Data Dimensions to license an automated conversion software tool from M.D. Friedman & Associates Inc.; powerful millennium tool will become part of ARDES 2K product offering.

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 1996--Data Dimensions Inc. (NASDAQ:DDIM), a leading information technology consulting services company and provider of Year 2000 products and services, announced today that it has signed an exclusive worldwide agreement to license a powerful millennium update software tool developed by M.D. Friedman & Associates Inc., Dallas.

The tool, "The Conversion Engine(r) Macro Processor," automates several steps of the millennium update process, including program modeling, identification and analysis of date routines, and conversion of date fields to include century. Data Dimensions has exclusive worldwide license to use the Conversion Engine for millennium update work on behalf of its clients, and to sublicense the tool as part of its ARDES 2K(tm) millennium business process solution.

"The automated software factory always has been a part of our millennium update process. Now we have a particularly efficient tool that allows us to replicate the software factory at a client location," said Larry Martin, chairman and CEO of Data Dimensions. "We will continue to recommend other tools that fit our clients' unique needs, but the integration of the conversion engine makes ARDES 2K an even more complete solution for clients and licensees seeking an answer to the millennium update."

ARDES 2K is a complete package of planning guidelines, assessment instruments, automated reporting mechanisms, project management methods, and other tools that Data Dimensions has developed during its five years of millennium update work performed for more than 100 clients worldwide. The company has launched an aggressive ARDES 2K Provider Program to license this technology to user organizations and third-party providers, and from which the company will receive royalties based on licensee's millennium revenues.

The millennium (or Year 2000) problem arises from the widespread use of computer programs that rely on two-digit date codes to perform computations and decision-making functions. Many of these computer programs may fail due to an inability to properly interpret date codes. For example, such programs may misinterpret "00" as the year 1900, rather than 2000. These "date-dependent" programs are found in computer hardware, software and embedded systems used in many businesses. The cost to fix the Year 2000 problem worldwide could reach $600 billion, according to estimates by research firm Gartner Group.

Headquartered in Bellevue, Data Dimensions Inc. provides high quality, knowledge-based consulting services and turn-key business process solutions. In addition to consulting, the company licenses its proprietary millennium update technology, ARDES 2K. The company began providing millennium consulting services in 1991 and has specialized exclusively in the service since 1993. The company's clients include multinational leaders in insurance, health care, financial services, public utilities, manufacturing and government, as well as licensees and affiliates throughout the world. Further information about Data Dimensions is available on the Internet at http://www.data-dimensions.com/

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