Phoenix Technologies Launches New FirstAlliance Partner Program for Developers, Expands Channel Business Model.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2002

Vibren Technologies, Inc. and Softex Sign as

First Premier-Level Partners

Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq:PTEC), a global leader in device-enabling and management software products for connected digital devices, today announced the Phoenix FirstAlliance(TM) Developer Partner Program, a two-level alliance program created to expand its channel and provide a broader level of service and support to its growing global customer base.

For Phoenix, a leader in the global Binary Input/Output Systems (BIOS) software market, this program offers the opportunity to meet growing customer needs for "instant on" enabling software in a plethora of devices, from branded or specialized "White Box" PCs to new portable devices such as ruggedized notebooks in police cars to inventory devices for car rental companies. Under the program, the company will empower qualified local engineering service companies around the globe to sell customers a complete end-to-end solution based on Phoenix core software code.

"We see this new program as a win-win for our customers and new partners," said David L. Gibbs, senior vice president and general manager, Global Sales and Support Division, Phoenix Technologies. "Our growing set of specialty customers get engineering support that is focused on their particular needs, resulting in faster time to market and lower development risks. At the same time, our FirstAlliance Developer partners can better penetrate the fragmented embedded systems market and offer customization around chip sets, processors, motherboards, and embedded devices."

The FirstAlliance Developer Partner Program is targeted toward creating a channel to better service smaller OEMs and a diversified set of embedded customers who manufacture less than 10,000 units per year. The program is set up on two levels: Authorized and Premier. There is an annual membership fee at each level that includes training and engineering certification on Phoenix BIOS technology.

Participants in the Authorized program are aligned with appropriate customers to fit their specialty and geography. Authorized partners provide `non-recurring engineering' services to customize Phoenix software code to meet their customers' particular requirements. All revenue generated through the engineering projects goes to the member partner.

Premier partners are likewise mapped to customers according to their specialty and geography. At this level, in addition to providing the necessary engineering services, Premier partners are also authorized to resell Phoenix's line of BIOS products. These partners benefit from all of the engineering service revenue as well as from a percentage of the BIOS product sales.

Phoenix launched the partner program with two Premier-level partners: Vibren Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC, based in Boxborough, Mass., and Softex Inc., of Austin, Texas.

"We are excited to be selected as a Phoenix FirstAlliance Premier Partner," said Bob Byrnes, president and chief operating officer at Vibren Technologies, Inc. "By offering customization and licensing of Phoenix BIOS products to our service offerings, we dramatically further our goal of building one of the most comprehensive engineering outsource companies."

"Hardware manufacturers can now work with Softex, Inc. to get the extensive development support needed to shorten 'time to market,' along with the best BIOS solutions available in the industry," said Apurva Bhansali, president of Softex, Inc. "This partnership enables us to be an even more value-added extension to our customer's engineering teams."

About Phoenix

Phoenix Technologies (Nasdaq:PTEC); Founded in 1979, Phoenix is a global leader in device-enabling and management software products for PCs and other connected digital devices. Its FirstWare(TM) family of "instant on" software activates, secures, connects, and recovers digital devices and is designed into millions of industry standard desktop, notebook, server, and information appliance systems sold annually. This enables Phoenix customers -- specifiers, developers, and manufacturers of user-driven microprocessor systems -- to reduce costs and provide high value-added features to their customers. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Phoenix Technologies has offices worldwide.

For more information about Phoenix Technologies, visit our website at http://www.phoenix.com/.

Note to Editors: Phoenix and Phoenix Technologies are registered trademarks of Phoenix Technologies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.