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Software 2000 to Work with Microsoft on Windows Printing

OXFORD —November 12, 2003 —Software 2000, Oxford, UK announced today that it has concluded an agreement with Microsoft Corporation to enhance rendering capabilities associated with printing in Windows.

Under the announced terms of the agreement, Software 2000 will work with Microsoft on aspects of performance enhancements and maintenance for UNIDRV (Microsoft's data driven printer driver architecture for Windows). Software 2000 will also offer an advanced customization, porting, plug-in and development service for OEMs from a "UNIDRV Centre of Excellence".

Tony Harris, Technical Director of Software 2000 commented on the agreement, "This agreement brings significant benefits to both companies. We are looking forward to adding value to UNIDRV and Windows under our development agreement and also to working with OEMs to enhance their UNIDRV driver offerings going forward".

Software 2000 has a long history and vast experience with printer driver technologies which stretches back to 1989. Software 2000 developed the first 24bit color capable drivers for the Canon CLC-10 for Windows in 1991 and the original EPSON Stylus Color Windows drivers in 1994 which kicked off the desktop digital photo revolution. Subsequent Windows driver innovations by the company targeting PCL 5e, PCL 5c, PCL XL, PostScript 3 and GDI have helped to establish an installed base of over 80 million Software 2000 drivers worldwide.

Peter Lismer, Chief Executive Officer for Software 2000 commented, "We are looking forward to working with Microsoft to bring innovative UNIDRV solutions to the Windows customer base".

Thomas Nielsen, Product Unit Manager for Windows Printing and Imaging Microsoft Corporation also commented, "The UNIDRV architecture remains an important component to the Windows printing platform and will continue to be important. Our new agreement with Software 2000 will help to bring performance enhancements and further improvements to UNIDRV, and thus value to our IHV partners and Windows users".

About Software 2000

Founded in 1989, Software 2000 is the world's largest independent developer of printer driver and imaging technologies. The company licenses these technologies to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of printer and digital copiers, through Driver Development Kits (DDKs) and custom driver developments. These customizable technologies support Microsoft Windows, Macintosh and Linux environments. Software 2000 technologies reduce cost and time to market whilst increasing driver performance.

Since the company began, Software 2000 has been at the forefront of innovation in print imaging and has worked with all of the major OEM suppliers of printers and digital copiers. These OEMs include Canon, Epson, HP, Konica, Lexmark, Océ, Olivetti, Ricoh, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, Xerox and many others. There are now over 80 million drivers containing Software 2000 technology in use around the world.

Software 2000 is headquartered in Oxford, England, with offices in Japan, the United States and Canada. In addition, Software 2000 has recently acquired the Justway group in Japan.

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