Future Image Assists Enterprises With Selecting Image Servers.

Business Editors

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 29, 2002

Future Image Inc. today announced the availability of a new series of research reports that examines the range of Image Server solutions currently available, their comparative strengths and their optimal applications.

Enterprises across the board are finding that, while high quality visual content is now a business imperative for all forms of corporate publishing, creating and preparing images and other rich content for cross-media publishing is expensive, labor-intensive, and generally a management nightmare. Management consulting firm A.T. Kearney estimates that workforce inefficiencies related to publishing cost organizations around the globe approximately $750 billion in 2001.

Vendors of imaging technology are responding with a new breed of infrastructure products -- Image Servers. According to Future Image Senior Analyst Tony Henning, "Image servers are poised to become a strategic information management tool for publishers and enterprises. They automate the preparation of visual content and serve it up over standard Internet protocols. No other tool offers the promise of serving up rich content across multiple access points, while scaling as required to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving marketplace."

Beyond that common functionality, however, the architecture, strengths, and weaknesses of the server products offered by various vendors are in fact suited to very different business needs. And, due to the complex nature of these products, evaluating and selecting the right server and vendor can be a challenge.

To answer that need, Future Image is introducing a series of reports that examine the key products in the field, and the companies behind them.

"Image Servers -- Five Vendor Competitive Evaluation Profiles: ACD Systems Ltd., Adobe Systems Inc., Equilibrium Technologies Inc., LizardTech, Inc., and TrueSpectra Inc." provides an in-depth examination of each company's Image Server offering, organized into the following sections: Description, Feature Set, Strengths, and Partnerships. Future Image also analyzes the vendor behind the product, covering the following topics: Introduction, Vision, History, Funding, Management, Current Structure, Business Model, Technology, and Products. Sections on Competition / Challenges and the Future Image Forecast -- our analysis and outlook for the particular company and product in the image server market -- complete the profiles.

The 197-page report, with 97 charts and figures, is available now from Future Image. Each section covering a single vendor is also available separately. The Tables of Contents and Figures, and Definitions and Methodology sections are available on the Future Image Web site, at:

http://www.futureimage.com/sfm.cgi?t=p/ISCB for the entire series,

http://www.futureimage.com/sfm.cgi?t=p/ISCACD for ACD Systems only,

http://www.futureimage.com/sfm.cgi?t=p/ISCAS for Adobe Systems only,

http://www.futureimage.com/sfm.cgi?t=p/ISCET for Equilibrium Technologies only,

http://www.futureimage.com/sfm.cgi?t=p/ISCLT for LizardTech only, and

http://www.futureimage.com/sfm.cgi?t=p/ISCTS for TrueSpectra only.

Future Image has also researched the perspective and experiences of benchmark customers who have recently implemented Image Servers. "Image Servers -- Early Adopter Case Studies" presents the results of in-depth interviews with market-leading early adopters, including household names like Ford and eBay. The companies surveyed have implemented image servers from six different vendors: Equilibrium Technologies, iPIX, LizardTech, MediaBin, PictureIQ, and Xippix.

The 41 page report illustrated with 29 figures includes the following sections:

-- In-depth interviews with the management of the operating companies, focusing
on needs assessment, vendor selection and implementation process, and analysis
of benefits and ROI.

-- Charts summarizing aggregate customer responses to a "Behind the Firewall"
benefits assessment, "In Front of the Firewall" benefits assessment, and
Adoption Process.

-- Future Image analyst conclusions regarding the five key lessons to be
learned from the experiences of these early adopters.

The Table of Contents and Figures, Executive Summary, and Definitions and Methodology sections are available at http://www.futureimage.com/sfm.cgi?t=p/ISC.

All six reports are available now from the Future Image Web site (www.futureimage.com) or by contacting Customer Service at 650/579-0493 ext. 42. Special pricing is available for bundle purchases, and for subscribers to the Future Image Executive Information Service.

About Future Image

Future Image Inc is the leading publisher of digital imaging information and analysis for business executives, investors, and entrepreneurs. Its primary research and continuous information services focus on emerging trends in digital imaging and photography. Recent research studies published by Future Image include "Wireless Imaging -- Infrastructure and Players" "Protecting Visual Assets on the Internet -- Turning Pictures into Profits" and "Digital Cameras -- The Battle for the Emerging Consumer Market." Founded in 1991, the company is headquartered in San Mateo (Calif.). Business leaders in over fifty countries worldwide subscribe to its Future Image Executive Information Service. Future Image is the official information and research partner of the International Imaging Association (I3A).

Note: Excerpts of the reports are available for publication.