Future Image Reports Image Servers Provide Key Benefits, Including ROI.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2001

Future Image Inc., the leading publisher of digital imaging information and analysis for business executives, investors, and entrepreneurs, today released "Image Servers -- Early Adopter Case Studies."

As rich (non-textual) content becomes an increasingly important component of all forms of publishing -- especially those that promote goods and services and provide entertainment -- high quality visual content is rapidly becoming a business imperative. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to develop systems that can publish that content, anywhere, any time, to any device -- a capability now referred to as Network Publishing. The downside is that creating and preparing images and other rich media for publishing in multiple channels is expensive, labor-intensive, and generally a management nightmare. Dataware Technologies estimates that 12 to 15 percent of a typical corporation's revenues is currently spent on various publishing activities, and the percentage is rising.

According to Future Image Senior Analyst Tony Henning, principal author of the report, "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. The image server market is currently in the formative stage, where use cases are being developed and validated (or invalidated) by early adopters, to the great benefit both of vendors, who can study these experiences to refine their value propositions, and of other users, who can learn from the trailblazers."

In 41 pages illustrated with 29 figures "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 following sections are included:

-- 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.

"Image Servers -- Early Adopter Case Studies" is available now for $1,500. It can be ordered from the Future Image Web site (www.futureimage.com) or by contacting Customer Service at 650/579-0493 x42. 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.

About Future Image

Future Image's primary research focuses on emerging trends in Internet photo imaging. In addition to "Image Servers -- Early Adopter Case Studies" recent studies published by Future Image include "Windows XP: Challenges and Opportunities for Imaging Companies," "Wireless Imaging 2001 -- Overcoming The Challenges," "Funding Trends in the Digital Imaging Industry," "Web Photo Services 2000 -- A Competitive Analysis," "Protecting Visual Assets on the Internet -- Turning Pictures into Profits," and "Worth 1,000 URLs -- Visual Strategies for eCommerce." Founded in 1991, Future Image is headquartered in San Mateo (CA). Business leaders in over fifty countries worldwide subscribe to its Future Image Executive Information Service. www.futureimage.com.

Note to Editors: Excerpts of the report are available for publication.