Viewpoint Takes the Ford 2002 Explorer Online With Its Interactive Rich Media Platform

    NEW YORK--Dec. 6, 2001--Viewpoint Corporation , a leader in digital marketing technologies and services, and J. Walter Thompson , the fourth largest advertising agency in the world, today announced that Ford Motor Company will be test driving Viewpoint's Experience Technology for an interactive digital 3D tour of the 2002 Ford Explorer, the newly redesigned version of America's best-selling SUV.
    Ford turned to Viewpoint for assistance in demonstrating some of the key innovations on the new Explorer - features that are difficult to describe with pictures and words alone. Viewpoint used state-of-the-art technology to develop an interactive demonstration of the Explorer's independent rear suspension, side curtain air bags, power adjustable brake and acceleration pedals, and disappearing third row seat. Using animated, on-demand, rich-texture graphics and text together, Viewpoint leveraged its client side software platform and use of an XML media envelope. SUV shoppers are provided with a comprehensive, compelling demonstration of Explorer's key features.
    The interactive tour begins by going to the Explorer area of Ford's Web site at: http://www.fordvehicles.com.
    "Viewpoint Experience Technology provides Ford's prospective clients a high-fidelity, extended interactive narrative that simpler rich media technologies, like streaming video, QTVR, and Macromedia Flash(TM) alone, just cannot match in quality, compression, and experience," commented Robert Rice, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viewpoint.
    "Because so many of Explorer's advantages are 'under the skin,' we are excited to have found a way to help Web shoppers experience this great new vehicle. It's the next best thing to a test drive," said Ed Molchany, Ford Explorer marketing manger. Viewpoint worked with J. Walter Thompson, Ford Division's advertising agency, out of Detroit.

    About Viewpoint Corporation

    Viewpoint is a leading provider of digital marketing technologies and services. Viewpoint licenses its proprietary technologies and also provides a full range of professional services for implementing enhanced digital rich media marketing solutions. The Company is headquartered in New York City with offices in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, London and Tokyo. Visit the Viewpoint Web site at: http://www.viewpoint.com.

    About J. Walter Thompson

    J. Walter Thompson, an agency in the WPP Group, plc. , ranks as the fourth largest advertising agency in the world and the second largest in the United States, with worldwide billings of $10.8 billion. Some of J. Walter Thompson's worldwide clients include: Unilever, Pfizer, Shell, Kraft, Ford, Merrill Lynch and Nestle.

    This press release may contain "forward-looking" statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar expressions that reflect Viewpoint's current expectations about its future performance, and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause Viewpoint's actual performance to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. For information about these and other risks, uncertainties and factors, please review the disclosure contained in the Company's filings and reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
    Viewpoint and Viewpoint Experience Technology are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Viewpoint Corporation in the United States and / or other countries. Macromedia and Flash are trademarks or registered trademarks of Macromedia, Inc. in the United States and / or other countries. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright (c) 2001 Viewpoint Corporation. All rights reserved.