P R E S S     R E L E A S E

Dialog Announces STRATEGIES for 2001
Introduces New Products, Enhances Current Offerings

CARY, N.C., April 26, 2001 -- Dialog, a leading provider of online-based information services and a subsidiary of The Thomson Corporation (TSE:TOC), today announced its strategies for 2001 and beyond. This coincided with the release of a number of new products and databases, including the award-winning Dialog1. This Web-based product combines Dialog's traditional precision search tools and breadth of content with new technology to make Dialog1 among the easiest to use products of its kind.

"Dialog's strategy is to develop products and services for our core customers— information professionals—that build on our traditional strengths while leveraging the power of our brands, content, global sales and service organization, and leading-edge customization tools for the Internet," said Roy M. Martin, Jr., president and CEO of Dialog.

"For almost three decades, Dialog's brands have been known among librarians and information professionals for their breadth and depth of content, precision search tools, and speed. In addition, our worldwide sales and service networks have helped to make us the clear choice for both small and large businesses that desire extensive access to detailed information, allowing them to better develop their own products and services."

Building on these strengths, Dialog is also launching its new theme—"Information to Change the World"—and a set of new graphical marks for its products.

"Because our information is so deep and our search tools so precise, Dialog stands alone as the information service of choice within corporations, government agencies, and private organizations worldwide," remarked Libby Trudell, senior vice president of Information Professional Market Development for Dialog. "Our products deliver the information that helps customers to develop world-changing products and support major industry-altering transactions in more than 100 countries. ‘Information to Change the World' could not be more appropriate in emphasizing Dialog's position as a pivotal supplier in the information society."

The new graphical marks for the Dialog^®, Profound^®, and DataStar™ brands further symbolize Dialog's pre-eminence as a global supplier of electronic data. The use of a red sphere highlights Dialog's unique ability to provide a ‘world of information' and a continual flow of accurate, fresh, and exhaustive content. "Dialog is focused on the future, and our new brand signatures better reflect that commitment," noted Martin.

Dialog's strategies will lay the groundwork for meeting the evolving requirements of information professionals who need to organize and categorize ever-increasing amounts of data from multiple sources, while better leveraging the Web and their own intranets to efficiently and effectively manage knowledge and deliver internal services. New intranet services from Dialog allow customers to enhance their information by providing active links from local content to Dialog content, all accessible with the same search tools. Aggressive programs to build new products and add content will support information professionals' exacting needs, and an enhanced focus on customer support and service will be implemented this year.

"Dialog's acquisition by The Thomson Corporation last year has energized our business and our customers," noted Martin. "2001 will mark the first solid progress by Dialog as a result of this relationship. Customers are going to observe increasing evidence of Dialog's and Thomson's commitment to our markets and information professionals around the world."

- Ends -

About Dialog
Dialog is the worldwide leader in providing online-based information services to organizations seeking competitive advantages in such fields as business, science, engineering, finance and law. Its products and services, such as Dialog®, Profound® and DataStar™, offer organizations the ability to precisely retrieve data from more than 800 million unique records, accessible via the Internet or through delivery to enterprise Intranets. For almost three decades, Dialog's brands have been known for their breadth and depth of content, precision searching and speed. The Winter Corporation recently recognized Dialog for its breadth and depth of content when they named the company the Grand Prize-winner in the Database Scalability Program 2000.

Headquartered in Cary, N.C., USA, with direct operations in 30 countries, Dialog products are used by more than 20,000 corporate customers in over 100 countries. Dialog is a subsidiary of The Thomson Corporation, a leading global e-information and solutions company in the business and professional marketplace with 2000 revenues of approximately $6 billion. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the Toronto (TSE:TOC) and London stock exchanges.

For more information about Dialog, call 1-800-3-DIALOG or visit www.dialog.com. For more information about Thomson, visit www.thomson.com.

-30-

All designated trademarks used herein are the property of The Dialog Corporation or its subsidiaries. Registered marks are registered by The Dialog Corporation or its subsidiaries, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

top