Codehost and Mandrakesoft Partner to Support Enterprise Printing on Linux

CULVER CITY, CA and PARIS, FRANCE - June 10, 2004 — Codehost Inc., the leading provider of Linux and Unix printing solutions, and Mandrakesoft, publisher of the popular Linux distribution Mandrakelinux announced a cooperative partnership today. Codehost’s advanced Linux and Unix printing solution, BrightQ, will be distributed with Mandrakelinux 10, Mandrakesoft’s newest desktop Linux release.

As part of the relationship, Codehost will use Mandrakelinux for educational and training sessions offered to their customer and partners. Codehost recently rolled out a suite of Linux- and Unix-related training classes for its partners, which consists of manufacturers and dealers of multi-function printing devices.

“Our relationship with Mandrakesoft allows us to give our partners, and their sales channel, easy access to great tools like Mandrakemove,” said Trent Carlyle, Codehost Marketing Director. “Our partners are becoming more solution savvy, but Linux is an area that is relatively new to the printing industry. The easier we make Linux for them to use and demo to customers, the quicker they will be able to capitalize on this growing market.”

The high-volume printing segment, born from the copier industry, was traditionally a hardware-only business, but is now becoming more solution-oriented. With the emergence and adoption of sophisticated multi-function digital devices over the last ten years, an opportunity arose to become a full provider of software and hardware solutions.

“As Linux operating systems, such as Mandrake, continue to gain market share and momentum within the minds of IT personnel, Canon ensures an integrated and user friendly printing solution," said Dennis Amorosano, director and general manager, Integrated Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A. “With BrightQ, Linux users can enjoy the feature rich functionality of our Canon imageRUNNER multi-function devices with an intuitive printing solution."

Sophisticated Unix printing has been a cumbersome chore for years. With Linux coming to the mainstream, the need for sophisticated print support in these environments is greater than ever.

“With the combined efforts of hardware manufacturers, software developers and the operating systems, I believe Linux will be a viable desktop alternative for the enterprise and for consumer use in the short term,” said Eric Levy, General Manager, Print Systems of Codehost, Inc.

About Codehost Inc.

Founded in 1999, Codehost has emerged as the leader in Linux and Unix software development for leading manufacturers of printers and multi-function devices. With an expertise in a number of operating system platforms, hardware architectures, embedded technologies and peripheral devices, Codehost strives to establish long-term relationships with OEMs to support and grow their market share, while helping them enter emerging market segments.

Codehost’s BrightQ printing solution has been called the standard for Unix and Linux printing in the multifunction copier industry several major printing trade publications.

About Mandrakesoft

Mandrakesoft is the publisher of the popular Mandrakelinux operating system, one of the most full-featured and easy to use Linux systems available. The company offers its enterprise, government and educational customers a complete range of GNU/Linux and Open Source software and related services. Mandrakesoft products are available in more than 120 countries through dedicated channels and also from Mandrake Store.com, the company’s online store. Number 1 in several countries, Mandrakesoft has been awarded many times for quality and the technical innovation of its products. "Born on the Internet" in late 1998, Mandrakesoft has established headquarters in the U.S.A. and in France. Mandrakesoft is traded on Paris Euronext Marche Libre (Euroclear code: 4477.PA; Reuters code: MAKE.PA) and the US OTC market (stock symbol MDKFF).