and business leaders discussing solutions to the technology workforce shortfall.

"It's important that students of all ages have the opportunity to take advantage of an education enhanced through technology and the best way to make sure that happens is for educators to have the latest in technology tools and skills at their disposal," said John Litten, Microsoft's Program Manager for Youth and Learning. "Microsoft is proud to sponsor TechiesDay and recognize the efforts educators and other technology professionals are making to make sure our youth are well versed in technology."

TechieTeam 2000 is TechiesDay's national competition to recognize technology professionals' contributions to advancing technology education. The 10 winners of this competition will be announced on TechiesDay and will participate in TechiesDay activities throughout the year.

"Businesses across the country are finding it harder to find and retain employees, particularly those with high technology skills," said Jill Stephens, Director, AOL Foundation. "We look forward to working with TechiesDay and others who are part of a growing national movement to help build a stronger technology workforce."

"It's estimated that there are more than 400,000 unfilled technology positions in the nation today, and in five years that number will triple. The solution to overcoming this shortfall lies in businesses and institutions reaching out to educators to provide them with the information and tools to engage students in science, math, and technology," said Sue Hanson, Director of TechiesDay. "Having the worldwide leaders in technology as TechiesDay co-sponsors makes this initiative even more exciting; we're proud to have AOL and Microsoft on board."

For more TechiesDay information, go to www.techiesday.org.

About TechiesDay

TechiesDay, to take place on Oct. 3, 2000, is a nationwide initiative that addresses our nation's increasing demand for a qualified technology workforce. The organization was co-founded by CNET Networks Inc. (www.cnet.com), the leading content network providing news and information to buyers and sellers around the world, and techies.com inc. (www.techies.com), an online exchange for technology professionals and for businesses that want to recruit, market to, and interact with those professionals. TechiesDay seeks to create technology career awareness, readiness, response, and achievement among students in grades K-12. TechiesDay also recognizes technology professionals' contributions to education. In addition to CNET and techies.com, TechiesDay sponsors include America Online, Microsoft, GirlGeeks, Saba Learning(TM), Gartner, Scientific Learning Corporation, Compaq, BestBuy.com, AtomicTangerine and TECHCORPS. To find out more about TechiesDay 2000, visit www.techiesday.org.