


                                                                      EXHIBIT 99

                                       Contact:   Richard Vogen or Bruce Senske
                                                  U-Ship, Inc.

                                                  (612) 941-4080 ext. 140


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                     U-SHIP ANNOUNCES MAJOR STRATEGY SHIFTS
                             AND EXPENSE REDUCTIONS

MINNEAPOLIS, December 11, 1997 --- U-Ship, Inc. (Nasdaq: USHP) announced today a
number of major strategy shifts aimed to improve shareholder value, which
include:

         *        Immediately ceasing to deploy its automated shipping centers
                  (ASCs) and its current sales and marketing strategies unless
                  it can secure a partnership with a major express package
                  carrier which it is aggressively pursuing;

         *        Examining alternative strategies for leveraging its existing
                  shipping technologies, patents and information management
                  solutions;

         *        Seeking to identify opportunities for an acquisition or
                  merger; and

         *        Making significant reductions in its personnel and other
                  general expenses.

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         "After careful examination of our business and its future prospectus,
the Board of Directors has decided that it is not economically feasible to
continue deployment of ASCs without a partnership or alliance arrangement with a
major express package carrier," said B. Richard Vogen, chairman. "We believe we
can create greater opportunities and value for our shareholders and customers by
embarking on these alternative strategies."

         U-Ship will continue to service existing ASCs in accordance with its
contractual obligations, and will sell or redeploy its existing ASCs and related
technology at the expiration of existing contracts.

         U-Ship is a developer, manufacturer and operator of consumer-operated
automated shipping centers for copy centers, office supply stores and retail
service counters.

         Some of the information in this news release is forward-looking and
subject to certain risks as described in the company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's Form 10-K for fiscal
year ended June 30, 1997 and the company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 1997.

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