Press Release

SoftBook Press and Central News Technology Pioneer First System to Distribute Newspaper Route Information Using Electronic Book Readers
CNT Selects SoftBook Press Technology For System That Delivers Daily Newspaper Circulation Information to Newspaper Carriers

LAS VEGAS, NEV., June 14, 1999 - SoftBook® Press, Inc. today announced that Central News Technology (CNT) has adopted the SoftBook Internet-enabled document distribution and reading system as a core component of its CIRC-2000 System after a successful pilot program at The Arizona Republic. CNT will demonstrate the CIRC-2000 System - which leverages the SoftBook Reader to provide daily delivery of circulation and route information to newspaper carriers - at NEXPO '99 (Booth 2712), the Newspaper Association of America's annual technical exposition and conference, which takes place this week in Las Vegas.

The system CNT created is the first and only one of its kind to use electronic book readers to distribute circulation information. As a member of the rapidly growing SoftBook Press Alliance Partner Program, CNT plans to market and sell the CIRC-2000 System to other newspapers throughout the country. The system includes a circulation database that tracks subscribers and their delivery preferences, software that automatically transforms circulation reports to Open eBook format, a Web-based module that pushes reports out to individual carriers, and the SoftBook Reader which is used by carriers to download and display daily route information.

"Leveraging the CIRC-2000 System, CNT developed a program utilizing SoftBook Readers that proved very effective in carrier field tests at reducing newspaper delivery errors, which resulted in improved efficiency and substantially reduced costs," said Leon Levitt, Circulation Director at The Arizona Republic. "We are extremely excited about the system and the significant ways it can enhance our business. Eventually we see it being used to allow us to better partner with advertisers, as well as provide readers with products that more closely match their lifestyles."

"Most people think of the SoftBook System as providing a unique approach to distributing and reading actual newspaper content, and, indeed, we offer The New York Times and other newspapers," said Kimberly M. Woodward, director of marketing, SoftBook Press Enterprise Technology Group. "But what The Arizona Republic is doing really pushes the envelope and shows how electronic publishing technologies can be used in a broad range of business applications where it's necessary to distribute information in a more timely, secure and flexible way than current methods allow."

The SoftBook Reader
The SoftBook Reader is a battery powered electronic reading device that can hold up to 50,000 pages of content including text and graphics. Users can read and "turn" pages just like with a paper book. There is no need to awkwardly scroll through documents as on a PC, or to print them out to read them. Designed for complex, formatted documents, the SoftBook Reader features a large, page-oriented display and has a built-in modem that allows users to easily, quickly and securely download documents using any phone line, without having to first load them into a PC.

The SoftBook Advantage
The SoftBook system is unique in its focus on flexibility, security and readability. The SoftBook Reader is the only ebook reader that loads documents directly via a phone line rather than requiring the user to first download ebooks to a PC and then to the reader. This flexibility is essential for those who are away from their desks or do not even use a PC. Unlike the Web, which allows information to be printed or forwarded at will, security is ensured with the SoftBook System because documents are heavily encrypted, and the SoftBook Reader does not allow text to be printed or copied.

About CNT Corp.
CNT Corp. is a broad-based technology company that provides IT, network, telecommunications and Web services to Central Newspapers, Inc. (CNI) and all of its subsidiaries including The Arizona Republic and The Indianapolis Star & News. CNT Corp. also markets software to other media companies. CNT Corp. has facilities in Phoenix, Arizona and Indianapolis, Indiana.

About SoftBook Press, Inc.
SoftBook Press is creating the future of reading for both individuals and corporations through its system for secure, Internet-enabled distribution of ebooks and corporate documents. The company's products include the SoftBook® Reader, the only ebook reader that can access content without going through a PC; and a patent-protected, Internet-based document distribution system that includes content preparation tools, Web site software modules, and document encryption and security services. The company's SoftBookstore distributes electronic versions of books and periodicals from leading publishers. SoftBook Press is a co-creator and strong supporter of the Open eBook standard. Based in Menlo Park, California, SoftBook Press is a privately held company. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.softbook.com.

For more information visit www.softbook.com or contact Eastwick Communications:
Deniz Bolbol 650-480-4028 deniz@eastwick.com
Joan Hammel 408-776-5128 joan@eastwick.com