SkillSoft Announces Major Advancement in Integrated, On-Demand e-Learning For Global Enterprises

NASHUA, N.H., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — SkillSoft PLC (Nasdaq: SKIL), a leading provider of enterprise e-learning, today announced the availability of SkillPort(TM) 6, the latest version of its delivery platform for e-learning courseware, Referenceware(TM), certification preparation exams, online mentoring, and other information resources. Among major SkillPort 6 enhancements are SEARCH-and-LEARN(TM), which now gives learners the expanded ability to view and select all corporate e-learning assets through a single, unified search; new support for custom and third-party courseware and other important corporate documents; and the flexibility for learners in global organizations to choose SkillPort’s interface language.

SkillPort 6 demonstrates SkillSoft’s commitment to delivering enterprise- quality, multi-modal learning solutions that give learners the ability to access and choose learning resources specific to their information needs, available time, and learning preferences. SkillSoft’s multi-modal learning solutions span formal and informal learning resources — and off-the-shelf as well as custom content – to increase the efficiency of learning initiatives, boost employee productivity, and deliver greater value for learning investments.

“Most corporate learning resources are underutilized because of their irrelevance to day-to-day job activities or search and access inefficiencies,” said Michael Brennan, program manager for IDC’s Learning Services research. “Our research shows that knowledge workers spend 15 to 30 percent of their time actively seeking information. However these searches are successful less than 50 percent of the time. We believe technologies such as SkillPort will result in greater utilization of learning resources that matter, while saving organizations the money and time typically wasted on ineffective information searches.”

“SkillPort 6 is an important step in our evolution to providing clients with ever-more efficient and comprehensive learning solutions,” said Chuck Moran, president and CEO of SkillSoft. “These advancements are based on extensive customer input, coupled with significant research and development investments. We believe SkillPort 6 uniquely supports the diverse and time-sensitive learning and information requirements of the Global 2000 and ‘raises the bar’ for learning technology.”

The major new features of SkillPort 6 include:

• SEARCH-and-LEARN: -Enhancements to this feature give learners the
  ability to search and access all learning resources on any topic with a single, unified search. So, for instance, a learner searching for resources on Cisco networks can discover all courses, books, TestPreps, Express Guides, and online mentoring available to her with a single search query. From the identified results, the learner can then choose the resource that best meets her specific needs, time requirements, and learning preferences.
• Extended content support: SkillPort 6 can now track, manage, and search custom courses created by most authoring tools, off-the-shelf courseware from third-party providers, as well as Adobe(R) PDF files and Microsoft(R) Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents. For the first time, organizations now have the ability to incorporate important information resources, such as white papers, launch plans, budget templates, and customized training within a unified, comprehensive learning database.
• Multi-language user interface support: To further support SkillSoft’s global clients, SkillPort 6 gives learners the ability to choose SkillPort’s user interface language. SkillPort can be viewed in English, French, German, Spanish, or Italian.
• Certification views: Learners who are interested in completing various technology certification programs can use SkillPort to identify all learning resources — including courses, TestPreps, online mentoring, and Express Guides — designed specifically to support almost 70 different certification programs. Learners can now view content by vendor, certification program, or specific exam.
• Section 508 compliance: SkillPort 6 meets guidelines outlined in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires that all technology be equally accessible by those employees with vision, hearing, or motor skill impairments.

“SkillPort 6 supports the market demand for reliable, scalable, and secure e-learning infrastructures with low overhead costs and minimal incremental IT investments,” said Lee Ritze, vice president of marketing and professional services for SkillSoft. “Our customers have found SkillPort to offer many of the features they need with the fastest ‘time-to-learning.’ In fact, most technical implementations of SkillPort can be accomplished within a couple of weeks, compared to the months typically required by other learning management systems.”

Deployable in a hosted or intranet environment, SkillPort currently has more than 500 registered client organizations and 2.5 million users. The platform is based on AICC-certified open design standards. Existing SkillPort customers will migrate to SkillPort 6 throughout 2004. Licensing fees for use of SkillPort 6 vary depending on number of users, content resources licensed, and other factors.

Those interested in seeing a demonstration of SkillPort 6 or obtaining further information should contact Kathy Georges at kathy_georges@skillsoft.com or 800 327 6960, ext. 1.

About SkillSoft
SkillSoft is the leading provider of comprehensive e-learning content and technology products for business and IT professionals within the Global 2000. SkillSoft’s multi-modal learning solutions support and enhance the speed and effectiveness of both formal and informal learning processes and integrate SkillSoft’s in-depth courseware, learning management platform technology and support services.

Content offerings include SkillSoft’s Business Skills Library and IT Skills and Certification Library; ITPro, BusinessPro, FinancePro, and OfficeEssential Referenceware collections by Books24x7; and health and safety compliance courseware by GoTrain. For more information, visit www.skillsoft.com

SkillSoft, SkillPort, RolePlay,SEARCH-and-LEARN, e-Learning for the Knowledge Economy, NetUniversity, and Accelerated Path are trademarks and/or servicemarks of SkillSoft PLC. Books24x7 and Referenceware are servicemarks of Books24x7, Inc. All other brand names, trademarks, or registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

This release includes information that constitutes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any such forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results encompassed within the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include difficulties in integrating the organizations of SmartForce and SkillSoft, competitive pressures, changes in customer demands or industry standards, adverse economic conditions, loss of key personnel, litigation and other matters disclosed under the heading “Future Operating Results” in SkillSoft’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2003, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking financial information provided by the Company in this press release represents the Company’s estimates as of February 3, 2004. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company’s estimates to change. However, while the Company may elect to update this forward-looking financial information at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. This forward-looking information should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s estimates of its future financial performance as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.

Contacts:
Linda Galloway
Apollo Associates LLC
203 790 1591
lgalloway@apolloassociates.com