SoftQuad bundles HoTMetaL Light with Creative Labs Internet Blaster

Business Wire, June 27, 1996

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 1996--SoftQuad Inc. (NASDAQ/TSE:SWEBF;SKI) announced Thursday that it has partnered with Creative Technologies to include HoTMetaL Light -- the OEM version of its award-winning HTML authoring tool -- with Creative's fast speed plug-and-play modem -- Internet Blaster(TM) 33.6PnP.

The Internet Blaster(TM) also bundles Internet and communications software from companies including Microsoft Corp., Spry Inc., NetSpeak Corp. and Pacific Image Communications Inc.

"We are excited to have HoTMetaL Light included in Creative's first integrated Internet product," said Dave Gurney, chairman and CEO of SoftQuad Inc. "Working with Creative on their Internet Blaster, and being included with some of the industry's leading innovators, delivers on SoftQuad's strategy of integrating HoTMetaL into complete Internet solutions, and making it the leading HTML authoring tool on the market."

"With Creative's newly announced Internet Blaster 33.6 PnP, we have bundled powerful, high-value software, such as SoftQuad's HoTMetaL Light, to provide the customer with an exceptionally easy-to-use overall Internet experience," said Craig McHugh, vice president and general manager of Creative Labs.

SoftQuad's HoTMetaL Light is the OEM version of SoftQuad's award-winning HTML authoring tool HoTMetaL PRO. HoTMetaL Light gives users the power to easily create web pages and familiarize themselves with the process.

HoTMetaL Light users can upgrade to HoTMetaL PRO for $69 (U.S.) at SoftQuad's Web site (http://www.softquad.com), or by calling 1-800-360-8454. HoTMetaL PRO 3.0 is also available through Ingram, Egghead, CompUSA, Computer City, Fry's, and others.

HoTMetaL Light has been included in many Internet and intranet solutions from leading hardware and software vendors, ISPs and book publishers including Dell, Novell, Xerox, Spry, Best, Europe On-line and Sams.

HoTMetaL PRO 3.0 has a list price of $159 (U.S.) and runs on Windows 3.x, Windows 95 and Windows NT, with the Macintosh and UNIX versions to be released this summer. If you purchased HoTMetaL PRO 2.0 after March 18th, 1996 for $99 US or more, then you can upgrade to HoTMetaL PRO 3.0 for free.

The single software package has an intelligent installation that detects the operating system and installs the appropriate 16-bit or 32-bit components. About SoftQuad

SoftQuad is a leading provider of content publishing tools and consulting services for corporate Intranets. The Company's products enable users to deploy multi-platform, standards-based solutions from creating, editing and delivering electronic documents, to information management and access, to intranet site management.

SoftQuad is recognized worldwide for its pioneering work in structured document publishing and is a founding member and active participant in the SGML Open Consortium and World Wide Web Consortium.

Headquartered in Toronto, SoftQuad International is a publicly-traded company whose shares trade on NASDAQ (SWEBF) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (SKI). SoftQuad can be contacted at 416/239-4801 or on the Internet at www.softquad.com.

CONTACT: SoftQuad (Investor Relations please contact)

Selwyn Wener, 416/239-4801

selwyn@softquad.com