Mobile Solutions, Inc. Press Release November 1, 1999

LOCAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY TEAMS WITH ENERGY COMPANY

FREDERICK, MD, Nov. 1 - Mobile Solutions, Inc. of Frederick, Md. today announced it has signed a marketing agreement with Columbia Gas of Virginia, Inc. to introduce mobile workforce software technology to the energy utility and field service markets.

Unlike other mobile data systems presently available, Mobile Solutions, Inc.'s software goes beyond current technology and would position Columbia Gas of Virginia to use "next generation" real-time information to improve operational efficiency and new business success. The new system is designed to enhance the delivery of service and reduce the time it takes to update or search customer records. Utility technicians can use computers installed in their service vehicles for reference and to complete customer work orders.

This "next generation" technology also would enable job assignments to be sent through computer aided dispatch terminals to the mobile workforce. Technicians then would have the ability to prioritize calls, balance workload, and transmit "real time" data back to Columbia's Customer Call Center.

Mobile Solutions, Inc., a Frederick-based Application Service Provider, was the company selected by Columbia Gas of Virginia to continue developing software to automate field workers. Both companies entered into an agreement to develop special Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) software to fit this need.

Using Windows/NT, Columbia Gas of Virginia employees would apply cutting-edge technology such as forms and drag-and-drop techniques to assist them in their work. Their data from the forms would be transmitted back to dispatch units at headquarters. This could save the field worker's time from manually completing forms for data to be accurately re-entered into the computer system for future reference.

Site acceptance is scheduled for later this year with a pilot program to begin in Columbia Gas of Virginia's Chester (Va.) operations office after the completion of the site acceptance test.

Other teaming companies on the project include The Solution Works, Inc. a technology training and support firm in Frederick, Md. "Our task is to document and train the field workers to efficiently use this technology," says Diane Wirth, President of The Solution Works.

G. Brian Kovalsky, President of Mobile Solutions, Inc. states that "the mission of our company is to optimize mobile workforce operations. Mobile Solutions develops brand name products and offers service subscriptions through globally distributed service centers." Advanced technologies include innovative software, wireless data communications and the Internet. Mr. Kovalsky explains that the pilot phase of this project is an innovative deployment of their "Next generation technology for the mobile workforce."

Columbia Gas of Virginia, based in Chesterfield County, delivers natural gas service to more than 180,000 customers in portions of Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, the Shenandoah Valley, the Lynchburg region, the suburbs of Richmond and portions of Hampton Roads, Southside Virginia and parts of western Virginia. Columbia Gas of Virginia is a subsidiary of Columbia Energy Group, based in Herndon, Va.. Columbia Energy Group is one of the nation's leading energy services companies, with assets of about $7 billion.