Vivisimo and Bitratings to Deliver First Clustered Search Service for Mobile Devices in Japan; New Service Focuses on Search Experience for Mobile Users

Business Wire, June 27, 2006

PITTSBURGH -- Vivisimo (Vivisimo.com), a leading provider of search software and expertise, today announced a partnership with Bitratings KK of Japan, a directory search portal provider, to deliver the world's first clustered search service for mobile devices. Consumers will be able to access the new mobile search site in one click from the keyword search menu on KDDI phones or navigate to it by typing in the URL for the site on handsets offered by other carriers.

Traditionally, Japanese consumers searching on mobile Internet sites select search categories from a previously compiled list--keyword searching is difficult and hard to understand. Users have to scroll through multiple pages of search results to find information, a cumbersome process that prevents many consumers from attempting to perform searches via their mobile devices.

Leveraging its experience in the mobile market, Bitratings has developed a new mobile search service that offers keyword searching and combines precise page crawling and advanced page ranking with results that are neatly organized into topical folders using Vivisimo's technology. Vivisimo and Bitratings worked together to jointly customize software for use with mobile phones where the size of the screen is limited. With the new service, consumers using their mobile devices to search the Internet will be able to easily navigate results and find information quickly.

"By offering consumers a search engine enhanced by dynamic clustering of results, mobile users will be able to find the information they're looking for in less time, with less frustration and despite the fact that they are searching the vastness of the Internet on small device screens," said Takashi Sato, president of Bitratings. "Our hope is that by providing this functionality, we will help increase adoption of mobile search and spur ongoing innovation in mobile technology."

"Delivering a superior user experience is at the very core of Vivisimo's approach to search, regardless of the interface used," said Raul Valdes-Perez, CEO and co-founder of Vivisimo. "We anticipate that savvy Japanese consumers will find the Bitratings search experience an enormous improvement over the existing services available from other providers."

The clustered search service for mobile devices will be sold in Japan by Groupnet Corporation, a Vivisimo reseller, and offered through OEM deals both in Japan and abroad.

About Bitratings

Founded in 2003, Bitratings Co., Ltd. specializes in media and information aggregation, information provision, marketing and sales promotion exclusively for mobile phones. With its expertise and understanding of the nature of being mobile, Bitratings currently operates a popular mobile portal site, F*ROUTE, offering diverse services such as mobile search, RSS reader functionality and blog search for all 3 major mobile carriers in Japan. The site attracts 100 million page views per month and has attained 1.1 million uniquely-identified users per month. Utilizing its overwhelming ability to attract mobile users, Bitratings aims to evolve into portal platform services. Clients of Bitratings include Japanese mobile carriers and many other major players in Japanese mobile market. Please visit: http://www.bitratings.co.jp/ (Japanese) for more information.

About Groupnet Corporation

Groupnet Corporation was established in February 2006 and is headquartered in Tokyo Japan. Having established Artsoft, which develops and markets call centre software, the former CEO of Lotus Japan, Saburo Kikuchi, went on to fund and head up Groupnet Corporation, which is focused on providing the latest technologies in the area of internet and enterprise search. Vivisimo appointed Groupnet as a Platinum Reseller in Japan in March 2006 and is working closely with the team to introduce the Velocity enterprise search platform to the Japanese marketplace.

About Vivisimo, Inc.

Vivisimo does search right by combining the simplicity and innovation of consumer search with the flexibility and control of enterprise software. The company works with customers to understand their goals and quickly deploy solutions that maximize the business value of information--with an interface users love. Vivisimo serves its global client base through headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA, and Paris, France, and partners throughout the world. Please visit Vivismo.com to learn more.