The Philips Multimedia Center has signed an agreement allowing WebTV Networks, Inc. to use Philips Internet search technology within its television-based Internet service.

Under the agreement, WebTV Networks, Inc. will utilize search technology developed by Philips Research to provide an efficient solution for searching within the Explore section of the WebTV Network. Optimized for Web content, the search engine is easy to use and allows users to ask questions in a conversational manner. Effective immediately, WebTV Networks, Inc. has incorporated the Philips Technology into its Explore section, where WebTV Network subscribers can easily look for Web sites that relate to their interests.

In addition, WebTV Networks, Inc. will offer a direct link to PlanetSearch™, a Web site of Philips Electronics, N.V. (NYSE: PHG) serving as a useful gateway to the Internet. PlanetSearch offers state-of-the-art Internet searching, direct access to the Web's best sites, and easy customizing to include a user's favorite Web sites. Since PlanetSearch was originally developed for the PC Platform, Philips has optimized the user interface of Planet Search to fit the needs of the television platform and audience.

"The television is fast evolving as a platform that goes beyond traditional entertainment," said Rene Savelsberg, director of Marketing and New Business at the Philips Multimedia Center. "We can no longer view Internet access as purely a function of the personal computer. Our agreement to provide WebTV users with access both to our search technology and access to the PlanetSearch site reflects our recognition of the important role the television will play in an increasingly digital world."

The Philips Multimedia Center is part of Philips Electronics N.V., and is located in Palo Alto, California. The Philips Multimedia Center functions as a world-class facility in which to conceive, develop and introduce multimedia-based solutions.

About Philips Electronics

Philips Electronics, with headquarters in the Netherlands, is one of the world's largest electronics companies. Philips Electronics, with over 260,000 employees, had sales of $41 billion in 1996, and operates in more than 60 countries. Philips Electronics is active in a wide range of technical fields, among which are lighting, semiconductors (e.g., the TriMedia™ processor), components (such as monitors), consumer electronics products (such as video and audio equipment, mobile phones, hand-held PCs, such as the "prize-winning " Velo-1®), professional products and systems (such as NMR medical systems, speech recognition systems), and software and services (including office automation). Quoted on the New York, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and other stock exchanges, it is a world leader in lighting, color television sets, electric shavers and recorded music (Polygram).

Source: Philips Electronics, N.V.