News Releases

06/12/2002

Hitachi America and MCSi to Provide Comprehensive Digital Signage Solutions For Businesses Worldwide

Jun 12, 2002 17:06 PM

-- Strategic Partnership Integrates Winning Digital Signage Solutions for Hospitality, Retail, and Banking Markets --

LAS VEGAS, http://www.hitachi.us/, June 12, 2002 - Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan (NYSE: HIT), and MCSi (Nasdaq: MCSI), the nation's leading systems integrator of state-of-the-art presentation and broadcast facilities, today announced they have entered into a strategic partnership to offer solutions for customers' digital signage needs in the hospitality, retail and banking industries. By offering joint comprehensive solutions, the partnership allows customers to tap into Hitachi's vast technology expertise, while simultaneously leveraging MCSi's global reach and scalability for integrating customized solutions designed specifically for their needs and budget.

Hitachi's state-of-the-art digital signage technology allows retailers and advertisers to reach targeted audiences at the point-of-influence and point-of-sale. On a larger scale, companies with multiple sites nationwide or globally have the ability to control content from one centralized location ensuring consistency of messaging and pricing, quality control and cost savings. By working together, Hitachi America and MCSi can meet the needs of their global customer base, ensuring seamless integration and cost-effective results.

"We are aggressively pursuing our digital signage initiative, and this partnership is an important step in the process," said Pete Denes, director of sales for Hitachi America, Ltd., Computer Division, Visual Display Products. "With its global reach, exceptional reputation for quality of service and innovative integration solutions, MCSi was the obvious choice for Hitachi, and we look forward to growing this segment with them."

"There is an enormous opportunity for both MCSi and Hitachi in the digital signage space as the market is just now at the beginning of what we believe will be a large growth cycle," said Michael E. Peppel, chairman, president and chief executive officer of MCSi. "Hitachi's strong commitment to the digital signage space and their industry-leading technology, combined with MCSi's ability to integrate these solutions on a global scale will help both companies quickly assume and maintain the leadership position in this exciting new industry."

Hitachi America, Ltd., Computer Division, supplies high-performance computer storage products and multimedia products to OEMs, value-added resellers, system integrators and distributors. The division's products include high-capacity hard disk drives, LCD/LCOS projectors, CRT monitors, color laser beam printers and flat panel and plasma displays.

Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, consumer electronics and semiconductors and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information, visit http://www.hitachi.us/.

Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2001 (ended March 31, 2002) consolidated sales totaled 7,994 billion yen ($60.1 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.hitachi.com.

MCSi has emerged as the nation's leading systems integrator of state-of-the-art presentation and broadcast facilities. MCSi's foresight and ability to converge three key industries: audio-visual systems, broadcast media and computer technology, combined with design-build and engineering expertise, computer networking and configuration services, an extensive product line, and quality technical support services, has given MCSi a distinct advantage in the systems integration marketplace and has contributed to the dramatic growth of the Company.

MCSi's scalable solutions address clients at every level of the business transaction continuum. Products and services are available directly through the Company and its sales specialists, many of whom provide enterprise-wide solutions and/or work exclusively with clients on strategic and strong relationships maintained with manufacturers and technology leaders. With the largest selection of audio-visual/presentation, computer, and office automation products and the legacy of technical support and field service in locations across the U.S.A. and Canada, MCSi's customers are provided with a unique value that extends beyond the product. MCSi's products are also provided over a robust business-to-business e-commerce platform. Additional information regarding MCSi can be obtained at www.mcsinet.com (but is not part of this release).

The matters discussed in this press release which are not historical facts contain forward-looking information with respect to plans, projections or future performance of MCSi, the occurrence of which involve risks and uncertainties which include, but are not limited to, the closing of the above-described transaction, general economic conditions, industry trends, actions of competitors, MCSi's ability to manage its growth, factors relating to its acquisition/merger strategy, actions of regulatory authorities, restrictions imposed by its debt arrangements, dependence upon key personnel, dependence upon key suppliers, customer demand, risk relating to its international operations, dependence on its computer systems and other factors. A complete description of those factors, as well as other factors which could affect MCSi's business, is set forth in MCSi's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002.