Research and Consulting Firms Merge; Telecom Research Institute —TRI— to Merge into Dittberner Associates Inc. Next Generation OSS/BSS Research Program

Business Wire, Sept 16, 2004

BETHESDA, Md. -- Technology Research Institute, an analyst firm tracking telecom OSS/BSS trends since 1994 will merge into Dittberner Associates, Inc., a leading telecom management consulting firm specializing in market and technology assessments, including operational and business support systems.

"This merger will bring together complementary products, extensive channels, and first-rate consulting organizations into a company that will lead the OSS/BSS market research and consulting industry," said Lilian Tau, CEO of Dittberner. "The addition of TRI's know-how and experience in the OSS/BSS segment are essential to our future growth plans."

"What persuaded TRI to join Dittberner Associates Inc. was its one-of-a-kind interactive database of OSS on-line information, the Dittberner OSS/BSS Knowledgebase(TM)," says Dan Baker, TRI's founder and now Dittberner's OSS Research Director. "I believe the merger will create an even better basis for further international expansion and interesting products and research services development. The combined company has a strong technology base for future product development in our core OSS/BSS markets."

Dittberner Associates Inc. has had tremendous success with its online interactive OSS/BSS Research Program and has been looking into strengthening its leading position as well as expanding its business operations into new market segments. The merger with TRI is of great strategic importance and a very positive development for both companies.

About Dittberner Associates, Inc.

Founded in 1966, Dittberner Associates, Inc. (DAI) is an international market research and consultancy with over 70 Telecom Service Providers, and in excess of 100-telecom suppliers as clients. DAI specializes in market and technology assessments and publishes multi-client study reference guides in its practice area of OSS/BSS, NGN Switching, Broadband Access Technologies, Wireless and Broadband technology market segments. For further information on this topic or to learn more about the on-going DAI Perspective Multi-client subscription programs, please contact at info@dittberner.com or visit the company's website at www.Dittberner.com. Telephone: 1 (888) 652-8382 Fax: 1 (301) 657-8084

About Technology Research Institute, Inc.

Founded in 1994, Technology Research Institute, Inc. (TRI) is a market research firm that focuses on the telecom billing and OSS marketplace. For more information please visit company's website at http://www.technology-research.com