January 24, 1995

Dear DSP Developer:

This letter has been posted to inform you of changes in Microsoft's DSP
Resource Manager Interface (RMI) direction. Since the first delivery of the
DSP Resource Manager specification in June of 1994, we have received a great
deal of feedback on the specification from ISVs, IHVs, and PC OEMs. Feedback
from these customers has lead us to focus on improving Microsoft 32-bit
Windows(R) Architecture for a wider variety of hardware and not solely on
DSPs. Feedback has been clear:

- ISVs are looking for a solution that will enable them to write device
  drivers and DSP algorithms only once, regardless of DSP instruction set.
  Exploiting the features and capabilities of each DSP-based platform is by
  nature a device-dependent operation. Existing resource management
  architectures, including the Microsoft RMI, will not provide this level of
  independence.

- PC OEMs are showing great deal of interest in DSP-based technology as a
  key to unlocking PC Telephony and Multimedia. While DSPs are important, PC
  OEMs are also focusing more broadly on the most cost-effective hardware,
  regardless of technology. PC OEMs have asked that we focus our efforts on
  interfaces that are technology independent, consistent with existing
  Windows APIs.

- Existing 32-bit Windows APIs for multimedia and telephony are already
  providing most of the interfaces required by ISVs. These APIs expose
  features to application and driver developers that enable multimedia and
  communication applications, regardless of hardware type (DSP, NSP, or
  discrete). ISVs have asked that we continue to focus on existing APIs and
  improve the usefulness of all communications and multimedia hardware
  technologies on Microsoft 32-bit Windows platforms.

As requested by our customers, Microsoft will focus our efforts on improving
APIs for Microsoft 32-bit Windows platforms that will benefit a wider
variety of hardware and not solely DSPs. Microsoft's efforts will include
extending existing Windows APIs, introducing new APIs and extending the
Windows 95 communications architecture to better support voice.

Spectron Microsystems will be assuming development and support of the RMI
for Microsoft. Microsoft initially started work on the RMI with Spectron
well over a year ago. We have had a close working relationship with Spectron
and believe they are the best equipped to take on the work. They have
established relationships with the leading silicon vendors and IHVs and have
ported their SPOX(TM) operating system to a wide variety of silicon.

If you would like more information about the DSPRMI, please contact Spectron
Microsystems via internet at RMI@Spectron.Com or by phone at 1 (800)
456-7769, or 1 (805) 968-5100.

Regards,



Erik Hokanson
Personal Systems Division