Xippix Pumps Up Business With Acquisition of Cafex Corp.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

LARKSPUR, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 2000

Xippix, Inc., an Internet imaging company and developer of ImagePump(TM), has acquired Cafex Corp., a professional services firm specializing in the design and development of database-driven, dynamic content web sites, for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition now allows Xippix to provide an end-to-end e-commerce imaging solution.

Xippix will also secure Cafex's proprietary Dynamic Content Server (DCS) technology, which allows for the rapid development of database-driven web sites that can be easily administered by the customer. The customer can update content, change the look and feel of the site through design modifications, collect data regarding site visitors for marketing purposes and to allow site visitors to filter unwanted web pages.

"When looking at acquiring Cafex, Xippix recognized the benefit to providing our customers complete end-to-end Internet imaging solutions for their sites," said Ed Miller, president of Xippix. "Completing the acquisition of Cafex increases Xippix's web developer expertise, expands our client base, and underscores our commitment to providing top-notch customer service for our clients."

"By joining Xippix, Cafex has the opportunity to contribute directly to the success of an innovative Internet technology company," said Paul Remer, president of Cafex. "Our proven ability to deliver development services combined with Xippix's ImagePump technology makes the company a serious player in the Internet imaging space."

Through the acquisition of Cafex, Xippix will add more than 20 engineers to its team and offer pre- and post-sales consulting services to customers who add ImagePump(TM) technology to their sites. This team will create Xippix's Professional Services group, which will handle a variety of value-added services ranging from development of custom ImagePump applications to full e-commerce web sites.

Established in 1996, Cafex' clients include the San Francisco Music Box Company (sfmusicbox.com), bettervote.com, imom.com and other dot-com startups and traditional brick and mortar firms who want to take advantage of commerce on the Internet. Paul Remer and Gregg Kellogg, co-founders of Cafex, will join the Xippix team through the acquisition. Remer has been appointed vice president of professional services and Kellogg has been named chief information officer.

About ImagePump(TM)

Easily incorporating large, high-resolution images into e-commerce web sites, ImagePump enables online shoppers to examine image details closer and with greater flexibility than previously possible. ImagePump gives Internet users the ability to zoom, pan, scroll, rotate, and spin images. ImagePump also provides the ability to view synchronized side-by-side images for comparison and place objects such as sunglasses or clothing on one's own image for previewing prior to purchase.

The ImagePump architecture offers various levels of implementation. A seamless off-the-shelf solution will allow e-businesses to immediately enhance the usability of their images for end users. For sites that require some degree of specialization or differentiation, the ImagePump solution can be easily tailored to their specific application requirements.

In addition, ImagePump's flexibility and standards-neutral design also make it an ideal platform for building custom image-enriched e-business solutions from the ground up. Any of these implementations may be instituted at the client's site or through Xippix's 24x7 image hosting service.

Supporting all major image file formats including TIFF, JPEG, BMP, PSD (Photoshop), EPS, DCS and Flashpix, ImagePump can be easily and seamlessly integrated into a web site. As a site's traffic increases, ImagePump can scale and adapt to support remotely mirrored servers or distributed content delivery systems. Demos of ImagePump technology can be found at www.xippix.com.

About Xippix, Inc.

Xippix, a privately held, Larkspur, California-based Internet imaging company, provides visually rich, interactive solutions to online retailers where imaging is essential to the sale. ImagePump, Xippix' flagship product, is a scalable imaging application platform (IAP) that allows e-commerce sites to build brand identity and increase purchasing behavior by enhancing the image viewing experience on the Internet. For more information on ImagePump, contact Xippix at 800-464-3877 or via e-mail at [e-mail] or [e-mail]. The company's web site is located at www.xippix.com.