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BEND, OR. Thursday, April 6, 2000 - Orcom Solutions, Inc., today announced its membership in the international IT research and analyst organization META Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: METG) Orcom is currently the largest Application Service Provider (ASP) for billing and customer care in the utility and energy industry, and joins with META in predicting the continued growth of this strategic approach in this market.

"META Group has consistently forecasted business trends central to both the emergence of the ASP business model and Orcom’s core competencies," said Mark Crapeau, Orcom Executive Vice President. META research has predicted an increase in outsourcing by utilities, and META has conducted benchmarking projects for utility call centers. "While Orcom has worked with many consulting organizations over the years, we have found META to be at the forefront of the industry when it comes to recognizing and predicting trends. They are intellectually agile and, as such, are able and willing to quickly respond to changes in the market. We find this approach very helpful in a world that moves at Internet speeds."

In addition to Orcom’s ASP offering, which provides customer service and billing technology, Orcom operates a Customer Service Center that enables clients to outsource specific business processes including call center operations.

"Philosophically, this is an ideal fit," Crapeau added. "Orcom continues to build solutions that address the challenges in the market, as we have with our ASP offering. Our partnership with META will allow us to remain focused on our clients’ needs and to remain well ahead of our competitors."

Orcom’s involvement with META Group focuses on its vertical market Energy Information Strategies Group and its Enterprise Data Center Strategies Group. META Group offers its clients advisory services, consulting/benchmarking, proprietary research, conferences and publications and maintains the lowest client-to-analyst ratio in the industry – 50 to one.

"The META Group has an outstanding grasp of the future of the utility industry, and we are continually impressed by their commitment to objectivity and providing bottom-line answers," said Dave Deluhery, Orcom’s Director of Infrastructure and Network Services.

"Acceptance of the ASP business model is growing because it offers significant cost savings, as well as reduced risk and improved service. Through our involvement with META Group, we hope to help guide and influence the perception of the ASP business model in the utility industry so more companies can capitalize on the benefits an ASP offers," Crapeau said.

About Orcom Solutions
Orcom Solutions, Inc. is the premier Application Service Provider (ASP) of billing and customer care solutions, systems integration, and outsourcing services to the utility and energy industry. With over 1.2 million outsourced bills, Orcom is the largest ASP for utility and energy bills in the industry. Headquartered in Bend, Oregon, with an office in Denver, Colorado and a service delivery facility in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Orcom currently has more than 530 employees. Orcom is owned by LiveWire Utilities, a LiveWire company. LiveWire is a diversified software and Internet company focused on business-to-business and mission critical software products and services for media, telecom, utility, and new media companies.

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