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First IT Hero Thomson Prometric anticipates saving up to one million dollars in communication costs

January 7, 2004 Boston, MA. USA

ManageSoft Corporation, a world leader in software configuration management solutions, today announced the launch of its ManageSoft IT Hero Award™ program to recognize customers who are utilizing its ManageSoft enterprise solutions in a unique and strategic manner to help solve business-critical software management and IT challenges. ManageSoft selected Thomson Prometric, a global leader in technology-enabled testing and assessment services, as its first IT Hero award winner based on the company's innovative use of ManageSoft to effectively manage its network of more than 10,000 workstations resulting in an anticipated communications cost savings of more than one million.

Through the IT Hero Award program, ManageSoft helps customers like Thomson Prometric publicize its IT successes within and outside the organization. As an IT Hero award winner, ManageSoft customers are showcased externally — free of charge — on the ManageSoft website through a series of marketing and promotional activities, including a series of 3-5 minute videos capturing the work environment and professional background of each IT Hero and detailing how ManageSoft helped solve their biggest IT challenges.

Thomson Prometric is featured this month as ManageSoft's first IT Hero Award winner. ManageSoft is helping Thomson Prometric manage its network that spans 100 countries and supports more than 10,000 workstations that act as both servers and workstations for candidates to take certification tests. ManageSoft's real-time reporting and self-healing capabilities helps Thomson Prometric establish a competitive advantage by automatically and instantly managing software downloads and configurations, reporting on results accurately, and ensuring the appropriate software and testing materials are present at each workstation location at any time.

Previous to ManageSoft, Thomson Prometric used a proprietary software deployment system to assemble application packages for overnight distribution (as large as 1 MB), queuing and batch transmitting. Data and results concerning successful transmissions were entered manually for reports. As a result, it took at least one week to update 80 percent of the test centers and another two to three weeks to complete the software distribution. With ManageSoft, software for any machine can be deployed and viewed instantly. Thomson Prometric can now confirm, in real-time, that its testing centers receive the right software and content at the right time enabling the company to provide unrivaled service levels to its customers. In addition, ManageSoft also enables Thomson Prometric to avoid downloading the entire software package, a feature that is estimated to save Prometric more than one million dollars in connectivity costs.

"We are honored that ManageSoft has selected us as its first IT Hero Award winner," said Lisa Nielsen, manager, Technology-Software at Thomson Prometric. "Our biggest IT challenge as a company is ensuring that we have the right test, at the right center, at the right time. ManageSoft's real-time reporting and self-healing capabilities has empowered our sales force by enabling them to offer enhanced service levels to prospective customers. None of the other vendors we evaluated could match ManageSoft's superior performance."

"We always are looking for innovative ways to showcase the great results our customers are achieving with our solutions," said Walter Elliot, CEO of ManageSoft. "We are excited to recognize Thomson Prometric as our first IT Hero. With ManageSoft's solutions, Thomson Prometric has been able to strategically manage its network, resulting in a real market advantage that enables Prometric to differentiate itself from the competition while achieving up to one million dollars in cost savings."

For more information on how ManageSoft helped Thomson Prometric solve its business-critical IT challenge, please visit the ManageSoft IT Hero Award Website at http://www.managesoft.com/ITHero.

About the Thomson Corporation and Prometric

The Thomson Corporation, with 2002 revenues of $7.8 billion, is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges (TSX: TOC; NYSE: TOC). Its learning businesses and brands serve the needs of individuals, learning institutions, corporations and government agencies with products and services for both traditional and distributed learning.

Prometric (www.prometric.com) is the global leader in technology-enabled testing and assessment services for information technology certification, academic admissions and professional licensure and certifications. Prometric delivers standardized tests for 300 clients, in 26 languages, over the Web or through a global network of testing centers in 134 countries. Based in Baltimore, Md., Prometric employs 3,000 employees worldwide.