OfficeReady^TM Software Features Colorful Business and Presentation Productivity Tools for (SOHO) Small Office/Home Office Users to Get the Most From Microsoft® Office^TM Applications

COSTA MESA, Calif., (October 19, 1998) - Continuing its tradition for quality creativity and productivity products for the SOHO market, Canon Software Publishing (CSP), a division of Canon, the world's leader in imaging technology, today announced a new software title in the Office Accessory category - OfficeReady^TM.

OfficeReady is a program geared specifically for the (SOHO) small office/home office user and designed to complement Microsoft Office by providing users with hundreds of professionally designed ready-to-use templates in Word, Excel and PowerPoint, each with their own "look" and color scheme.

OfficeReady includes powerful productivity-enhancing Excel macros pre-designed to allow users to calculate business and personal finances, Word templates for the ultimate in professional appearance and impressive color documents; and professionally designed PowerPoint templates to turn documents into persuasive presentations.

According to Canon, the SOHO market is comprised of more than 7 million small businesses in the U.S. and by the year 2000, 50 percent of the U.S. workforce will work out of their home in some capacity.

"OfficeReady alleviates the monochronicity found in Office today and allows the SOHO user to customize documents in color," says Gary Bushey, senior manager of product acquisition and development at CSP. "This Office companion gives SOHO users a powerful tool to increase productivity by allowing the user to produce professional looking documents and presentations that print quickly in color."

Designed to take the hassle out of wasting time designing Office documents, OfficeReady enhances a user's Microsoft Office applications through newly designed templates with prematched color schemes and fonts. OfficeReady automatically loads with the selected Office Application (Word and Excel) and is accessible through an easy-to-use on-screen toolbar.

Additionally, OfficeReady provides SOHO users with the tools to create documents that impress others and clearly present information by providing hundreds of professionally designed templates each with their own coordinated "look" and color schemes to produce reports, marketing and meeting materials and spreadsheets.

OfficeReady allows SOHO users to increase productivity, presence and presentation.

Productivity: The current selection of color schemes found in Office programs are limited because they were designed with "monochrome" printing in mind. By using the high-quality template designs found in OfficeReady, users can create new looks and color schemes that provide an intelligent use of color for conservative color output in Word, Excel or PowerPoint programs. Powerful pre-designed Excel macros allow users to calculate business and personal finances.

Presence: OfficeReady provides users with documents that "stand out" from the competition. By using OfficeReady, Word or Excel memos, correspondence and documents will attract the attention of the recipient. OfficeReady provides five different "looks" for documents including Professional, Contemporary, Elegant, Casual, and Black and White. Additionally, users may use the OfficeReady add-in to insert watermarks and exciting borders. Presentation: OfficeReady adds new categories of templates to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint programs. Designed with the SOHO professional in mind, OfficeReady creates professionally designed reports, stationery, FAX cover sheets, marketing materials, resumes and job-seeking templates and meeting materials with impact.

OfficeReady features the following:

• 350 new templates for Word - reports, forms, marketing materials, memos, HR material, faxes, awards and certificates, meeting materials, resume, job-seeking templates and business forms.
• 180 new templates for Excel - expense reports, mortgage amortization, cash flows, purchase orders, company finance, personal finance, sales and marketing, personal planning, and basic business forms. These "intelligent" Excel templates come preformatted with formulas.
• 100 new PowerPoint templates designed for screen presentations and suitable for quick color output. Internet Connectivity: One-click access to the Canon Software Publishing Web site at www.software.canon.com and EarthLink TotalAccess^TM Internet access with Microsoft Internet Explorer.
• Business tools: a self-running demo of "Winning Business Plans," and photo template collection for a portfolio of digital photo choices.

Pricing and Availability

OfficeReady will be available on CD-ROM in October 1998 with an estimated street price of $39.95. Consumers can purchase the title via a nationwide network of leading software retailers including office and electronic superstores, computer superstores, warehouse clubs or direct from Canon by calling our customer service division at 1-800-OK-CANON.

System Requirements

Minimum system requirements for running OfficeReady include an IBM compatible PC with a 486 processor or better (Pentium or higher recommended); Windows 95, 98 or NT 4.0; CD-ROM drive for installation; minimum 16 MB RAM; 30 MB free hard disk space, VGA/256 color monitor (24-bit or higher recommended); 28.8 Kpbs modem or faster (Internet access must be purchased separately); and a mouse or other pointing device. OfficeReady works with most PCcompatible inkjet, Bubble Jet or laser printers.

Customer Service and Customer Technical Support

Canon Software Publishing offers a full range of customer technical support options: e-mail and Web Site (FAQ's) via the CSP Web site at www.software.canon.com. For 24hr/7 day-a-week technical support, a customer can call 757-413-2855 for fax-back support or to talk with a customer care technician (8am-10pm Monday Friday, EST). Regular customer support is free for the first 30-days. After 30 days, paid support will be available.

About Canon Software Publishing

Canon Software Publishing (CSP) is a division of Canon Computer Systems Inc., which is a subsidiary of both Canon USA Inc. (Lake Success, NY) and Canon Inc. (Tokyo, Japan). The division, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., was founded in 1998 to develop, publish and distribute computer software primarily in North and South America. CSP will also publish titles from both independent third-party developers and associated Canon companies. Canon is recognized as the world's leading imaging technology company, a leader in printer technology and a top worldwide patent holder. As a global technology leader, Canon achieved $22 billion in worldwide sales in 1997.

* Prices are estimates only. Dealer prices may vary and are subject to change at any time.

** OfficeReady^TM is a trademark of Canon Inc. All other products and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

*** Product specifications and features subject to change without notice.