SEATTLE, Sept. 24, 1996 -- DigitalXpress, a newly formed satellite broadcast-communications company co-founded by Boeing Commercial Space Co., has announced the signing of its first customer. Arthur Anderson, a prominent accounting and management consulting firm, has contracted DigitalXpress to expand its training and corporate communication capabilities in the U.S. and Canada.

"The signing of a prestigious firm like Arthur Andersen as our first client means that DigitalXpress is off to a blue-chip start in the commercial satellite communications business," said Paul Pasquier, DigitalXpress program manager for Boeing.

"We intend to grow our business base as we help other businesses understand how using these technologies can improve their bottom line." Arthur Anderson, a business unit of Andersen Worldwide, is a global firm providing economic, financial, business and consulting services, and tax and audit services. The company employs 43,500 people who are part of member organizations in 361 locations in 76 countries.

Arthur Andersen will use DigitalXpress' XpressVideo satellite communications service to transmit video materials, provide digital broadcasts for employee training and to upgrade its communications capabilities both internally and with clients. XpressVideo allows a company to establish its own private satellite television network for transmitting high-quality, full-motion video to any number of locations. DigitalXpress also offers XpressData and XpressPlus services - providing efficient and cost-effective means for transmitting data and multimedia services, respectively, to help businesses meet their individual communications needs.

Each customer location is fitted with a small, low-cost antenna and integrated encryption receiver/decoder (IRD) that assures the quality and security of the transmission signal. From its operation center in St. Paul, Minn., DigitalXpress technicians uplink customer information -- in a digital format -- to a commercial satellite. From there, the information can be received at one or thousands of customer sites using low-cost, state-of-the-art digital compression technology.

The affordability and high capacity of these receivers provides DigitalXpress customers with a cost-effective communications option, compared to high-cost, point-to-point terrestrial technology. DigitalXpress customers pay only for the satellite time they use, making it an affordable, effective service for distance learning, corporate news and information channels, sales training and a host of additional applications.

"DigitalXpress is a unique company that will place evolutionary satellite technologies and communication capabilities at the fingertips of proactive businesses," Pasquier said. "Based on the marketing feedback we've received, there is a significant and growing demand for these types of satellite services in today's corporate environment." DigitalXpress is the first company to offer a wide range of satellite-to-desktop digital distribution systems and multimedia information services, tailored to business and industrial use.

Information such as business data, corporate television broadcasts, CAD/CAM data, service manuals and instructional or training materials are distributed via satellite to the business PC or television.

The company was formed in 1995 through the efforts of three nationally recognized leaders in their respective industries: Boeing Commercial Space Co., Conus Communications and Computing Devices International.

DigitalXpress integrates the Boeing satellite system integration technology with Conus' uplink and broadcasting experience and Computing Devices International's information systems integration expertise. Combined, these companies have formed a cohesive unit that is launching a new era of corporate satellite services.

DigitalXpress corporate offices are located at 2550 University Ave. W., Suite 310 South, St. Paul, MN 55114, telephone (612) 647-5211.