Worldwide Telecommunications Giant, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation -- Dedicates New Office at the University of Wisconsin, Platteville

PLATTEVILLE, Wis.--April 21, 2006--Around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13, nearly 200 people gathered at the University of Wisconsin's Platteville campus to celebrate the opening of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation's (NTT) new U.S. office, located on the third floor of the university's Pioneer Tower.

After an opening speech and introduction by Master of Ceremony, Chancellor Markee, NTT's Senior Executive Vice President, Ryuji Yamada, and Vice President and General Manager for NTT Energy and Environmental Systems Laboratories, Hiroki Tanaka, jointly expressed their appreciation for the support and encouragement the campus and the community had given NTT since they had first announced the purpose to develop an office in the United States.

"We are very excited to begin our work at such an esteemed university. We had searched for a Midwestern location, preferably close to a university with a notable reputation in engineering to readily develop and market business projects in the United States," stated Tanaka.

Early in 2003, ANDNA, a global consulting firm, laid the foundation for a relationship between NTT Energy and Environment Systems Laboratory (NTT E&E) and HL.I, a U.S.A. based research and design company that enhances and creates technology to meet the needs of the global marketplace. "HL.I is the bridge to bring some of NTT's Energy and Environmental Systems technologies to the North American marketplace," continued Tanaka.

Ron Brisbois, Executive Director of Grant County Economic Development Corporation, shares the same enthusiasm, stating, "Wisconsin's natural resources and the talent pool at the Platteville campus were strong factors in determining the locale for this U.S. office. When you have a company as world-renowned as NTT to select Grant County, that single act shows that we have the ability to attract and accommodate the needs of businesses on the very cutting edge of technology. I am looking forward to building a bridge of friendship with our new associates from Japan."

Immediately following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, NTT E&E hosted a reception and a dinner party, for supporters and press.

NTT has selected Makoto Tarumi to manage the new U.S. office, relocating his wife and son from Japan. The focus of the NTT office on the UW-Platteville campus is to develop marketing opportunities for NTT's technology in the U.S. market, and to facilitate the transfer of NTT's extensive technology to U.S. businesses. NTT Energy and Environment Systems Laboratories will be responsible for the office administration and support.

HL.I, Incorporated, a privately held Wisconsin C-Corp, is a research and design company that enhances and creates technology to meet the needs of the global marketplace. HL.I office locations include: Corporate Headquarters, Romeo, MI, Research and Design Center, and International Offices located in Highland, WI, and HL.I Japan, Tokyo, Japan.