Canon U.S.A. Announces Availability of CR-55 Check Transport Solution.

NEW YORK -- Compact CR-55 Color Duplex Check Scanner Enhanced With Latest Imaging Features & Functionality to Expedite & Simplify Funds Processing

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leading provider of digital imaging solutions, today announced the availability of the new CR-55 Check Transport, the latest compact, countertop scanner system to complement the Company's growing portfolio of workflow and data capture solutions. Designed for ease-of-use in limited workspaces environments such as teller windows, corporate Account Receivables departments or retail checkout counters, the CR-55 Check Transport offers rapid, high quality image capture at first point of presentation to speed check clearing time and reduce overall expenses.

Available in October through authorized Canon Image Filing Systems dealers and resellers, the user-friendly CR-55 allows batch feeding of up to 50 items at a time to automatically capture and route data from both sides (duplexing) at speeds of up to 110 images-per-minute (ipm)(i) or 55 checks-per-minute (cpm), reading MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) characters. A pre-scan imprinter is a standard feature that further expedites the check routing and clearing process.

"The availability of the CR-55 effectively creates a complete end-to-end Canon check scanning solution - one that combines teller capture and remote deposit with typical back counter check processing operations," said Mark Machida, director, Image Filing Systems Division for Canon U.S.A., "The CR-55 features a compact, yet powerful, combination of functionality, size and speed to expedite electronic image exchange - and ultimately improve both workflow and customer service with faster check processing, quicker funds availability and even improved fraud detection."

The compact CR-55 significantly enhances Canon's electronic check capture offering and complements the durable CR-180 Check Transport - the Company's successful high-volume, high-speed back office scanning system used by banks, credit unions, check-clearing houses and large retail operations. The CR-180 supports an average daily volume of up to 20,000 checks, and batches of up to 200 items can be scanned simultaneously and automatically sorted to two different output pockets using pre-configured rules based on the MICR data on the checks. Both the CR-55 and CR-180 offer an enhanced item processing solution.

The CR-55 provides multiple modes for scanning checks including black-and-white, grayscale or color, at resolutions of up to 300 dots-per-inch (dpi), and offers unmatched image clarity through the use of advanced text enhancement and adaptive threshold features. Canon's exclusive image processing technology provides greater contrast and legibility for letters and signatures printed on illustrated or lightly colored check backgrounds. The CR-55 delivers full-compliance with international standards for reading MICR characters, including CMC7 and E13B.

Providing true plug-and-play installation for overall system integration cost reduction, the CR-55 features USB connectivity and comes bundled with Silver Bullet Technology Inc.'s Ranger(TM) driver with IQA - a tool which streamlines the device's integration with most industry-leading check capture and processing applications by allowing customers to mix and match item-processing software and hardware systems.

The CR-55 Check Transport helps reduce the barrier to electronic check clearance in the U.S., allowed by the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act - also known as Check 21 - effective as of October 2004. The Check 21 Act makes clear that its purpose is to facilitate truncation, which means to create digital images of both sides of a check for processing purposes.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is rated #35 on the BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent holder of technology, ranking third overall in the U.S. in 2004, with global revenues of $33.3 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.

(i) Based on American Style Checks in duplex, Black-and-White or Grayscale mode at 200 dpi.