Rand McNally Introduces Road Atlas Desktop Software for Easy-Access Maps and Directions; Innovative Interface Makes the Road Atlas a Desktop Tool

Business Wire, August 27, 2002

Business/Technology Editors

SKOKIE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 27, 2002

Mapping innovator Rand McNally today launches its new Road Atlas Road Travel Software, a PC version of the best-selling print Road Atlas. The software puts maps, directions and details on attractions on a computer desktop, just as accessible as a music player or online messenger. Topics Entertainment, a publisher of educational, reference, language software and spoken word audio products, distributes the software.

The Road Atlas Road Travel Software features an innovative user interface that is easy to use for all levels of computer users. Without numerous steps, menus or pop-up screens, the three-window gadget-style screen displays maps, directions, attraction information and search tools all at once for easy access and quick results. The software does not require the Internet to provide maps and directions because the program and map data is installed from a CD-ROM.

Rand McNally Road Atlas Road Travel Software covers major roads in the United States, Canada and Mexico and provides street-detail maps for 83 major U.S. cities. Users can get concise driving directions between cities and within the top U.S. cities using major roads. The travel software has close to 50,000 points of interest that include museums, national parks, golf courses, amusement parks, and Mobil Travel Guide(R) rated hotels and restaurants in the major cities. Users can also create and print personalized, streamlined itineraries that include maps, driving directions, mileages and estimated driving times.

The application is one of the first mapping software programs with quick-use features using the best of Web and desktop software design. The quick-use features include:

-- Automatic map display: type in a location and the corresponding map automatically appears;

-- Backward and forward buttons: toggle back and forth between map displays without repeating a search;

-- Saved searches: quickly access locations previously searched;

-- No Internet required: save time and effort on dial-up and downloading;

-- Fast access: the program is saved on the PC after installing one CD-ROM.

"Our mission is to guide travelers and to provide them with information anytime and anywhere they need it. Now travelers can choose Road Atlas products in print, on PC and PDA to fit their travel needs and planning style," says Michael K. Hehir, president and CEO of Rand McNally. "The new Road Atlas travel software is a great addition to our Road Atlas family."

"Topics Entertainment is thrilled to offer retailers the first-ever Road Atlas software from a name that consumers trust: Rand McNally," says Greg James, president of Topics Entertainment. "By adding this new title to our line, we have our sights set on becoming the number-one software publisher in the mapping category. We are pleased to expand our distribution relationship with Rand McNally."

System requirements are Windows 95 or later operating system, Pentium class PC, 64 MB RAM, 300 MB available hard disk space, Super VGA card/16 bit color monitor and CD-ROM drive.

Rand McNally Road Atlas Road Travel Software has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $29.99, and is available at Rand McNally Map & Travel Stores, randmcnally.com, and at software retailers nationwide. For more information on the product, go to www.randmcnally.com/eroadatlas.> About Rand McNally

Rand McNally & Company, founded in 1856, is America's indispensable travel guide, providing mapping, routing and trip-planning tools for the consumer, business, education and commercial transportation markets. The company produces print and electronic products featuring national and local maps for the United States and Canada, including the Rand McNally Road Atlas and Thomas Guides. Rand McNally offers trip planning on randmcnally.com and operates retail stores across the United States. For more information, call (800) 333-0136 or visit www.randmcnally.com.

About TOPICS Entertainment

TOPICS Entertainment, Inc., a privately held corporation, is currently the fastest growing company in the consumer software industry. TOPICS Entertainment is ranked the 9th largest software publisher in the nation(a) with over 150 CD-ROM and Audio Book Collections--dominating the reference, language and education categories. For a complete list of titles, please visit: www.topics-ent.com.

(a) Based on July 2002 NPD Market Tracking

Editor's Note: Product samples and artwork are available by request; please contact Christina Morris at PAN Communications at 978-474-1900, or randmcnally@pancomm.com.

All brand names, product names or trademarks are the property of their respective owners.