MGI Software today announced a commercial partnership with DVD Express, the leading online video retailer, to enable MGI SoftDVD MAX users to buy DVD movies through the Web. Clicking on the MGI logo in SoftDVD MAX immediately launches the user’s browser, transporting them to the DVD Express Web site. By enabling SoftDVD MAX with this capability, MGI Software will receive a part of any transaction between the user and DVD Express. No other terms were disclosed.

Software-only DVD players, like MGI SoftDVD MAX, utilize the main computer processor to replace expensive, dedicated hardware chips that are required to decode DVD movies and content for viewing on a personal computer. Since hardware DVD movie decoders typically cost a PC manufacturer about US$50 per system, MGI SoftDVD MAX offers manufacturers a more flexible, cost- effective
alternative. According to Michelle Abraham, Senior Analyst, Multimedia, Cahners In-Stat Group, shipments of drives with DVD-ROM read capability will increase from six million in 1998 to 150 million in 2003, all needing DVD decoding capability.