City of Houston Chooses MDSI's Workforce Management Solution; Advantex Installation Will Manage 130 Mobile Workers at the City of Houston's Water Utility Operations.

Business Editors

RICHMOND, B.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 2001

MDSI (NASDAQ:MDSI)(TSE:MMD.)

MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc. (NASDSAQ: MDSI, TSE: MMD) has signed a $3.2 million contract with the City of Houston, which covers software, services and required hardware for the installation of an Advantex(TM) wireless workforce management system.

Houston's Department of Public Works and Engineering, which operates the city's water utility, will deploy Advantex to manage the day-to-day operations of 130 field service, collection, meter maintenance and inspection employees. Advantex will let the utility schedule, assign, dispatch, update, complete and report on service work orders and the technicians who execute them. Equipped with mobile computers, technicians will communicate throughout the day in real-time over a private wireless data network as they process service orders and send status updates and order completion information back to their central office. Using Advantex's mapping features, which provide a visual representation of the service territory, field supervisors will be able to reassign technicians dynamically as the workload changes.

"Customer relationships are our most valuable asset. With the Advantex solution, we'll be able to increase the professionalism of our mobile workforce and deliver services to customers more efficiently and reliably," said Karen Philippi, Senior Assistant Director at Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department.

"MDSI has an impressive track record in the utility space and we're confident we chose the best product for our needs," added Robert Stigers, Deputy Assistant Director, Public Works and Engineering.

"We are delighted that the City of Houston has selected Advantex," said Rob Cruickshank, President and COO of MDSI(R). "Utility companies around the world are navigating a complex market and placing a growing importance on enhancing customer service and overall performance. We have over 70 utility customers today because our product satisfies a demonstrated business need and is the de facto standard for the utility industry. MDSI is the most established and trusted workforce management company in the market today."

More than 100 blue chip companies on three continents (North America, Europe and Australia) have chosen Advantex to manage their mobile workforces-the frontlines of their utility (electric, gas and water), telecommunications and broadband operations.

More information about the City of Houston is available at http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/pwe

About MDSI

By uniting the power of wireless communications, advanced service management applications and the Internet, MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc. is revolutionizing how companies sell and deliver services and how people purchase them. MDSI enables companies of any size in any service market to manage mobile and on site service workers to deliver better and more efficient services, and empowers those workers via reliable, wireless links to enterprise or Internet applications. MDSI enables consumers and businesses alike to schedule, confirm and track service appointments online without any human intervention, providing the ultimate in convenience and efficiency. MDSI accomplishes this through a suite of wireless connectivity, service management, and other mobile solutions that can be delivered over the Internet or through traditional on-site implementations. Founded in 1993, MDSI is the most experienced and trusted wireless applications company operating today. MDSI has over 100 major, blue chip customers worldwide with operations and support offices throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. More information is available at http://www.mdsi-advantex.com and http://www.eservice.com.

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. MDSI disclaims and intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.