LeapFrog Establishes Developer Network for Companies to Explore Content and Technology Opportunities on New FLY pentop Computer Platform

LeapFrog Establishes Developer Network for Companies to Explore Content and Technology Opportunities on New FLY pentop Computer Platform

Network Designed to Leverage Expertise of Other Leading Content, Technology, and Marketing Companies to Support Innovative New Computing Platform

NEW YORK, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:LF), a leading developer of innovative technology-based educational products, today announced the formation of a developer network for third-party publishers, technology companies, and others interested in licensing and marketing opportunities to support the rapid growth and evolution of the FLY(TM) pentop computer platform. Building on its strong roots in mass-market learning and technology products, LeapFrog will join forces with market leaders across a variety of media and technology industries to catalyze broad- based development of FLY applications and accessories.

HP, Disney Publishing, Upper Deck, MeadWestvaco, and NBC News are among the first companies to exploit the potential development of content and products associated with LeapFrog's new FLY platform.

"Since we began development of the FLY pentop computer, LeapFrog has actively engaged a select group of companies in conversations around what this innovative new computing platform will mean to students of all ages over time," said LeapFrog President Jerry Perez. "These prominent companies have seized on the opportunity to help us invent the future and to offer compelling new learning, entertainment, and gaming experiences on the FLY pentop computer."

LeapFrog has bundled many different technologies to create the FLY platform so that ease of writing could be combined with the power and interactivity users now expect from personal computers, so that, through both handwritten letters and symbols and pre-printed menus and artwork -- what you write, works. The combination of writing and computing creates new potentials for creating applications to inform, educate, and entertain.

"As the leader in a business based on information gathering and exploring current events, generations of Americans have turned to us," said NBC News President Neal Shapiro. "We're anxious to help future generations get an early start in these key areas of development -- and this is a great way to do it."

In the areas of publishing and entertainment, LeapFrog and its partners have identified several areas of focus, including interactive graphic novels, comic books, magazines, trading cards and collectibles, and paper-based electronic games.

"Our team is constantly looking for new ways to engage and inspire readers," said Disney Publishing President Deborah Dugan. "We are excited that the combination of the FLY technology and the W.I.T.C.H. diary format allows readers to participate in books in innovative ways that extends the W.I.T.C.H. experience." "Upper Deck prides itself on partnering with other industry leaders such as LeapFrog, and sees our relationship as a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate our strong brand awareness, sports knowledge, and leadership to a new generation of consumers," explained Bob Andrews, Upper Deck's Chief Operating Officer. "Flyball, which will utilize our award- winning baseball content and rich photography, is the first of an amazing line of products for the tween audience. We look forward to future projects with LeapFrog."

LeapFrog aims to bring to the consumer market a sophisticated set of tools and technologies that have begun to proliferate in the business sector, including new applications for "digital paper." The company looks to provide solutions that support the FLY platform in education, entertainment, and gaming.

"HP supports LeapFrog's vision for its FLY pentop computing platform," said Frank Cloutier, chief technology officer for the Imaging and Product Group at HP. "We are excited to explore the possibility of expanding the use of intelligent printed paper to a broader world of learning and entertainment opportunities at home, school, and work."

Discussions regarding the potential of the FLY platform have focused on the following areas:

-- HP and LeapFrog are exploring the possibility of leveraging HP's
imaging and printing technology on the FLY pentop computer platform.
As a leader in Enterprise Digital Pen and Paper technology, HP has
deployed business solutions to automate paper forms for major hospitals
and other industries using the HP Forms Automation System along with HP
Digital Pens. Additionally, HP has developed the capability to print
"digital paper forms" on select HP LaserJet printers. LeapFrog plans to
explore with HP the extension of this expertise to the consumer market.
-- Disney Publishing is granting LeapFrog a license to create a W.I.T.C.H.
Diary, which is based on its hip, fashionable comics property
W.I.T.C.H. (an acronym for the five main characters Will, Irma,
Taranee, Cornelia and Hay Lin) that chronicles the lives of five girls
who have been given special powers to help save the world. The product
is scheduled to be available in Fall 2005.
-- Upper Deck and LeapFrog are planning to launch Flyball(TM), a co-
branded product that brings interactive electronic games to baseball
trading cards on the FLY pentop computer. Upper Deck and LeapFrog are
also working together on new product opportunities that build on Upper
Deck's leadership in sports and entertainment trading cards and
collectibles.
-- MeadWestvaco plans to support the launch of the FLY pentop computer
with a special promotional program during Back-to-School 2005.
LeapFrog and Mead are also working together on product development
opportunities in the consumer paper and school supplies markets.
-- NBC Universal and LeapFrog are exploring opportunities to develop a co-
branded product that brings topical content from NBC News programming
to consumers on the FLY platform.



LeapFrog plans to expand its network of third-party publishers and technology companies over time, offering tools and support for qualified companies and authorized developers in a variety of content and technology categories. Details on the expanded program are expected to be unveiled following the anticipated market release of the FLY pentop computer in Fall 2005. For more information about this program, please contact LeapFrog at partnerships@leapfrog.com.

About LeapFrog

LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and marketer of innovative, technology-based learning products and related proprietary content, dedicated to making learning effective and engaging for all ages, at home and in schools, around the world. Emeryville, California-based LeapFrog has developed a family of learning platforms that come to life with more than 100 interactive software titles, covering important subjects such as phonics, reading, writing, math, music, geography, social studies, spelling, vocabulary, and science. In addition, the company has created more than 35 stand-alone educational products for children from birth to 16 years.

LeapFrog's award-winning U.S. consumer products are available in six languages at major retailers in more than 25 countries around the world. The LeapFrog SchoolHouse curriculum programs are currently in classrooms across the U.S. with more than 200 interactive books and over 450 skill cards representing more than 6,000 pages of educational content.

About Disney Publishing Worldwide

Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is the largest children's publisher in the world, with 274 children's magazines and 120 million children's books sold each year. DPW publishes books, magazines and continuity programs in 55 languages in 75 countries, reaching more than 100 million readers each month. As a leading creator of print content that engages the imagination, Disney Publishing consistently delivers on a promise of innovation, reliability and quality. Global headquarters are in New York City.

About MeadWestvaco

MeadWestvaco Corporation, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, is a leading global producer of packaging, coated and specialty papers, consumer and office products and specialty chemicals. Among the principal markets it serves are the automotive, beverage, consumer products, healthcare, media and entertainment and publishing industries. The company operates in 29 countries and serves customers in nearly 100 nations. Its highly recognized consumer and office brands include AT-A-GLANCE(R), Cambridge(R), Columbian(R), DayRunner(R), Five Star(R), and Mead(R). MeadWestvaco manages strategically located forestlands according to stringent environmental standards and in conformity with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative(R).

About Upper Deck

The Upper Deck Co. is a premier global sports and entertainment-publishing company that delivers a portfolio of relevant, innovative and multi- dimensional product experiences to collectors, sports and entertainment enthusiasts. For more information on the Upper Deck Company, please visit www.upperdeck.com.

About NBC News

NBC News (NYSE:GE) has been a primary source of global news and information for more than 75 years, first on radio, and today via broadcast and cable television and the Internet. Operating around the clock with bureaus in key cities in the United States and overseas, NBC News provides immediate coverage and in-depth reporting of major events to Americans coast to coast.

In recent years, NBC has become the dominant force in television news, watched by more Americans than any other news organization. NBC News provides more than 25 hours of weekly programming in the United States, including the No. 1-rated broadcasts Nightly News with Brian Williams, Today, and Meet the Press. The network also produces weekend editions of Nightly News and Today. Dateline NBC is the signature broadcast for NBC News in primetime at least two nights a week. Also under the NBC News umbrella is MSNBC, the 24-hour cable news channel and Internet service launched in 1996.

Forward-Looking Statements

Cautionary Statement Under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act Of 1995:

Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the company's anticipated agreements with potential development partners, product introductions and product availability. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including the company's ability to invent, develop, introduce and market products in a timely and cost-effective manner, the cost and availability of development resources for third-party developers, the shelf space allocated to the company's products and products of third party developers, the seasonality of the consumer electronics and toy business at retail, and the acceptance of the company's products by consumers in the United States and internationally. These and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the company's SEC filings, including its quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on August 6, 2004, could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this release. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to the company on the date hereof, and the company assumes no obligation to update such statements.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they ever materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward- looking statements, including the expected development, performance or rankings of products or services; statements of expectation or belief; and any statement of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the development, performance and market acceptance of products and services and other risks that are described from time to time in HP's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to HP's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2004 and other reports filed after HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Oct. 31, 2003. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

LEAPFROG, FLY and FLYBALL are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeapFrog

Enterprises, Inc. All other marks are property of their respective owners.

(C) 2005 LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.


Contact:
Jaeme Sines Shannon Eis
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc Kaplow Communications
510-596-3497 212-221-1713
jsines@leapfrog.comshannone@kaplowpr.com


Source: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.

CONTACT: Jaeme Sines of LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc., +1-510-596-3497 or
jsines@leapfrog.com; or Shannon Eis of Kaplow Communications, +1-212-221-1713
or shannone@kaplowpr.com, for LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc

Web site: http://www.leapfrog.com/


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