NASHUA, N.H., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- GN Netcom, a wholly owned subsidiary
of GN Great Nordic Ltd., announced today that the request for early
termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976 applicable to GN Netcom's offer to purchase all
outstanding shares of common stock of Hello Direct, Inc. (Nasdaq: HELO) was
granted on October 24, 2000.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990920/GNNETCOM )
    As previously announced, GN Netcom and Hello Direct are parties to a
merger agreement, and having been granted early termination of the waiting
period under Hart-Scott-Rodino, intend to move ahead with the transaction as
planned.  Under the agreement, a wholly owned subsidiary of GN Netcom
commenced a tender offer on October 11, 2000, to purchase all of the
outstanding shares of Hello Direct at $16.40(USD) per share, net to the seller
in cash (excluding any taxes).  The tender