SAN MATEO, CA Feb. 4, 2003 Future Image, the leading provider of digital imaging information and analysis, announced the addition of two major sponsors Microsoft and Nikon- to its Visual Communication initiative. The roster of companies who have joined together to promote visual communication through this initiative now includes: Eastman Kodak, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, LightSurf, Microsoft, Nikon, SanDisk, and Sprint PCS.

The initiative, first announced at Photo Marketing International last year, aims to focus the business community¹s attention on a key emerging trend of the 21st Century: the critical importance of integrated visual content as a tool for businesses to increase productivity, cut costs, develop new revenue streams and communicate more effectively with customers, suppliers, stakeholders, and employees.

"Business executives are becoming increasingly aware that visual communication technologies are of vital importance to their future," said Alexis Gerard, president of Future Image Inc. "We¹re delighted that two of the key companies driving that evolution are joining forces with us and with each other to highlight the coming information shift to enhanced visual content."

"This initiative highlights how visual communication has been central to the growth of computing and is increasingly important for business communication." said Jonathan Usher, director, Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. "Digital media offers tremendous new opportunities to meet the growing needs of organizations to create and rapidly deliver mission critical information with maximum impact to employees and customers alike."

"We're pleased to be a part of this very important business initiative," said Jerry Grossman, Vice President, Marketing, Consumer Digital Products for Nikon Inc. "If you compare the time it takes to write a report with the moment it takes to capture and share a digital image, it's easy to see the return on investment in productivity alone, along with the byproduct of more clear, concise and unambiguous communication. The technology is here today, and virtually every business will be able to benefit in some way from adopting digital imaging into their workflow."

About Future Image

Future Image (www.futureimage.com) is the leading independent center of expertise focused on the convergence of imaging, technology and business. It publishes two continuous information services: The Future Image Executive Information Service, and the Future Image WIRE (Wireless Imaging Research Edition). In addition, Future Image underwrites and publishes numerous research studies on the impact of emerging imaging-focused technologies or business trends. Future Image is the official information and research partner of the international Imaging Industry Association (I3A) and the managing partner of the Visual Communication initiative (www.visualcommunication.info ).

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