Penguin to Release Penguin Classic eBook CD Featuring Microsoft Reader/ Internationally Renowned Series to Be Available With the Benefits of ClearType Enhanced

FRANKFURT, Germany (PROTEXT) - Today at the Frankfurt BookFair, Penguin Books Ltd. and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT)announced they will create and distribute an eBook CD for theEnglish-language market. The CD, which will be available fromcomputer software retailers and bookstores, will featureMicrosoft(R) Reader and a selection from Penguin Classics, theinternationally renowned, 1,000-strong series published byPenguin worldwide. Microsoft Reader is a new software application designed todeliver an on-screen computer reading experience that for thefirst time provides a highly compelling alternative to paper.Microsoft Reader is the first product to include ClearType(TM)display technology, a Microsoft innovation that greatly improvesfont resolution on LCD screens for users of Windows(R) operatingsystem-based desktop or laptop PCs and dedicated reading devices.In addition to incorporating the latest ClearType technology,Microsoft Reader adheres to the traditions and benefits of finetypography. It provides a clean, uncluttered display and powerfulannotation tools. It includes a library that can store and managea large collection of eBooks and a built-in dictionary. "We at Penguin are tremendously excited by the potentialoffered by Microsoft Reader technology. We are delighted to beworking with Microsoft to provide the best in world literaturefrom the Penguin Classics series and to make available the veryfirst titles to be published in this format," said AndrewRosenheim, managing director of Penguin Press. "Penguin is a tremendous publishing brand in the English-language market, with great consumer awareness," said Dick Brass,vice president of Technology Development at Microsoft. "We areexcited to work with Penguin to deliver an immediate andcompelling eBook reading experience." Microsoft Reader is scheduled to be available early next yearin English, with support for other languages expected soonthereafter. Pricing for the Penguin Classics CD has not yet beenannounced. Penguin Books is a Pearson company. Penguin is ranked thetenth most powerful media brand in the world. Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in softwarefor personal computers. The company offers a wide range ofproducts and services for business and personal use, eachdesigned with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyablefor people to take advantage of the full power of personalcomputing every day. NOTE: Microsoft, ClearType and Windows are either registeredtrademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United Statesand/or other countries. Other product and company names hereinmay be trademarks of their respective owners. ots Original TextService: Microsoft Corp. Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.deContact: press only, Ann Junod Burkart, 408-986-1140 (in theUSA), or annjb@wagged.com, or Rapid Response Team, 503-443-7000(in the USA), or rrt@wagged.com, all of Waggener Edstrom forMicrosoft; or Joanna Prior of Penguin UK, 171 416 3250, orjoanna.prior@penguin.co.uk Web site: http://www.penguin.com Website: http://www.penguinclassics.com Web site:http://www.microsoft.com

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