Free Website Details Year 2000 Compliance: EDS Debuts 'Vendor 2000'; President's Year 2000 Council Applauds EDS' Information Sharing Effort.

WASHINGTON, DC--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 1998--Businesses, governments and individual consumers now have a free tool to answer their Year 2000 compliance questions. EDS (NYSE:EDS) announces Vendor 2000, the world's largest database of compliance information detailing thousands of hardware and software components and their progress towards compliance.

The website, www.eds.com/vendor2000, will be maintained and updated by the CIO Services unit of EDS, the corporation's Year 2000 compliance experts. The site is prepared to receive millions of hits per day, utilizing EDS technology that performed flawlessly at World Cup '98 and set an Internet world record with 73 million hits on June 30.

Now, a company that maintains five computers or a major corporation with thousands of units will have quick, easy access to the latest Year 2000 compliance information.

"Vendor 2000 is a powerful compliment to the `Good Samaritan" legislation now in Congress, which encourages organizations to share Year 2000 information with each other and the public," says John Koskinen, Chair of the President's Year 2000 Conversion Council, which is responsible for coordinating the Federal Government's efforts to address the Year 2000 problem. "We are indeed fortunate that EDS is willing to provide this valuable service and to have a U.S.-based corporation with a major global presence willing to take on this massive project."

The Vendor 2000 database details compliance information for more than 125,000 items, representing 3,000-plus vendors. The data will be updated daily. EDS built and has maintained the web-based data over the past four years to bolster internal corporate and customer research of Year 2000 issues. More than 4,000 EDS customers currently use the system.

"It is important to support the Good Samaritan legislation, so with that in mind we are making our Vendor 2000 product available on the web," says John McCain, president of CIO Services at EDS. "With less than 500 days left to the Year 2000, everyone needs to be working together to address this issue. This tool will allow many to jump start compliance efforts whether it be governments, businesses or consumers."

Users visiting the Vendor 2000 website will be capable of searching for compliance by product and by vendor. Simply go to the site, click on "product search" and the Year 2000 database opens automatically and alphabetically. A hotlink is provided directly to vendors' home pages for further investigation.

Internet users can locate the site through their Netscape and Explorer browsers.

CIO Services was conceived to handle a discrete, multi-industry need with a full complement of EDS resources. As the name indicates, the group works closely with the CIO on a project-by-project basis, to address Year 2000 and other information technology issues. CIO Services has received the certification of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) for its Methodology 2000 solution.

EDS, the official information technology services provider for World Cup 1998, is a leader in the global information services industry. The company's more than 110,000 employees specialize in applying a range of ideas and technologies to help business and government clients improve their economics, products, services and relationships. EDS, which serves clients in 45 countries, reported revenues of $15.2 billion in 1997. The company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:EDS) and the London Stock Exchange. Visit EDS via the Internet at http://www.eds.com.

The President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion, established on February 4, 1998 by Executive Order 13073, is responsible for coordinating the Federal Government's efforts to address the Year 2000 problem. Chaired by John Koskinen, the Council's more than 30 member agencies are working to increase awareness of the problem and to offer support to public and private sector organizations within their policy areas. Visit the Council via the Internet at http://www.y2k.gov.

News Media: Do you need a quick answer to a Year 2000 question? Call us! From business strategy to methodology and Year 2000 trends, EDS/CIO Services has the expertise and experience to provide you with a thoughtful answer. Ken Capps/EDS Public Relations 972/605-2081 or [e-mail].