Ricoh Corporation and Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced the finalists in the Ricoh and Sun Java Solutions $100,000 Developer Challenge. The Challenge called for the development of creative software applications based on Java technology that provide commercial solutions running on the Ricoh Embedded Software Architecture platform. All participants in the Developer Challenge are Premier Plus members of the Ricoh Developer Program (RiDP).

Entries were judged on perceived and expected success in the commercial marketplace and will remain the exclusive property of the participant. The eight finalists include:

* Omtool, Ltd. -- Omtool provides document-routing solutions and services

that enable organizations to manage the capture, process, and delivery

of "mixed-mode" documents (containing both paper and electronic

documents) into electronic information systems.

* Notable Solutions, Inc. (NSi) -- Formed in 1995, NSi provides content

capture solutions. NSi's products focus on decentralized and server

based information and document capture technologies.

* FabSoft -- FabSoft is a developer of automation software. Automation

solutions include: electronic distribution via fax, e-mail & printer,

electronic document printing & enhancement, multipart form distribution,

barcode, image link, archive, check printing, security print and more.

* Technesis -- Technesis is a provider of document output management

solutions that enable organizations to recover, manage, and control

their printing, copying and scanning technologies.

* IPro Tech -- IPro Tech develops software that captures, indexes, and

analyzes litigation data. The company offers a suite of solutions from

robust imaging, annotating, and indexing tools to document viewing and

desktop imaging tools.

* Acris Paperless Solutions -- Acris Paperless Solutions is a secure, web-

based data storage center that allows users to upload document images to

an on-demand, collaborative data/document storage, processing and

management system.

* nQueue -- nQueue provides software based information accountability

solutions to assist firms in better managing and accounting for their

digital transactions. nQueue offers a complete line of browser-based

expense recovery, digital filing and production workflow systems.

* eCopy, Inc. -- eCopy is a provider of open and flexible solutions that

integrate paper-based information into existing business processes and

applications. Numerous industries, including legal, healthcare, and

financial services, use eCopy to easily access, modify, distribute, and

share information.

"Ricoh understands that the key to success is through continued and expanded research and development initiatives," said Wayne Mize, vice president of the solutions marketing division for Ricoh Corporation. "We are pleased to announce the finalists of the Ricoh and Sun Java Solutions $100,000 Developer Challenge as they have all developed advanced and innovative solutions that will enable Ricoh to continue to provide our customers with state-of-the-art technology, applications, and services."

"Working together with Ricoh, Sun is pleased to provide this opportunity for developers to showcase their Java technology-based business and consumer applications," said Mark Herring, senior director of Java Brand Marketing, Sun Microsystems. "We are excited by the high quality of the submissions and the level of participation we've seen in the Developer Challenge, and we look forward to the next round of the contest."

The second round of judging will be held at the Ricoh Technology Portal in San Francisco on March 14-15 and winners will be announced at the Ricoh Developer's Conference being held in Marco Island, Florida on April 25-27.

Judges in the second round for the Challenge include: Greg Anderson, senior engineering manager, Ricoh Corporation; Mark Minshull, director, technology center and solution product marketing, Ricoh Corporation; Junichi Ohta, manager, advanced functions development department, Ricoh Company Ltd., Kuldipsingh Pabla, senior staff engineer/architect, Sun Microsystems -- Market Development Engineering; and Brian Bissett, publisher and editor of the MFP REPORT.

The Grand Prize for the Commercial Application includes a $50,000 marketing fund, choice of a Ricoh Multifunction Product (MFP) ($25,000 MSRP), a one-year maintenance contract, and Compatibility Testing of the solution if it can be placed on the pricing pages of Ricoh and its subsidiaries, as well as on a Sun Workstation. Second Prize is a mid-range Ricoh MFP ($18,000 MSRP) with a one-year maintenance contract, and Third Prize is a low-volume Ricoh MFP ($12,000 MSRP) with a one-year maintenance contract.

For more information about the Developer Challenge, please visit https://developersupport.ricohcorp.com/contest.asp?choice=contest.

About Ricoh Corporation

Ricoh Corporation, headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J., is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd., the 70-year-old leading supplier of office automation equipment and electronics, with fiscal year 2004 sales in excess of $17 billion, a 1.9 percent increase over the previous year.

Ricoh Corporation is a leading provider of document solutions. Ricoh's fully integrated hardware and software products help businesses share information efficiently and effectively by enabling customers to control the input, management and output of documents. Ricoh's line of document management devices include, color and black & white digital imaging systems, facsimile products, printers, scanners, digital duplicators and wide format engineering systems. Additionally, Ricoh offers a wide variety of document and printing solutions directly and through strategic alliances enhancing office productivity and document workflow. Ricoh's document management software enhances workgroup collaboration and offers secure storage, retrieval and sharing of critical information.

Ricoh Corporation directly or through its subsidiaries markets and distributes products in North, Central and South America. For fiscal year 2004, Ricoh Corporation sales exceeded $2.9 billion, an increase of 6.9 percent over the previous year.

Information about Ricoh's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at http://www.ricoh-usa.com.

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun Logo and Java are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All referenced product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Russell Marchetta Laura Bower

Ricoh Corporation Peppercom

(973) 882-2075 (212) 931-6127

russell.marchetta@ricoh-usa.com lbower@peppercom.com

Source: prnewswire