HANOVER, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 12, 1997--In a series of announcements furthering its commitment to become a global leader in the market for products that solve the personal computer technical support crisis, Cybermedia Inc, the leading supplier of automated service and support technology for personal computers, will launch the newest version of its First Aid problem-fixing software in Germany this week.

CyberMedia will demonstrate the new German versions, First Aid 97, First Aid 97 Deluxe and First Aid 3.1 at CeBIT, the world's largest computer and information technology trade show March 13-19 in Hanover.

CyberMedia will also be demonstrating newly announced Italian, French, Australian and United Kingdom versions of First Aid at CeBIT. The Italian and Australian versions were announced March 5, the U.K. version was announced Feb. 17. All are now shipping in their respective markets. New German and French versions are expected to ship this month.

The newest version of CyberMedia's best-selling First Aid software, First Aid 97 automatically detects and fixes Windows 95 personal computer problems, making PCs easier and less frustrating to use.

First Aid 97 has several innovative new features including a "One Button Check Up" that checks every vital PC component with a click of a single button and the Advisor, a unique feature that uses case-based reasoning "artificial intelligence" technology to diagnose problems by asking simple questions, much as a doctor would diagnose a patient.

Announced in the United States in October 1996, First Aid 97 is currently the fourth best-selling retail business software product in the United States (according to PC Data), has been favorably reviewed by leading American computer magazines including InfoWorld and PC World, and was a finalist for the prestigious SPA "Codie" Excellence in Software Award. More than 2 million copies of First Aid have been sold.

Customized Problem-Solving
"Our competitors are simply launching true-blue American versions of their products and hoping that users will adapt to them," said Leonard Backus, vice president, international at CyberMedia.

"But in order to truly fix PC problems for international users, a product must be customized to fix problems with the best-selling products in each market. We are not just releasing our American product in foreign languages and hoping it will sell -- we have made long-term investments in order to provide total support to local users anywhere in the world."

Each launch is also backed by an aggressive retail merchandising campaign to ensure that channel partners and retail customers obtain the support necessary to successfully sell product. CyberMedia also provides free technical support and customer service in local language in every market.

Solving the Global Support Crisis
First Aid is rapidly becoming the global standard for automatic technical support. The name First Aid and the First Aid cross symbol are universally recognizable -- and technical support problems that First Aid solves are universal as well.

"It is clear that our investment to establish an infrastructure in several overseas markets is already paying off. Last year's version, First Aid 95, is already a hit in Germany, and is the number one best-selling software product at TMI, a major German distributor," said Backus.

The need for automatic problem-fixing software like First Aid is even greater overseas than it is in the United States. International PC users are often even more frustrated with technical support problems than U.S. users.

When problems occur, overseas users often must make expensive overseas telephone calls to the United States to receive help. When the manufacturer does have a local call center, it is usually supported by employees in the United States -- with time zone differences, this means it can take an entire day before the user's problem is solved.

About CyberMedia
CyberMedia's mission is to empower computer users to fix computer problems on their own -- before they need to call technical support hotlines for help. The company's ActiveHelp automatic problem-fixing products include First Aid, Oil Change and the Tech Support Yellow Pages.

CyberMedia's products are distributed in 99 percent of all software and computer stores in the United States and in leading retail outlets in Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. CyberMedia products are also available through OEM distribution agreements with leading manufacturers including AST, Sony, Fujitsu, NEC-Packard Bell and Phoenix Technologies.

Founded in 1991, CyberMedia employs more than 170 with company headquarters at 3000 Ocean Park Blvd., Suite 2001, Santa Monica, Calif. 90405 and offices in San Jose, Calif. Phone: 310/581-4700. To order, call 800/721-7824 or visit the CyberMedia Web site at http://www.cybermedia.com .

NOTE TO NEWS MEDIA ATTENDING CEBIT: Registered media are invited to join CyberMedia for "An American Happy Hour" with live jazz music and drinks at CeBIT, Monday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. in booth A 31.

CONTACT:
CyberMedia, Santa Monica
Giselle Bisson, 310/581-4700 (ext. 261)
giselle@cybermedia.com
	or
CyberMedia International
Claudia Romanini, 310/581-4700
claudia@cybermedia.com
	or
Capital Relations
Deana Murchison or Naomi Hunter, 805/494-0830