HAMBURG Microsoft plans to offer add-ons for the operating system Windows 98 in June, at the same time that the hotly- awaited upgrade is due to appear store shelves. The new Microsoft Plus! 98, software designed to augment to Windows 98, contains anti-virus software and a program for purging unused files to conserve hard disk space, according to Microsoft. Plus! will also contain a compressed folders feature, which will compress, or shrink, installed programs and data to one tenth their regular size.

The program will also include screen savers and background motifs, some of which will have comic strip themes. An enhanced virtual CD player will play audio CDs as well as look for background information on the Internet. Also included in Plus! will be the program Picture It!, which offers basic image editing functions. Manufacturers expect to see Microsoft Plus! 98 hit the shelves by the end of June. The expected price will be around $50.

More information is available at Microsoft's Web site, at http://www.microsoft.com/windows98. (DPA)