Compaq, Radio Shack, Microsoft teaming to sell products, services

Compaq Computer Corp., Radio Shack and Microsoft Corp. said Thursday that they have entered into a three-way alliance designed to sell products, services and Internet access.<br><br>Through a pre-installed,

Friday, April 28th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Compaq Computer Corp., Radio Shack and Microsoft Corp. said Thursday that they have entered into a three-way alliance designed to sell products, services and Internet access.

Through a pre-installed, tri-branded Web portal hosted by the companies, consumers will be able to sign up for MSN or the recently announced Compaq.Net powered by MSN, a customized version of MSN, when they boot up a Compaq Presario Internet personal computer.

Financial terms of the three-year deal were not disclosed.

"This is about connecting pieces of the puzzle," said David Edmondson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Radio Shack/Tandy Corp.

The offering will be preinstalled on new Compaq Presario creative learning series PCs beginning this summer and will incorporate MSN Internet access, MSN Hotmail Web-based e-mail service, MSN Search and MSN MoneyCentral. The learning series PCs include customized software for different age groups.