Planetweb Adds New VMU Functionality to Its Dreamcast Portal; Upgraded Portal Enables Dreamcast Gamers to Preview and Download Over 60 Animations to the Visual Memory Unit

Business Wire, March 7, 2000

Business Editors

Redwood Shores, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 2000

Planetweb, Inc., the leading developer of Internet software products and services for the exploding Internet appliance market, today launched a new function on its Dreamcast online community site -- http:\\dreamcast.planetweb.com.

The new feature extends the functionality of the Dreamcast Visual Memory Unit (VMU) offering gamers a new dimension. Users can preview and download custom animations directly from a selection of over 60 animations and growing on the Planetweb Dreamcast Portal with the click of a button. The Planetweb Browser(TM) contains special instructions that enable direct downloading of animations into the local VMU module.

The VMU is a 128K-memory card with a built-in LCD screen that plugs into the Sega Dreamcast control pad and works as both a memory device to save games and a game-enhancing peripheral. With the Planetweb Browser, users will be able to download games, files and animations from web sites. In addition, developers will be able to create code in web sites that can display supplemental text or graphics directly on the VMU's peripheral screen.

In addition to the new VMU feature, the Dreamcast portal has been redesigned to offer a new "look and feel." Additional enhancements include: easy, accessible new functionality optimized for Planetweb's Browser that is bundled with every Sega(R) Dreamcast(TM) console sold in North America.

These new features include: Gamer's Corner which includes Gamer's Archive; Community which includes Web Page Development Center; Shopping; News, Sports & Entertainment; Web Guide; VMU Central; Online Gaming; and Parental Control. Please refer to the Dreamcast Portal Overview for a more detailed description of the new functionality.

"The Planetweb Dreamcast portal is designed specifically for the Dreamcast gamer," says Julien Nguyen, vice president, Online Business for Planetweb. "Dreamcast users can easily access it directly from their book mark list or access it on the URL bar by clicking on the Planetweb logo. It conveniently provides all the information that a gamer needs to take maximum advantage of the Dreamcast console. The Planetweb Dreamcast portal is a great example of how Planetweb can dramatically enhance an information appliance, from the client browser to the backend services."

About Planetweb, Inc.

Planetweb is the industry volume leading producer of Internet software designed for consumer electronics devices. The company gives consumers a complete Internet experience on devices like game systems, iDVD players, set-top boxes and phones. Planetweb is recognized for its cost effective and efficiently designed Internet software solution, superior display technology, Java(TM) technology, consumer-intuitive interfaces and powerful portal infrastructure. Planetweb, a pre-IPO Internet software company, is headquartered in Redwoods Shores, Calif., and has an office in Tokyo, Japan. Planetweb is available on the Internet at www.planetweb.com.

Note to Editors: Planetweb is a licensee of Sun Microsystems Java(TM) Technology. The Planetweb Browser is a registered trademark of Planetweb, Inc.; patented Magnifier (U.S. Patent 5,754,3448). All other trade names referenced are the service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.