eBags.com Leads the Way, Offering TSA "Checkpoint Friendly" Laptop Case

CODi^® Laptop Case Meets New TSA Checkpoint Guidelines

DENVER, CO--(Marketwire - August 13, 2008) - Online retailer eBags.com -- the world's largest online retailer of backpacks, handbags, luggage, and laptop cases -- today announced that the company is one of the first retailers to launch a TSA "checkpoint friendly" laptop case. eBags.com is the first retailer to offer the CODi® Phantom CT3 Checkpoint-Tested™ laptop case for travelers in search of a laptop case specifically designed to speed up the process of efficiently navigating airport security.

In an effort to make the security process smoother and to better protect laptops, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that airports will allow passengers to leave their laptop computers in bags that meet new "checkpoint friendly" standards, beginning August 16, 2008. In March, TSA invited manufacturers to design bags that produced a "clear and unobstructed image of the laptop when undergoing X-ray screening."

"eBags.com takes pride in offering ways to ease the burden of travel. Being the first retailer to feature the 'checkpoint friendly' CODi laptop bag is another example of achieving our goal of helping travelers find their perfect bag," said Peter Cobb, senior vice president and co-founder of eBags.com.

CODi's Phantom CT3 Checkpoint-Tested™ laptop case has a unique patent pending butterfly design that keeps the laptop separate from any peripherals or accessories, allowing a clear X-ray image without the need to remove the laptop. The innovative design allows travelers to grab the case with only one hand for a speedy departure from the security checkpoint.

eBags.com recently added its latest company-produced video, showing customers how to use CODi's new "checkpoint friendly" laptop case while traveling. This is just one of over 100 videos customers can view in the eBags.com Video category, as well as on product detail pages throughout the site. eBags has produced in-house videos for 65-plus brands, which allows the company to offer its customers unique ways to interact with products, become better educated about consumer purchases and learn how to use the product efficiently when it arrives in their home.

In addition to launching CODi's checkpoint-friendly bag, eBags.com will continue to launch a number of other checkpoint-friendly laptop bags from leading brands such as Skooba, Mobile Edge, Briggs & Riley, Kenneth Cole, Samsonite, Case Logic, Pathfinder, Brenthaven and eBags (the company's own brand). eBags.com features over 36,000 products from 520 brands and has shipped over 7.5 million bags since its 1999 launch.

Made in the USA, the CODi® Phantom CT3 Checkpoint-Tested™ laptop case can be purchased anytime for $199.00 at http://www.ebags.com/ or call eBags at 800-820-6126.

About CODi®

CODi® is the premier brand known throughout the Fortune 500 for the highest quality laptop carrying and tablet cases, mobile security and accessory solutions available to "corporate road warrior." Since 1992, CODi has been a pioneer in the notebook and tablet case industry, using only premium materials for durability and a lifetime of use. CODi's unwavering attention to the "corporate road warrior" ensures unique and attentive service to corporate partners and consumers.

About eBags.com

eBags is the world's leading online retailer of luggage, handbags, business cases, backpacks and accessories for all lifestyles. With over 7.5 million bags sold and 1.5 million unbiased customer reviews, eBags features more than 36,000 products from over 520 brand names such as Vera Bradley, Samsonite, Tumi, The North Face, Dakine, JanSport, Kenneth Cole, Kathy Van Zeeland, kate spade, Fossil, and Nike. eBags also hosts On the Streets, an online boutique that showcases 70-plus emerging handbag designers and allows customers to meet new designers through intimate avenues that include video and personal interview Q & A. eBags is a proud supporter of the fight against breast cancer and donates 10% of the retail price of each Pick Pink product towards breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment. eBags.com is a part of eBags, Inc. which includes eBags UK. For more information on eBags, please visit http://www.ebags.com/.

Toshiba Named Overall Notebook Winner of 2008 VARBusiness Annual Report Card

Toshiba Chosen as Company of the Year in Notebooks/Mobile Computers Category and Takes Top Honors for Support and Partnership Categories

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Toshiba's Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced that it received the honor of being named the overall notebook winner of the 23rd annual VARBusiness Annual Report Card (ARC). As the overall notebook winner, Toshiba was honored as “Company of the Year” in the Notebook/Mobile Computers category and also won first place in the Support and Partnership categories.

The VARBusiness Annual Report Card recognizes outstanding partner programs and superb vendor service in 18 major product categories. Toshiba was selected as the overall notebook winner by VARBusiness based upon the survey results of more than 5,000 systems integrators, IT consulting organizations, value-added resellers (VARs), solution providers and software developers.

“We are honored that our Preferred Partners have selected us for such a distinction in two categories,” said Jeff Barney, general manager and vice president, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. “This honor validates Toshiba's commitment to serving our Preferred Partners' needs, proving that efforts such as the reintroduction of the Satellite Pro laptop brand and increased reseller rebates are making the impact we've hoped for.

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Everything Channel's VARBusiness hosted the ARC ceremony Aug. 18 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Dallas.

“Toshiba was selected as the overall notebook winner of the 23rd annual VARBusiness annual report card for their dedication to its Preferred Partner program,” said Robert C. DeMarzo, senior vice president and editorial director of Everything Channel editorial. “In the past year Toshiba focused on improving its partners' profitability by providing innovative and highly reliable solutions for the Preferred Partner Program.”

To support its Preferred Partners, Toshiba has made the following channel enhancements:

Program Stability and Ease of Use: Toshiba's Preferred Partner Program has remained stable in terms of program structure, participation requirements and executive leadership. This consistency has resulted in an easy-to-use, channel friendly program.

Reintroduction of Satellite Pro: This economically priced line of business laptops was developed with channel partner input to deliver above and beyond the essential features users need for productivity at competitively low price points.

Increased Reseller Rebates: Recognizing that reseller rebates are an effective way to drive sales and increase margins, Toshiba has increased back-end rebates and reduced the time it takes Preferred Partners to receive rebates, improving their cash flow and making it easier for channel partners to conduct business.

Trade-in and Recycling Program: Through this program, reseller customers can trade in their current Toshiba or non-Toshiba laptops and projectors, and apply that value toward new Toshiba products. All Toshiba computers qualify for free recycling, while non-Toshiba computers and other consumer electronic products can be recycled for a small fee.

Increased Field Coverage: By adding additional account executives to the channel, Toshiba has broadened its support for Preferred Partners.

Special Bid Program: This program allows Toshiba's Preferred Partners to get instant discounts on orders as small as two units through Toshiba's authorized distributors. While for larger orders, resellers can get special pricing in a fashion that ensures sales opportunities can be closed.

New Business Opportunities: Toshiba's sales-engagement team reaches out to its preferred partners to drive SMB channel business through the company's distribution network. This group is an arm of the overall Toshiba sales team and brings additional support to resellers.

Additional information about Toshiba's Preferred Partner Program is available at www.sell.toshiba.com.

About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS)

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of four business units: Digital Products Division, Imaging Systems Division, Storage Device Division, and Telecommunication Systems Division. Together, these divisions provide mobile products and solutions, including industry leading portable computers; projectors; imaging products for the security, medical and manufacturing markets; storage products for automotive, computer and consumer electronics applications; and telephony equipment and associated applications.

TAIS provides sales, marketing and services for its wide range of information products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, which is a global leader in high technology and integrated manufacturing of electrical and electronic components, products and systems, as well as major infrastructure systems. Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 740 companies, with 198,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing $76 billion. For more information on Toshiba's leading innovations, visit the company's Web site at www.toshiba.com.

About VARBusiness (www.varbusiness.com)

For the past 20 years, VARBusiness' strategic resources have been the gateway to the commercial and public sector (or government) Solution Provider community. The VARBusiness integrated platform of media opportunities provides strategic insight for technology integrators through industry-defining research, in-depth editorial, channel events and innovative Web services, enabling these IT professionals to make educated decisions for their businesses, partnerships and customers. VARBusiness offerings lead vendors and distributors to unprecedented access to the most powerful strategic Solution Providers in the market. VARBusiness has been the recipient of numerous industry awards for both editorial content and design.

Everything Channel (www.everythingchannel.com, www.channelweb.com)

Everything Channel, formerly CMP Channel, is the one-stop-shop for accessing, enabling and accelerating technology sales channels. From branding and recruiting to marketing and sales, Everything Channel offers technology marketers the unmatched breadth and depth of global brands and market intelligence combined with an unparallel audience loyalty and credibility serving all technology sales channels. Through innovative sales and marketing solutions, Everything Channel arms the sellers of technology with the resources they need to achieve measurable and significant results. Everything Channel is a subsidiary of United Business Media (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/), a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

© 2008 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. All product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Information including without limitation product prices, specifications, availability, content of services, and contact information is subject to change without notice.

Release Summary:

Toshiba's Digital Products Division today announced that it received the honor of being named the overall notebook winner of the 23rd annual VARBusiness Annual Report Card (ARC).