Vicom's SmartCata!og to Merge With Datacat International.

CALGARY, ALBERTA and EDMONTON ALBERTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 1997--Vicom Multimedia Vicom Multimedia Inc. today announced the merger of its SmartCata!og(TM) division with DataCat International, Inc. of Houston, Texas. The new company will operate in Houston under the name of DataCat International, Inc. The ownership will be split evenly between Vicom Multimedia Inc. and DCI Holdings, Inc. (DCI).

Dan Chugg, president and CEO of Vicom stated, "The deal creates an organization that is significantly greater than the sum of the parts. We knew we had the world's best multimedia catalog builder and viewer. The problem was that, until the end users could cost effectively mine and structure their data, creating a multimedia catalog was just too expensive and uncertain. Companies waste time and money re-keying data from suppliers' catalogs so that they can take advantage of electronic commerce. DataCat's technology and process simplifies and automates this data input."

DataCat International, Inc. has developed an expert system software that overcomes hurdles of the time and cost commitments currently faced by companies trying to rationalize product descriptions to acceptable industry standards. This technology was instrumental in DataCat being awarded a significant contract to manage the global CIMIS (Common Industry Material Identification Standards) sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute, the Construction Industry Institute and the Pipe, Valve and Fittings Roundtable. Currently the DataCat client list includes such major industry players as Shell, Petrofina, Alcoa, and Amoco.

Jeff Cloward, president of DataCat International added, "The merger will provide the combined company a powerful competitive advantage in electronic commerce for the oil and gas sector, one of the largest and fastest growing markets in the world. 'According to a Killen & Associates study, October 4, 1996, by the year 2000 the electronic commerce industry will be worth $98 billion. The combination of DataCat's information standardization processes and Vicom's cataloging interface will provide an integrated package for both light and heavy industrial clients. We expect to provide the marketplace with a highly efficient, cost effective methodology for identifying and locating required information with minimum effort."

Dan Cloutier, vice president of marketing for Vicom stated, "This merger will allow the new company to consolidate efforts and focus on the petrochemical vertical market for multimedia electronic catalogs. The SmartCata!og(TM) implementation with Gulf Canada Resources has had great success and complements the activities of DataCat. While oil and gas will be our initial focus, the potential offered by this merger opens up the entire world of multimedia electronic catalogs."

The merged company has purchased Vicom's SmartCata!og(TM) technology for $1,000,000 US, plus an initial 50 percent interest in the newly formed company. Vicom's and DCI's interest will dilute slightly as key personnel are brought on board and given incentives of minor equity positions in the new company.

The merger was effective January 1, 1997. Jeff Cloward will assume the position of Chairman, and Dan Cloutier will move from his role at Vicom to become the vice president of marketing, DataCat. Negotiations are nearing completion for a new president and board of directors.

Vicom Multimedia Inc. is a leading technology-based communications, training, and software development company with eighteen years of experience in providing products and services that contribute to better comprehension and use of information. The company offers a full range of multimedia, video, slide, and print production services. Vicom's three proprietary products: SAFE-T-Disc(TM), SmartCata!og(TM), and the NEREUS(TM) Multimedia Publishing System exemplify its benchmark status as a multimedia technology and software development company. Vicom Multimedia Inc. trades on The Alberta Stock Exchange under the symbol "VMI". -0- The Alberta Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

CONTACT: Vicom Multimedia Inc.

Dan Cloutier, 403/264-3950

www.vicom.ca

or

DataCat International Inc.

Jeff Cloward, 713/952-9335 (ex 207)