I-OPEN TO BE AWARDED PATENT FOR SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DELIVERING OUT-OF-HOME PROGRAMMING.

36 claims approved which cover i-Opens intelligent merchandising technology

PHILADELPHIA -- January 17, 2002 -- i-Open, Inc. announced today that it has received notification from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that 36 claims of the Companys patent application for its interactive out-of-home programming network have been allowed.

This weeks patent allowance is an important strategic development that significantly strengthens i-Opens base of intellectual property," said Patrick Carney, CEO of i-Open. This patent recognizes i-Opens success in developing a proprietary intelligent merchandising solution for public spaces that is truly end- to-end."

i-Opens network -- individually-addressable, high-definition display units called Virtual BillboardsTM, or VBsTM, connected over the Internet -- delivers rich media to influence highly targeted demographics within retail environments. The turnkey i-Open solution enables retailers and advertisers to efficiently manage and optimize the buying, scheduling and distribution of dynamic merchandising campaigns, delivering them instantly to individually addressable displays at the point-of-purchase.

i-Opens breakthrough technology shatters the barriers of conventional, static POP messaging," said Carney, enabling brands to deliver relevant, time-sensitive messages to their customers and fine-tune promotional strategies in real time."

The i-Open solution is currently installed at leading retailers such as Commerce Bank, CVS, Nine West and Rite Aid. Recent Advertiser Clients include Coca-Cola, Gillette, Johnson & Johnson, Revlon and Merck.

The patent, which is expected to be issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in early 2002, broadly relates to delivery of programming (e.g. advertisements and promotional messages) to individually addressable display devices over a computer network in geographically dispersed public places including an interactive component.

With headquarters near Philadelphia, i-Open is a leading provider of digital signage solutions delivering advertising and promotions in retail environments. i-Open is an intelligent merchandising solution that generates incremental sales for retailers and the brands they sell, enabling marketers to reach consumers with maximum impact at the most influential moment...the point-of-purchase impulse. For more information, please visit www.i-open.com.