Microsoft Press Licenses Technology From LearnIT For Use in “Starts Here” Multimedia Software Training Products

REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 25, 1998 — Microsoft Press today announced a licensing agreement with LearnIT Corp. to include its technology in the Microsoft Press® line of interactive multimedia software training products. Microsoft® Windows® 98 Starts Here
™
Network Edition, scheduled for release this fall, will be the first product to incorporate LearnIT’s software simulation technology and the Administration Console, which enable organizations to deliver desktop training to personal computer users via local area network (LAN) or the Internet and intranets.

“Corporations, the general public and educational institutions are turning to computer-based multimedia training products to deliver a richer and more compelling learning experience,”
said Larry Levitsky, interactive media publisher at Microsoft Press.
“By incorporating LearnIT’s technology in our products, we are able to provide our customers with an easily managed, ‘any time, anywhere’ training solution that can be readily tailored to meet their business needs.”

“Customers deploying computer-based multimedia training are looking for high-quality, flexible, cost-effective solutions from vendors they can trust,”
said Dennis Suppe, president of LearnIT.
“Together, LearnIT and Microsoft Press possess the expertise, the technology and the products to deliver these training solutions.”

Microsoft Windows 98 Starts Here Network Edition allows customers greater flexibility in deploying multimedia training across a network and throughout their organizations. Interactive simulation, self-paced instruction and built-in assessments allow users to
“,”
which results in the highest possible retention rates.

In addition, network and training administrators can use Microsoft Windows 98 Starts Here Network Edition to let users learn in a protected, simulated environment. LearnIT’s simulation technology replicates the interfaces and command functionality of Microsoft’s system and application software products. Users can also choose to interact directly with their
Windows 98-based software through the Applied Lesson feature.

The Administration Console feature in Microsoft Windows 98 Starts Here Network Edition also enables the delivery of customized content tailored to group or individual learning objectives. Administrators or training managers can manage user access to content, create and modify pre- and post-assessment questions, print progress reports for individuals or groups of users, and export data to Microsoft Access or Microsoft Excel for further review.

This product also includes a content-cache feature, developed by Microsoft Press, which provides optimal multimedia performance for users who work from Internet or remote access connections. Unlike other online training products that require extensive time to download, Microsoft Windows 98 Starts Here Network Edition delivers real-time,
“hide-the-wait/weight”
performance to users.

Microsoft Press plans to incorporate the LearnIT technology into additional products such as the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) training kits for computer professionals.

About LearnIT

LearnIT Corp., founded in 1994, is a privately held computer-based training developer and provider. Since its inception, LearnIT’s mission has been to produce and deliver the most complete and accurate interactive training products using state-of-the-art simulation technology. LearnIT Corp. provides standalone and network-based interactive training for some of today’s most popular products. News and information about LearnIT are available at http://www.learnitcorp.com/ .

About Microsoft Press

Microsoft Press is a division of Microsoft Corp. and the leading source of training and reference solutions for Microsoft products and related technologies. Millions of individual and corporate users rely on a complete line of world-class Microsoft Press computer books and multimedia training and reference tools to accommodate different learning styles and training situations. Self-paced tutorials for first-time computer users to advanced technical references and programming guides for computer professionals are distributed to book and software retailers worldwide. Customers in the United States can order directly from the publisher at (800) MSPRESS, or (800) 677-7377. For detailed information about the complete line of Microsoft Press products, visit http://mspress.microsoft.com/ .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft, Microsoft Press, Windows and Starts Here are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.

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