SkillSoft's Books24x7® Fosters Learning On the Go with Free Monthly Podcast Series


Podcasts Feature Content from Books24x7's ExecBlueprints(TM) Referenceware® Collection, Enabling Executives to Learn from Their Peers Anywhere, at Any Time

NORWOOD, Mass., July 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Books24x7®, a subsidiary of SkillSoft PLC (NASDAQ:SKIL) and the developer of online Referenceware® for IT, business, engineering, financial and government professionals, today announced a free monthly podcast series featuring excerpts from its ExecBlueprints(TM) Referenceware collection. The podcasts, which can be manually or automatically downloaded to a laptop, iPod or other portable devices, are select excerpts from ExecBlueprints, which provide professionals with executive-level information and perspectives on specific business issues, trends and initiatives in an easily consumable audio format that enables them to learn on the go.

Books24x7's ExecBlueprints Referenceware collection provides concise, must-read best practices that address strategic business issues with practical expertise. Authored by some of today's most prominent C-level business leaders, ExecBlueprints gives time-starved professionals succinct, highly relevant insight on specific business issues, trends and initiatives from recognized experts and fellow executives in their field, enabling them to immediately incorporate best practices into their own initiatives.

"The podcast series serves as a great introduction to Books24x7's ExecBlueprints Referenceware collection, which contains strategic insight and practical information authored by some of the world's most prominent and influential executives," said John Ambrose, vice president and general manager for Books24x7. "Moreover, the podcasts embody Books24x7's commitment to leveraging the latest tools and technologies to enable learning on-demand, whether you're at home, in the office or waiting in an airport. The podcast excerpts are designed to provide a glimpse into how easy and convenient this type of learning is, and how the benefits can be multiplied across an organization with a corporate license."

ExecBlueprints Excerpts draws from Books24x7's vast collection of more than 350 ExecBlueprints, capturing key excerpts in an MP3 file audio format. As a result, C-level executives, senior managers, business line managers, department heads and other high potential employees can listen and learn anytime and from any location.

The podcast series is available for free subscription via the ExecBlueprints website www.execblueprints.com/, as well as through the Apple iTunes Music Store. A new podcast will be released on or about the first of every month through the end of 2006, with potential for the series to continue into 2007.

The ExecBlueprints Excerpts podcast series will feature the following topics and executives throughout the summer of 2006, addressing critical IT, executive management and marketing issues:

* July 2006 -- Establishing a Strategic Vision for Your Company
John S. Chen, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President, Sybase

* August 2006 -- Technologies that Will Impact Your Company in the Next 12
Months
Andy Mulholland, Global Chief Technology, Capgemini

* September 2006 -- HR Best Practices: Retirement Services
Jay G. Crosson, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Dick's Sporting
Goods, Inc.

"ExecBlueprints is a valuable tool for business professionals looking to gain insight and practical knowledge from their peers," said Andy Mulholland, Global Chief Technology, Capgemini. "I enjoyed contributing my own experiences to the collection and am excited that excerpts are now available in an audio format. The podcasts are an easy and innovative way to learn on the go."

Additional podcast topics and featured executives will be announced in the fall. To learn more about ExecBlueprints, the podcast series and Books24x7's latest Referenceware collections, please visit http://corporate.books24x7.com/.

About Books24x7®

Books24x7®, a subsidiary of SkillSoft PLC, offers subscription clients online access to more than 10,000 IT and business books, book summaries, reports, and best practices. Books24x7's patent-pending technology platform enables users to pinpoint business-critical information quickly by performing multi-tier, online searches of the company's Referenceware® collections: ITPro(TM), BusinessPro(TM), EngineeringPro(TM), FinancePro(TM), HospitalityPro (TM), ExecBlueprints(TM), ExecSummaries(TM), ExecSuite(TM), GovEssentials(TM), OfficeEssentials(TM), and Well-BeingEssentials(TM).

Books24x7® Referenceware® bridges the gap between what employees know and what they need to know in hundreds of leading organizations, including Bank of America, CSC, Deloitte, EDS and Lockheed Martin. The company has relationships with more than 290 leading publishers, including AMACOM, Apress, ASTD, Harvard Business School Press, McGraw-Hill, Microsoft Press and John Wiley & Sons. For more information, visit http://www.books24x7.com/.

About SkillSoft

SkillSoft is a leading provider of comprehensive e-learning content and technology products for business and IT professionals within global enterprises. 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 content resources, learning management system, virtual classroom technology and support services.

Content offerings include SkillSoft's business, IT, desktop and compliance courseware collections and BusinessPro(TM), ITPro(TM), OfficeEssentials(TM), FinancePro(TM), EngineeringPro(TM), GovEssentials(TM), ExecSummaries(TM) and ExecBlueprints(TM) collections from Books24x7®. SkillSoft's complementary technologies include SkillPort®, the company's learning management system with its powerful Search-and-Learn(TM) technology and premium add-on modules, and SkillSoft® Dialogue(TM) virtual classroom, a tool that allows customers to create and deliver effective blended learning programs using custom content and off-the-shelf learning resources. For more information, visit http://www.skillsoft.com/.

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.

Source: SkillSoft PLC

CONTACT: Donna Keenan of SkillSoft, +1-603-821-3211, Donna_Keenan@SkillSoft.com; or Ed Hadley of PAN Communications, Inc. for SkillSoft, +1-978-474-1900, SkillSoft@pancomm.com

Web site: http://www.skillsoft.com/

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