VANCOUVER, Wash., June 26, 2006 -- Microsoft Corporation's upcoming Vista release introduces significant pen input features for a faster, easier and more efficient computing experience. Wacom pen tablet and pen display users will enjoy intuitive new Vista-enabled note taking resources, handwriting recognition and time-saving gesture control options. The combination of Vista's built-in support for pen input and Wacom's capabilities as a source of advanced input technology will also enable software developers and other hardware manufacturers to integrate compelling pen and touch input capabilities into future products.

The Vista Pen Experience

All versions of Vista (except Home Basic) provide complete pen functionality and with Wacom pens available for less than $100, an intuitive pen experience is now within easy reach. Select aspects of the Vista pen experience include:

Note Taking -- Microsoft Journal is an application exclusively for the benefit of users working with a pen tablet, interactive pen display or Tablet PC. Journal simulates a physical notebook, but with all the advantages of a digital medium. The pen can be used in Journal to jot notes and capture quick sketches providing valuable collaboration options for use at home, school and work. Journal also incorporates a powerful search engine that can even locate handwritten content.

Handwriting Recognition -- Vista introduces intelligent handwriting recognition as a natural supplement to keyboard input. This new recognition technology efficiently and accurately converts a wide variety of handwriting styles into typed text. For example, during a brainstorming session, a pen user can scribble down ideas and sketch concepts for collaboration with colleagues. The user has the option to share the information in handwritten form or convert it to typed text. In addition, the eraser end of a Wacom pen automatically activates an eraser tool to quickly and easily remove mistakes.

Gestures -- There are a variety of pen gestures available within Vista that enable users to navigate faster and that greatly enhance the overall computing experience. Flicks offers eight customizable gestures with actions determined by the user and Scratch Out allows pen users to delete text automatically with a scratching motion of the pen over the targeted text.

"Vista delivers pen and touch input options that give users a computing experience that is faster, easier and more effective," said Joe Deal, President of Wacom Technology Corp. "This is a fine example of companies working together to push technology toward a common good and as the global leader in pen technology we are looking forward to helping home and business users enjoy the extraordinary pen functionality that Microsoft has made available."

Digital Ink in Office 2007

Microsoft Office 2007 and a Wacom pen offer new capabilities that will allow users to work more naturally and efficiently. Office 2007 applications such as Word(R), Excel(R), Outlook(R), PowerPoint(R) and OneNote(R) running on Vista all support digital mark-up with a Wacom pen and the user interface provides easy access to digital inking tools for intuitive collaboration. Users can select a pen or highlighter tool to mark-up documents, spreadsheets, presentation slides and e-mail messages.

Uses at home include:

* Learning -- solve math problems, learn to write, and correct homework

* Crafts -- create a family photo album with personal notes to build lasting memories

* Projects -- sketch a rough landscaping plan for the new yard

* Personal Finance -- flag figures and make digital notes for future reference

Professional uses include:

* Signing -- sign contracts and initial forms

* Editing -- edit all types of documents

* Organizing -- highlight and aggregate Web research

* Annotating -- jot notes during a meeting or class

* Brainstorming -- sketch ideas and scribble down concepts

* Redlining -- mark-up engineering plans

"Microsoft is changing the collaboration paradigm in a very positive way," said David Wilts, Senior Associate with Shen Milsom & Wilke, a leading integrated communications technology and acoustic consulting firm. "Having the ability to annotate and collaborate with a pen opens many new doors for users looking for intuitive and creative ways to work."

Opportunities for OEMs

Vista provides software developers and hardware manufacturers with a high- octane platform on which to build. The rich pen and touch functionality supported at the operating-system level will allow the software community to create innovative ways in which users can benefit from more natural input options. This innovation within the software community will be supported by pen-related hardware advances facilitated by Wacom's patented input technology. The net result of these symbiotic relationships will be the delivery of future computing experiences that are faster, easier, more efficient and effective.

Media representatives interested in evaluating a beta copy of a Wacom Vista driver and a Wacom pen tablet should contact Douglas Little, Public Relations Manager, Wacom Technology Corporation, at (360-896-9833 x174) or (douglas.little@wacom.com).

About Wacom

Wacom Technology Corporation is headquartered in Vancouver, WA and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wacom Company, Ltd. (TSE: 6727). In 1989, Wacom revolutionized the nature of digital creativity when it introduced the world's first cordless, battery-free, pressure-sensitive pen. Today, Wacom is the world's leading manufacturer of pen tablets and interactive pen displays with millions of customers enjoying its patented technology at work and at home. For more information, visit http://www.wacom.com.

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For more information, please contact:
    Douglas Little
    Public Relations Manager
    Wacom Technology Corp.
    360-896-9833 x174
    douglas.little@wacom.com