Compaq Suspends Direct Relationships with Internet Retailers, Reports Computer Retail Week.

MANHASSET, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 1999--Compaq Computer Corp. (NYSE: CPQ) last week suspended authorization of all Internet-only retailers who sell its Presario consumer line, as the company works to formulate entirely new authorization agreements, according to exclusive online reporting by CMP Media's Computer Retail Week. The news, posted on the Web today at http://www.crw.com, is viewed as a major sign of growing pains for the newly emerging Internet channel.

A Compaq spokeswoman confirmed the announcement to the technology newspaper, saying that new agreements should be worked out within 90 days.

The agreements impact such major Internet retailers as Value America, Cyberian Outpost, CompuCom's PCSave division, Compaq's own Shopping.Com, and Buy.com, which has been a thorn in the side of retailers because of a new wholesale pricing policy.

Full reporting by Editor Mark Harrington is available at the Computer Retail Week Web site, http://www.crw.com

CMP Media's Computer Retail Week is the leading newspaper for technology retailers. Each week, it provides critical information about new solutions, technologies, alliances and products for a wide audience of computer superstores, software retailers, mass merchants and other channel members. Breaking news also is posted on its home page, http://www.crw.com. In addition, its specialized online Webpaper, Computer Retail Web, covers the technology, products and people driving Internet-based computer retailing at http://www.computerretailweb.com.

CMP Media Inc. (Nasdaq: CMPX) is the leading high-tech media company providing essential information and marketing services to the entire technology spectrum--the builders, sellers and users of technology worldwide. With its portfolio of newspapers, magazines, custom publishing, Internet products, research, consulting and conferences, CMP is uniquely positioned to offer marketers comprehensive, integrated solutions tailored to meet their individual needs. Online editions of the company's print publications, along with products and services created exclusively for the Internet, can be found on CMPnet at http://www.CMPnet.com. NSTL, the company's independent testing lab and consulting organization, serves government, corporate and technology vendor clients around the world.