Spectrum issued new patent expanding coverage of 'Direct Connect' concepts.

MANHASSET, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1994--Spectrum Information Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ;NMS:SPCL) said today that the United States Patent Office has granted to it a new U.S. patent, No. 5,353,334 (the '334 patent) which expands Spectrum's basic patent rights in the area of direct connect technology.

"Issued in 1992, Spectrum's original direct connect patent (5,249,218) covers computer modems that can be directly connected to a variety of cellular phones," explained Edward W. Maskaly, interim CEO of Spectrum. "The new '334 patent strengthens Spectrum's rights in reprogrammable `direct connect' modems based on work undertaken by Spectrum prior to June 1990."

The '334 is the company's fifth patent. The other patents include a range of claims regarding the transmission of data through cellular networks and the devices needed to perform this task. The four other patents are:

o U.S. Patent Re. 34,034 - Cellular Telephone Data Communication System and Method (the "Protocol" patent) is Spectrum's basic error correction protocol patent. This technology enables the transmission of data through cellular networks through procedures such as delay before hangup, forward error correction and variable packet data-sizing in response to error rates.

o U.S. Patent 4,972,457 - Hybrid Communications System covers a system that effectively connects a modem to either a cellular transceiver or a public telephone network.

o U.S. Patent 5,127,041 - System and Method for Interfacing Computers to Diverse Telephone Networks covers a variety of interface circuits for connecting modems to cellular telephones.

o U.S. Patent 5,249,218 - Programmable Universal Interface System covers `direct connect' technology in which a single modem can control a variety of cellular telephones.

Spectrum Information Technologies Inc. developed the first commercially successful cellular modem and holds a portfolio of basic patents in the field of cellular modem technology. Spectrum currently licenses its patented technology to market leaders in the rapidly expanding cellular data market, including AT&T, Rockwell International, U.S. Robotics, Apex Data, Centennial Technologies, Charter Pacific Communications, Command Communications, DATA RACE, Megahertz, Microcom, NovaLink, Piiceon, PowerTek, Smart Modular Technologies, Trimble Navigation, TDK Systems Development Group, Telular Canada and Zoom Telephonics. Spectrum is headquartered in Manhasset and with its subsidiaries has facilities nationwide.

CONTACT: Spectrum Information Technologies

Donna C. George, 516/627-8992