EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference into the Registration Statements on Form S-8 and S-3 of our report dated November 19, 1999 (except for Note 5, as to which the date is January 13, 2000) with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Worldwide Xceed Group, Inc. (formerly X-Ceed, Inc. and Subsidiaries) included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2000. /s/ Holtz Rubenstein & Co., LLP HOLTZ RUBENSTEIN & CO., LLP Melville, New York November 15, 2000