New Software From Canon Helps Manage Operating Cost of Digital Copiers, Fax Machines, and Network Printers

Business Wire, April 23, 2002

Business Editors & Technology Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 23, 2002

Canon NetSpot Accountant Makes Ease of Tracking Office Equipment

Workload and Operating Cost for Greater Enterprise Efficiency

Realizing most corporations today need greater assistance in tracking and managing the operating cost of office equipment, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), and leader in digital imaging solutions, announced the availability of NetSpot Accountant software.

The new cost accounting application is ideally suited for corporate workgroups and departments, providing comprehensive document cost management and device workload analysis through an easy-to-use reporting tool. NetSpot Accountant tracks copy, print, and fax output pages from Canon devices, and print output from third-party engines.

NetSpot Accountant will be demonstrated at the Canon Digital Solution Forum, taking place at New York's Jacob Javits Convention Center April 23 - 25.

"With NetSpot Accountant, corporations are now empowered with a cost analysis software tool that promotes their greater understanding and management of office equipment resources," said Dennis Amorosano, director and assistant general manager, Canon U.S.A. Copier and Networked Office Systems Division. "With extensive capabilities and simple setup, maintenance, and reporting features, users can quickly analyze their output costs, bill appropriate clients or departments for device usage, and make workload decisions that provide immediate benefits."

NetSpot Accountant is capable of running on Windows NT or Windows 2000 operating systems as a server-based application. Included with the software package is a NetSpot Accountant Client Module that when installed provides the ability to track locally attached printers as well as mandate the entry of billing codes for client billing purposes.

Enhanced value features of NetSpot Accountant include:

- Track by Paper Type: Users can specify and track output by paper type and
size for accuracy in relation to paper cost.

- Track by Individual, Group, or Department: Allows users to segment how they
account for output to understand who in the organization is driving device use.


- Single or Double-sided Output: By performing page accounting for single and
double sided output, NetSpot Accountant permits the capture of all physical and
logical pages.

- Billing Code: A must for any legal application, billing code enables
end-users to assign specific output costs to a particular internal or external
account.

- Device Access Restriction: Administrators can restrict, or preset output
limits for individuals, groups, or departments to ensure devices are properly
utilized.

As a component of Canon's NetSpot Suite, NetSpot Accountant leverages many of the capabilities associated with device discovery and setup. As a result, NetSpot Accountant delivers Administrators key benefits by automatically populating the application with network attached devices, simplifying device integration and setup, and delivering enhanced system reporting tools.

NetSpot Accountant will be licensed on a server-basis including the ability to load the NetSpot Accountant Client Module on a designated number of clients as per the package purchased. Additional server and client licenses will also be available.

NetSpot Accountant will be available in the second quarter through all authorized Canon U.S.A. dealers and Canon Business Solutions locations. Pricing will be announced at the time of launch.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. In 2001, the Company was listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America, and was ranked #41 on the BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent-holder of technology, ranking third overall in the U.S. in 2001, with global revenues of $26 billion. Canon U.S.A. employs approximately 11,000 people at over 30 locations. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.