ARKONA Announces Latest Certification with DaimlerChrysler Corp.; ARKONA's Dealer Management System Now Integrated with DealerCONNECT

SALT LAKE CITY--Jan. 6, 2004--ARKONA Inc. (ARKN) today announced the certification of its dealer management solution with DaimlerChrysler's new Web-based DealerCONNECT factory communications interface. This certification provides the more than 4,800 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealerships with a more technologically advanced and cost-effective solution to managing and exchanging information with DaimlerChrysler.

"With the ARKONA certification, we now have access to the latest data management and transfer tools included in DealerCONNECT," said Bob Geiger, dealer principal, Fayetteville Dodge, Fayetteville, N.Y. "DealerCONNECT is much more streamlined and doesn't require dedicated hardware. Our dealership personnel can now more easily process warranty claims, do parts transactions and submit financial statements."

Using the leading-edge technology of DealerCONNECT, dealers will now experience a faster, more secure, more reliable and lower cost environment for factory communications. All DealerCONNECT interfaces can be accessed using ARKONA's dealer management solution. This means dealership employees retain the familiar look and feel of the ARKONA dealer management system while receiving the benefits of DealerCONNECT. With DealerCONNECT, dedicated hardware and communication lines are no longer needed.

"This certification was truly a cooperative effort between DaimlerChrysler and ARKONA and represents an important milestone in our corporate efforts to provide dealers with increased value through enhanced dealer solutions," said Richard Holland, president, ARKONA. "DaimlerChrysler's DealerCONNECT interface is at the forefront of the industry with its implementation of Web services and XML. ARKONA's integration with DealerCONNECT brings an improved level of information access to dealers and streamlines the flow of data to and from the dealer."

ARKONA's Web-based software is one of the most comprehensive dealer management solutions available. This powerful and user-friendly solution includes a full range of reporting capabilities and features necessary for dealerships to maximize customer satisfaction and dealer profitability.

About ARKONA Inc.

ARKONA is a public company and a leader in automotive management solutions. ARKONA's Dealer Management Solution also leads the market in technologically superior e-business solutions for automotive dealers that fully integrate back office systems with a retail Web presence. In this market ARKONA is one of the premier Application Service Providers (ASP). For more information, visit the ARKONA Web site at www.arkona.com.

This release may contain forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the company's actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this release. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements found herein to reflect any changes in company expectations or results or any change in events.