Skillsoft® and Sumtotal® Systems Integrate Open Learning Services Architecture With Totallms™

SkillSoft® PLC (Nasdaq: SKIL) a leading provider of e-learning and performance support solutions, today announced that SumTotal® Systems (Nasdaq: SUMT), the largest provider of talent, learning and business performance solutions, has integrated SkillSoft's Open Learning Services Architecture (OLSA) with its award-winning TotalLMS system. OLSA, which is based on Web services technology and provides SkillSoft learning services to third-party Learning Management Systems (LMSs) wishing to integrate learning content and services, will enable SumTotal customers to simplify integration and provide employees with richer e-learning experiences. SkillSoft demonstrated the integration of OLSA with TotalLMS at TotalConnections 2006, SumTotal's annual user conference last week in San Jose, CA.

"Our goal for developing OLSA was to simplify and minimize the effort required to integrate SkillSoft products with existing technology architectures, including third-party LMSs," said Mark Townsend, SkillSoft's executive vice president of technology. "SumTotal's integration with OLSA is another major step forward in achieving this objective, and one that will greatly benefit our joint customers. Also, based on the rapid adoption we've experienced in recent months, SumTotal users will have a much more rewarding experience with our content."

TotalLMS is an enterprise-wide, globally scalable LMS that integrates with ERP, HRMS, CRM and other enterprise and legacy applications for managing learners, content and resources. As a result of the integration with OLSA, TotalLMS provides users with seamless access to a wide range of SkillSoft content, including Books24x7®, courseware, SkillSimulations, TestPreps, job aids, SkillBriefs and more. In addition, learners can access mentoring directly from within those courses supporting this service. Mentoring enables learners to chat live with SkillSoft subject matter experts and ask specific questions, providing them with valuable assistance and support as they work towards certifications.

In addition to catalog management services, SumTotal is the first LMS to integrate SkillSoft's value-added Search-and-Learn® technology. Search-and-Learn allows for more in-depth search of SkillSoft courseware and Books24x7, and merges search results with TotalLMS Search results into one screen. Online books and courseware are ranked by relevancy and can be selected for launch directly from the merged search screen.

SumTotal customers also have access to a Preview Button option, which enables a consistently available "free preview" link within TotalLMS that gives users access to selected SkillSoft learning content, including Books24x7, at no charge.

"Building OLSA integration into TotalLMS allows us to provide our customers with a variety of features, including Search-and-Learn, that directly impact productivity and the overall learning experience," said Jon Ciampi, vice president of marketing at SumTotal Systems. "We are excited to offer these new capabilities as part of our LMS and look forward to incorporating additional services and functionality as the partnership between SumTotal and SkillSoft deepens."

SkillSoft is the first major content provider in the corporate e-learning market to commit significant resources to delivering a service-oriented architecture that leverages existing learning system standards, XML and emerging Web services standards. SkillSoft's Open Learning Services are OLSA 1.0-supported Web services that seamlessly integrate multiple types of content resources and learning application services faster and more efficiently. In addition, Open Learning Services provides a means for organizations to deploy SkillSoft assets and support SkillSoft learning services through third-party systems, including TotalLMS.

To view a demonstration of SkillSoft's Open Learning Services Architecture (OLSA) integration with TotalLMS please visit: www.skillsoft.com/pr/sumtotal_olsa_demo

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For more information about SumTotal's products and services, visit www.sumtotalsystems.com.

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