iContent Expansion Continues With Addition Of Skillsoft® And Books24x7®
Partnership With Leading Online Course Content And Referenceware Provider Increases
iContent Assets To More Than 20,000
Arlington, Va. • November 14, 2006 - Plateau, a leading provider of software for developing, managing and optimizing organizational skills and talent, today announced that SkillSoft, a top provider of content resources and complementary technologies for integrated enterprise learning, will make SkillSoft courses and Books24x7 content available through iContent’s portal. With the addition of SkillSoft and Books24x7, iContent now provides customers with a single point of access and service to more than 20,000 pre-validated content assets as well as hosting and services for any company-specific custom content.
"We see the iContent portal as a natural fit for SkillSoft’s dynamic collection of learning assets,” said Jerry Nine, SkillSoft’s Chief Operating Officer “Plateau customers will now have access to rich content in an array of formats including simulations, courseware and thousands of full searchable business and IT books from Books 24x7.”
Through the iContent portal, customers can now search, purchase and access a variety of SkillSoft and Books24x7 content, including simulations, express guides, test-prep exams and blended learning toolkits that span a wide range of business and technology subject areas from information technologies, business skills, and desktop applications, to financial services, legal compliance, environmental safety and health, and Federal Government. iContent provides flexible selection and purchasing options, allowing customers to purchase individual titles and courses or pre-packaged bundles, depending on their specific needs and business requirements.
SkillSoft and Books24x7 content deliverables are made available to Plateau‘s talent management applications through iContent’s portal. Once purchased, t he content can be automatically, seamlessly and immediately updated with changes reflected across all catalogs, relieving administrators and IT staff of the labor-intensive revision management burden.
“As learning content continues to diversify and expand, the burden of updating, managing, and integrating resources from multiple content suppliers becomes more costly and time consuming,” said Chris Howard, principal analyst with Bersin & Associates, a leading research and advisory firm focused on enterprise learning and talent management. “Plateau’s iContent solution, together with the SkillSoft proactively addresses these problems and offers customers an efficient solution.”
“By partnering with leading content providers like SkillSoft and Books24x7, we are expanding iContent’s scope and value as a one-stop solution for customers to procure, deploy and update all of their talent management content ,” said Paul Sparta, chairman and CEO of Plateau Systems. "The lifecycle approach enabled by iContent – from streamlining the content selection and procurement process to assuming the maintenance, testing and administrative risk associated with hosting and deploying content - is saving our customers time, money and aggravation.”
Unveiled last month, iContent represents a next-generation paradigm for managing and delivering talent management content, providing a single place to locate, store and deliver thousands of third-party packaged content offerings from leading providers like SkillSoft as well as industry and customer-specific content. iContent is designed to reduce content integration and administration challenges by integrating packaged and custom content and hosting and deploying it to users globally over a secure and scalable content distribution network. With iContent, organizations can accelerate the availability and delivery of content to end users while also realizing substantial time and cost savings.
About Plateau
Plateau is a leading provider of adaptable Web-based software for developing, managing and optimizing organizational skills and talent to increase workforce productivity and business operations performance. Plateau’s software is being used by some of the world’s largest, most successful enterprises, including the American Red Cross, General Electric, Internal Revenue Service, and Wendy’s International. Industry analysts, including Forrester Research and Bersin & Associates, have rated Plateau a leader in functionality, technology, and customer satisfaction. The company is headquartered in Arlington, Va. For more information, please visit www.plateau.com
About SkillSoft
SkillSoft PLC (Nasdaq: SKIL) is a leading provider of e-learning and performance support solutions for global enterprises, government, education and small to medium-sized businesses. SkillSoft enables companies to maximize business performance through a combination of comprehensive e-learning content, online information resources, flexible learning technologies and support services.
Content offerings include business, IT, desktop and compliance courseware collections, as well as complementary content assets such as SkillSim ™ simulations, KnowledgeCenter ™ portals and online mentoring services. The Books24x7 ® division offers online access to more than 10,000 unabridged IT and business books in its Referenceware ® collections, as well as book summaries, executive reports and best practices. Technology offerings include the SkillPort ® learning management system, Search-and-Learn ® , SkillSoft ® Dialogue ™ virtual classroom, SkillView ® competency management software and the Enterprise Learning Connection Suite(TM), a set of platform-neutral modules that can be used to create learning programs tailored to business needs.
SkillSoft courseware content described herein is for information purposes only and is subject to change without notice. SkillSoft has no obligation or commitment to develop or deliver any future release, upgrade, feature, enhancement or function described in this press release except as specifically set forth in a written agreement.
SkillSoft, the SkillSoft logo, Ahead of the Learning Curve, SkillPort, Search-and-Learn, SkillChoice, Books24x7, Referenceware, ITPro, BusinessPro, OfficeEssentials, GovEssentials, EngineeringPro, FinancePro, AnalystPerspectives, ExecSummaries, ExecBlueprints, Express Guide and Dialogue are trademarks or registered trademarks of SkillSoft PLC in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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Plateau Systems, the Plateau Systems logo, Plateau Performance, and Plateau are the property of Plateau Systems Ltd. All other names and brands are the property of their respective holders.