TECHNOLOGY - Feb. 13, 1996

Wal-Mart, Microsoft Team for Pilot Project: The Internet retailing program is to begin next month, the companies said. President and Chief Executive David Glass said Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans initially to sell products not available in its Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores. But he said the Bentonville, Ark.-based company ultimately may be able to offer its entire inventory of 200,000 products, far more than can be offered in even its biggest stores. Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates said Wal-Mart is the first store in a pilot effort by the software company to develop a set of its own products for electronic sales. The electronic retailing push is the latest effort by Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft to catch up with rivals in taking advantage of the Internet market.