Claritas Upgrades iMARK Online; Newest Version Provides First Time Access To the Full Extent of Claritas' Vast Databases.

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2002

Claritas Inc., the premier provider of intelligent marketing information and target marketing services, announced today the newest version of iMARK Online (IOL), which for the first time provides access to the full extent of Claritas demographic and segmentation data.

Essentially, the latest upgrade provides twice the data and functionality, said Claritas Product Manager Jim Silane, who directed work on the upgrade. "With this new version a user can now create custom reports, mixing and matching variables from any of the other Claritas databases, including retail activity, business employment, shopping center data, consumer expenditure, lifestyle data and traffic counts," he said.

Silane said the upgrade, which features a redesigned, sleeker interface, is a "very important" step in further simplifying usage of the IOL system, while making it vastly richer in data. The previous version, though comprehensive, was comparatively limited in that only a select number of pre-set standard reports, each containing data from a different database, could be accessed, he explained.

Another highlight of the new IOL is that MapXtreme(R) software from MapInfo Corp. is embedded into the functionality. With a simple click, clients can thematically map any variable from any licensed database. "For example, you can thematically map product usage and consumer expenditure data using an easy-to-use custom list of frequently used variables," Silane explained. Based in Troy, N.Y., MapInfo, a Claritas strategic partner, is a global software company that focuses on location-based solutions.

Other notable features include:

-- Microsoft Excel Output -- IOL contains functionality to print reports to
Microsoft Excel, so the user can easily use the information in pre-existing
Excel files, or present the information in this common format.

-- Quick Find Tool -- With the "Quick Find" tool the user can easily find and
select standard geographies by entering geography names or using a search
function.

-- Fast and Easy Access -- IOL is accessible from any direct Internet
connection, including dial-up modems; no special configurations are required.
It can be used quickly and without the costly support of IT professionals.
Plus, IOL is hosted at Claritas, so program files do not need to reside on the
client's hardware.

-- Configurable -- IOL can be configured to meet a variety of needs and
preferences. Choose to expose functionality uniquely to different groups of
users within an organization and configure the "look and feel" of the interface
to meet the various user preferences. Customizations may include adding a
company's title and company logo to the home page and matching the colors and
fonts on the interface's page to individual corporate styles. The user can
either license the Market Analysis module, the Customer Acquisition Analysis
module, or both. Each module can be configured to reflect the data set and
functionality for users to access.

IOL is an interactive, Internet-enabled platform for site and market analysis. Clients can access data, create trade area maps and perform market analyses for determining optimal new store locations and analyzing customers. As a distributed-access product, IOL accommodates multiple users from remote locations any time of the day or night.

About Claritas

Based in San Diego, Claritas Inc. is regarded as the premier worldwide provider of precision marketing solutions, developed, in part, through intricate customer segmentation systems and other such marketing tools. Claritas is a division of theVNU Marketing Information Group (MIG), an established leader in providing a wide variety of industries with innovative precision-marketing solutions including geo-demographic information and qualitative audience research. VNU MIG is a part of VNU Inc., which also includes AC Nielsen Media International, Nielsen Media Research, VNU Business Publications, SRDS, VNU eMedia, and VNU Expositions. To learn more about Claritas' products and services visit its Web site at www.claritas.com.