TOSHIBA AMERICA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, INC. COPIERS RATED "MOST RELIABLE" BY NATIONAL DEALER SERVICE MANAGERS

Toshiba Tied for First in 2004 Copier Reliability Survey

IRVINE , California   ( Jan 24, 2005 ) :

Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. (TABS) tied for first overall in a nationwide reliability survey of dealer service managers and was rated first or second best in more than half of the categories surveyed (14 out of 26). The Industry Analysts, Inc. surveyed 214 dealer service managers in copier dealerships and asked them to rate the devices they service for the 2004 Office Products Analyst (OPA) Copier Reliability Survey.

"Offering the most reliable copiers in the industry is a goal Toshiba has always strived for, and this direct feedback from the professionals who really know - our dealer service managers - shows that we are achieving that goal," said Mark Mathews, vice president, Marketing, TABS. "This is a significant award for Toshiba, but the real winners are our customers who know the copier they purchase from us will be up and running when they need it."

In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with the service managers, and the survey encompassed 63,048 units with service records provided to ensure accuracy.

In addition to earning the highest overall average score among all manufacturers, TABS ranked first or second in each of the following categories:

  • Product Reliability When First Introduced
  • Effectiveness of Service Hotline or 800 #
  • Effectiveness of Software Support
  • Availability of Controller Software Upgrades
  • Effectiveness of Controller Software Upgrades
  • Effectiveness of Engineering Support
  • Effectiveness of General Service Communications
  • Availability of Basic Service Training Program
  • Effectiveness of Advanced Product Training Program
  • Availability of Remote Diagnostics
  • Order Processing
  • Product Availability
  • Availability of Supplies

About Industry Analysts, Inc.

Industry Analysts, Inc., founded in 1974, specializes in research and training program development for the office automation industry. Headquartered in Rochester, NY, IA, Inc. also has a product testing facility in Fairfield, NJ where they evaluate office equipment. Test reports are free on their web site, www.industryanalysts.com.

About Toshiba America Business Solutions

Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. (TABS) manages product planning, marketing, sales, service support and distribution of copiers, facsimiles, multifunction printing products, network controllers and toner products throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TABS has four divisions: the Electronic Imaging Division, Toner Products Division and Document Solutions Engineering Division; and Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS), which operates a national network of wholly owned subsidiaries.

Named the most favored manufacturer in seven of the past eight years by the Business Technology Association (BTA), Toshiba's entire product line, customer support and marketing distribution policies are markers for the industry. Among the many other awards garnered in recent years, Toshiba was named the "Copier Manufacturer of the Year" by the Marketing Research Consultants (MRC) in 2004, 2002, 2001, 1998 and 1997, was named to the CIO 100 for being one of the top 100 "agile" companies in the world in 2004, and received the CIO Web Business award for its leading edge intranet site in 2000, 1999 and 1998.

TABS is an independent operating company of Toshiba Corporation, the seventh largest electronics/electrical equipment company and the world's 62nd largest company in terms of sales. Ranked by Fortune magazine as the 8th Most Admired Electronics Company in America and 9th Most Admired Electronics Company in the World, Toshiba Corporation is a world leader in high technology products with more than 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. Fiscal year revenue in 2003 was approximately $53 billion.

For more information on Toshiba copier, facsimile, multifunction printing products, network controllers or toner products, or for a dealer in your area, call 1 800 GO TOSHIBA or visit the TABS Web site at www.copiers.toshiba.com.