CenterSpan Communications Announces Socket; Company Launches New Web Site: www.get-socket.com.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

HILLSBORO, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2000

CenterSpan Communications (Nasdaq:CSCC) today announced Socket(TM), the company's new Internet communication and collaboration software.

The beta version of Socket will be released to the public on March 22, 2000.

Socket combines instant messaging, text chat and audio conferencing with two exciting new capabilities, Compare & Share and Launch & Connect, which greatly simplify collaborative computing. The solution provides point and click launching of industry standard H.323 communication applications and multi-player games, and enables the sharing of digital content within small groups. In addition, Socket showcases a unique mass-market user interface designed to immerse both expert and novice users in a simple, familiar and colorful experience.

Socket is a leap ahead of existing instant messaging applications. It detects 'buddies' online and enables one click transition from instant messaging to group text or audio conferencing. Socket dynamically identifies common capabilities, such as H.323 applications and multi-player games. Once a common capability is identified, Socket provides a simple one-click launch of the application for all selected participants. If participants lack an application, Socket prompts them to engage in one-click e-commerce transactions. CenterSpan receives an affiliate fee for each e-commerce transaction facilitated by Socket.

"Socket is the next generation of Internet communication and collaboration capabilities, and represents a significant milestone for CenterSpan," stated Frank G. Hausmann, CenterSpan's President and CEO. "Socket is designed to enable simple and fun communication and collaboration within small groups. It leverages the natural dynamics of small group environments to generate e-commerce transactions. No other solution offers the fully integrated and proprietary capabilities of Socket. Initial consumer testing has been positive and the reactions from potential partners are equally exciting."

"Socket goes significantly beyond instant messaging, and represents a new category of Internet communications software -- the group activity hub. It takes small groups to a new level of experience over the Web," stated Rob Smart, CenterSpan's VP of Marketing and Business Development. "This is an extremely powerful solution."

The Socket Web site can be found at www.get-socket.com, and provides an overview of the product, as well as details about the beta program.

About CenterSpan Communications Corporation

CenterSpan Communications Corp. (formerly ThrustMaster, Inc.) is a developer of software applications for PC-to-PC text messaging and multi-point audio over the Internet enabling communication and collaborative information sharing. Historically, the bulk of the company's revenue and earnings has been derived from the ThrustMaster game controller hardware business. The company closed the sale of the game controller hardware business, including the ThrustMaster name, for $15 million in cash on October 1, 1999. The company is now focusing exclusively on its next generation PC-to-PC approach to multi-point audio and other technologies that enable real-time small group multimedia interaction over the Internet.

This press release includes forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company's Internet community and communications initiative is a new business in a rapidly evolving market. Specific statements regarding the timely release of new products, new business model, potential earnings leverage, accelerated delivery of new product and distribution leverage are forward-looking statements. Historically, the ThrustMaster game controller hardware business has accounted for substantially all of the Company's assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's 1998 Form 10-K, which are available from the Company without charge, for a further description of the risks and uncertainties relating to forward-looking statements made by the Company, as well as to other aspects of the Company's business.