Electronic Parts Catalog Breakthrough

    NARRABEEN, Australia --Feb. 7, 2001--Global OEM electronic parts catalog (EPC) software developer Infomedia Ltd has announced the launch of the first Internet-based versions of its award winning EPC, Microcat(R) at NADA today.
    Both internet based EPCs, Microcat LIVE and Microcat FRESH, are for sale into Infomedia's traditional market of automotive dealers, however Microcat FRESH is designed to allow dealers to develop a self-service parts interpretation and ordering model for their trade customers while Microcat LIVE is an uncompromising fully functional implementation of the Microcat electronic parts selling system.
    "Unlike the Internet based EPC attempts of other suppliers," said Richard Graham, Chairman & CEO of Infomedia, while launching the products, "Microcat LIVE is a heavyweight browser-based application that works at the fast speed required for parts and service business operations".
    "Microcat LIVE goes much further than just professional parts interpretation over the web. It provides auto dealer staff with information from many other sources on one screen," he said. "This `personal portal' allows staff to simultaneously access vital job information like shop manuals, finance tables and lube specs."
    "Microcat FRESH consolidates the advantages of Microcat LIVE by allowing dealers to give their best customers access to an internet-based self service parts selling system that saves time and costs for both buyer and seller."
    "Most importantly," Graham pointed out, "all orders go directly back to the dealership, no detours. Dealers will welcome these systems with open arms when they realize how it gives them the ability to develop e-commerce that completely excludes middlemen feeding them only the information they want them to see. Microcat LIVE and Microcat FRESH give dealers e-commerce on their own terms," Graham said.
    Both systems are built and updated from genuine OEM parts data, illustrations and pricing. The North American debut of these EPC breakthroughs is for Ford and Lincoln/Mercury dealers, and contains passenger cars and light trucks from 1980 to the present day.
    "For more than a decade," Graham said, "Infomedia Ltd has been the global technology leader in automotive electronic parts catalogues. Our success has been guided by the simple goal of making the sale of parts for dealers faster, more accurate and more profitable. Microcat FRESH and Microcat LIVE are the next generation of our products that will continue to deliver on this goal for our customers and keep Infomedia in the commanding position in the global market for EPC's that we currently hold."
    Full time operation of Microcat FRESH commences on March 30 and will cost $96 per month. Full-time operation of Microcat LIVE commences on June 1 and will cost $159.00 per month. As with all versions of Microcat there is no long term commitment and no fine print contracts to sign, just a simple month-to-month subscription. Initial capacity to both systems will be limited, Microcat FRESH to 800 users and Microcat LIVE to 1500 users, however additional capacity will be continuously rolled out upon demand.
    Infomedia Ltd is a publicly listed company that specializes in the development and licensing of information technology solutions for automotive dealerships around the world. It's flagship EPC product, Microcat(R), is used in 92 countries and 22 languages. Its dealer management systems division provides sophisticated accounting and customer process systems for large and multi-franchised dealers in the Austral/Asian region. Datateck, a wholly owned subsidiary of Infomedia, provides specialized OEM analytical work for parts catalogs and service documentation. The company is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and its trading code is IFM.
    For more information or digital images contact Bruce Rayment, Marketing Director, Infomedia Ltd at booth 3529, at email brayment@infomedia.com.au.