TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE

Amnis Systems Wins Network Computing
Editor's Choice Award For Digital Video

Amnis Systems network attached streaming video over
IP products outperform competition in rigorous testing

Palo Alto, Calif., July 16, 2001- Amnis Systems, Inc., (formerly Optivision, Inc.), a leading global provider of networked streaming video systems has been selected by Network Computing as Editor's Choice Award for best streaming video products for enterprise networks. Network Computing's objective was to test and compare the network performance and video quality delivered for streaming video applications in enterprise networks. The network applications required broadcast quality video based on the MPEG digital video standard and assumed end-to-end broadband capability.

The Amnis streaming video over IP system architecture and products easily outpaced the competition. Amnis Systems' NAC(tm)-3000 live streaming video server and NAC-4000 video receiver products are interoperable network attached appliances and proved to consistently deliver the best quality video across the network under all network test conditions. Network Computing set up a challenging network environment to evaluate products for their ability to tolerate network latency deviation, packet reordering, and packet duplication. Upon completion of an objective rigorous suite of testing criteria, Amnis Systems received a solid 'A' for the Network Computing Editor's Choice Award. This grade significantly surpassed any other competitor, as no other company was awarded a grade higher than a 'C'.

"Our system architecture, support for industry standards and our network centric design for broadband enterprise streaming video applications has again proven to meet the needs of our customers," said Michael Liccardo, Chairman, President and CEO of Amnis Systems. "Amnis has been in business longer than anyone in this market and has the largest installed base of MPEG video over IP products having shipped over 4,000 systems, worldwide, since 1995. Due to the ease of integration with existing networks and our deep expertise in practical network applications, Amnis products continually prove to deliver the highest standards for broadcast quality streaming video applications."

The testing was conducted in Dallas over two simulated networks. Network Computing created an Ethernet network with an Empirix Hammer PacketSphere to test the competitive products by introducing problems that might typically be seen over a WAN (Wide Area Network). Latency deviation was the biggest test and was set up in a Gaussian distribution ranging from 20 to 500 milliseconds. Latency deviation can occur when traffic on the network is overloaded or when the network reroutes packets to their destinations. Although a good network may have a deviation of only 1 ms, Network Computing wanted to test in the worst-case scenario. The Amnis systems ability to manage network latency deviation was one of the outstanding features that set Amnis apart from its competitors as the NAC-4000 system could handle deviation of more than 5 ms.

Overall, the test results emphasized the strengths related to Amnis' network features and the practical application of the products in real world networks. Not only was the quality of video excellent, but also reliable distributing and streaming over a routed and switched network with other traffic and applications which differentiates Amnis from the rest of the field.

The following link provides full coverage of the Network Computing product testing, titled, "Picture Perfect Video": http://www.networkcomputing.com/1214/1214f2.html

Amnis' network attached streaming media systems provide essential network infrastructure, hardware and software, for high quality streaming video applications. The interoperable components are optimized for network attached streaming video applications and enable enterprises to transmit, receive, play, and record live and stored video content that meets both the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-1 and MPEG-2 industry standards, without requiring costly modifications to network infrastructure. Amnis' modular plug-and-play platform allows fast deployment and offers organizations the scalable tool they need to easily exploit the full potential of their existing broadband networks to enable a full range of collaborative multimedia applications, including distance learning, corporate communications, content distribution, e-commerce, telemedicine, and surveillance.

About Amnis Systems Inc. (formerly Optivision, Inc.)

Amnis Systems Inc. (OTCBB: AMNM) is the dominant market leader in the networked streaming video market. The company develops, manufactures and delivers MPEG network video products for high-quality video creation, management and distribution worldwide both directly and through leading industry partners. Based in Palo Alto, California, Amnis products are used in diverse applications such as distance learning, corporate training, video courier services, telemedicine, surveillance and visual collaboration. For more information about Amnis Systems Inc., visit www.amnisinc.com or visit www.optivision.com, or phone 1-800-239-0600.

For More Information:

Stacie Pham, Amnis Systems, Inc.

(650) 855-0203 pham@amnisinc.com