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XStream Software Launches XStream RapidShare™ LMS

New web-based LMS offers secure, cost-effective learning management in combination with powerful communication and collaboration capabilities.

OTTAWA, Canada, November 15, 2004 - XStream Software Inc., a leading provider of advanced software technologies for E-Learning, Multimedia Content Authoring, Administration/Tracking, and Web-based Communication and Collaboration, has released XStream RapidShare Learning Management System (LMS), a new web-based LMS module within the XStream RapidShare web environment and digital workspace. XStream RapidShare LMS represents a major technological advancement and upgrade to XStream’s widely used RapidManager/RapidPortal LMS technology.

XStream RapidShare LMS is a secure, feature-rich communication, collaboration, and learning management system within an easy-to-use web environment accessible to a global audience. It enables management of all types of online learning content (including SCORM content) and offline scheduled events with optional capabilities for web-based communication and collaboration.

XStream RapidShare LMS incorporates all of the features and capabilities present in RapidManager/RapidPortal, including capabilities for registering, tracking, and reporting on learning content files created with XStream's RapidBuilder, RapidExam, Performance Analyzer, and RapidGuide technologies (as well as SCORM-compliant files created with RapidBuilder, RapidExam, Performance Analyzer, RapidSVG, and other third-party SCORM-compliant technologies). In addition, there are a large variety of new features and additional capabilities present within the LMS module.

Based on a scalable .NET architecture, XStream RapidShare LMS is available as a cost-effective hosted service solution (which minimizes total cost of ownership and accelerates deployment time for quick realization of benefits) or as a non-hosted perpetual license offering. It is the ideal web solution for any organization that needs to efficiently share and manage information and facilitate real-time communication and collaboration across the enterprise. With XStream RapidShare LMS, everyone within an organization can use the same secure system to perform administrative tasks, access assigned learning content, communicate and collaborate on any topic or project, and manage/access any type of content or files that may be used within the organization. Full flexibility is provided to customize and organize the use of the LMS within the organization.

XStream RapidShare LMS incorporates a powerful set of features and capabilities that compare very favorably with those offered by other competing LMS technologies and communication/collaboration solutions. In addition, XStream RapidShare LMS includes various unique features that are not available in many other competing technologies. Highlights of XStream RapidShare LMS include:

• Decentralized administration capabilities (with comprehensive security) - Control the access and user rights of each administrator (i.e., each administrator may have full access to all aspects of the LMS or only partial access to certain elements within the LMS, and each administrator has defined rights that control the type of functions the administrator can perform at each level).
• Hierarchical administration capabilities (with comprehensive security) - Customize and organize the use of the LMS by creating multiple organizational units ( with complete security for the LMS data/content within each organizational unit) . Each organizational unit can contain its own users/groups, designated administrators, assigned content matter/events, user rights, etc.
• SSL Security - The LMS can be made accessible using either the HTTP or HTTPS protocol. The HTTPS protocol provides SSL security using 128-bit encryption, providing a completely secure environment for all transactions, including file uploads/downloads.
• Learning Content Capabilities - The LMS can register, track, and report on various types of learning content and SCORM content created with RapidBuilder, RapidExam, Performance Analyzer, RapidGuide, and other third-party SCORM-authoring technologies. A large variety of information and settings may be configured for each learning content matter registered in the system, including the capability to define the Start Date and Expiry Date for each learning content matter.
• Event Capabilities - Schedule, track, and report on offline events of all types, including instructor-led training sessions, meetings, workshops, seminars, conferences, trade shows, etc. Administrators may track the number of seats available for each scheduled event and enable registration and cancellation of registrations. Administrators may also send an event registration URL (via email or using some other method) to enable users to self-register for the event using the URL. Other capabilities include alternate scheduled event registrations, event roster generation (along with other reports), and the ability to change an event's status (open, completed, or cancelled).
• Self-Registration Capabilities - Users without accounts are able to self-register in the system by creating their own accounts online. An account creation confirmation e-mail (containing login credentials) is automatically sent to a user after he/she registers.
• Required Learning Paths/Curriculums - Administrators may define learning paths containing assigned content matter/events that must be completed by the user.
• Recommended Learning Curriculums - Users may also access supplementary assigned content matter/events not included as part of required learning paths.
• Learning Catalogs - Administrators may create defined learning catalogs containing groupings of online and offline content matter. For each learning catalog created, administrators can also define if assigned users can directly access the online content or if they need to request access to it. Access requests are made via means of notifications that are fulfilled by administrators assigning the user to the requested content matter. The user then receives a confirmation message stating that the content matter has been assigned to the user.
• E-mail Notification Capabilities - E-mail reminders (i.e., reminder messages automatically sent to participants before the content matter is taken) and e-mail notifications (i.e., results automatically sent to participants after the content matter has been taken) can be configured for learning paths and each type of content matter within XStream RapidShare LMS. Administrators can configure the e-mail messages for each type of content matter separately and define who has access to the different e-mail reminders/notifications that have been configured.
• Prerequisites - Administrators may establish prerequisites for each content matter (including conditions such as progress, time taken, score, and attendance at the content matter level) before a user may launch/register for the content matter. This controls the conditions that must be met by the user before being able to launch/register for a content matter.
• Concurrent Logins - Administrators may designate any user account as having the capability to log in multiple times (i.e., log in concurrently from different machines). By default, a user can only log in once with a user ID or password. However, with this "Concurrent Login" option selected, a user's login ID and password can be used to log in multiple times. This enables a user account to be used for logging in to the system anonymously (i.e., users do not have to disclose their personal login ID and password). This capability is useful for creating public courses and training materials, anonymous surveys/polls, etc.
• Bookmarking Capability - While logged in to a registered RapidBuilder file, RapidExam file, or SCORM v1.2 course, an authenticated user may stop at and mark a specific screen/frame before exiting in order to return to that location upon the next login.
• Reporting Capabilities - Over 150+ predefined reports are available. User reports may be generated from the user, group, or department-level points of view, and content matter reports may be generated from the content matter/event or learning path points of view. Reports may be viewed online, printed, and exported to other formats (including Excel).
• Customize User Interface Elements - Customized banner images and welcome pages may be specified for each organizational unit within the LMS. Other interface elements (such as fonts, colors, etc.) may be customized via Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
• Offline Exams - System administrators may generate RapidExam exams (.EXM files) and performance exams (.RPE files) as offline exams. Assigned users can take offline exams without being connected to the LAN or the Internet. Upon completing the offline exam, the end user transfers the results to an administrator, who then uploads the results to the LMS for tracking and reporting purposes.
• Archiving Capabilities - The system can automatically store all deleted content matter/events and associated data in an archived location. The archived content may be subsequently restored to the LMS or permanently removed.
• Section 508 Compliance - Includes full support for the accessibility requirements specified in Section 508 of the U.S Rehabilitation Act. XStream RapidShare LMS is a 508-compliant technology that may be fully accessed by users with physical disabilities or limited mobility.
• Unicode Support - Includes support for the Unicode character set (for encoding multiple written languages).
• Multi-Language Support - Supports English, French, Danish, and Norwegian (with upcoming support for additional languages).

In addition to its learning management elements, XStream RapidShare LMS provides optional access to the following communication and collaboration capabilities (as part of the LMS module):

• File Transfer/Sharing Capabilities - These capabilities enable collaboration on the development of content matter files, images, media files, etc. Files and documents (created using any application) can be easily uploaded to the system, organized in folders and subfolders, and shared with other users.
• Threaded Discussion Forums - Users can initiate one-on-one, topic-based discussions with other users.
• Interactive Chat Sessions - Users can initiate synchronous text-based chat sessions with other users on demand. One or more invited internal users or external users may join the chat. Internal LMS users invited for a chat may be notified via animated marquee to join a chat in progress. External users may participate in chatting by receiving a URL that they can use. Each chat session can be saved and made available to other users.
• "Notify Me" Capability - This capability allows users to keep track of changes occurring within the LMS. A user may choose to be automatically notified (by e-mail) as soon as a change occurs in a selected LMS component, or he/she may choose to receive a daily summary of all changes made to a selected LMS component or all changes made to the complete LMS.
• Electronic Mail Facility - Users may compose, send, receive, and store e-mail messages. Since anyone can send e-mail to the mailbox, it is particularly useful for receiving e-mail from people outside of the LMS.
• Calendar - Provides a mechanism for users to keep track of upcoming events or activities. Events can be organized and viewed by day, week, month, or year.
• iMeeting Sessions - Users can create and conduct live video conferencing or desktop sharing sessions. These iMeeting sessions enable a user to share files and applications on his/her desktop with other members of the LMS and/or external users. They are ideal for online meetings, demonstrations, web conferences, instructor-led training sessions, seminars, support sessions, general web casts (to a large number of users), and more. A user may create an iMeeting session and then invite/add users as participants in the meeting. Invited users may be LMS members or other external users (i.e., any user who is or is not a user of XStream RapidShare LMS). When creating an iMeeting session, the user may also specify that the meeting session will be recorded. A recorded meeting will be automatically saved as a clip that can be subsequently accessed and played back by other authorized users.

"With XStream RapidShare LMS, users throughout an organization can communicate, collaborate, manage, learn, present, and train in a completely secure, self-contained web environment, effectively eliminating the barriers of distance and time and greatly increasing productivity," says Sunil K. Sethi , XStream's President and CEO . "This technology will revolutionize the way information is created, presented, managed, and shared throughout the enterprise."

"The XStream RapidShare LMS enterprise solution can both simplify and amplify the processes of administration, training, and delivery of ideas and information to a global audience," adds Mahendra K. Agrawal , XStream's Vice President of Technology .

About XStream

XStream Software, a 6x brandon-hall.com award winner, has designed and developed next-generation, 100% programming-free e-learning, authoring, streaming media, administration/tracking, and communication & collaboration technologies. RapidBuilder^® and RapidExam™ are used for creating interactive Software Simulations, WBT, Presentations, Assessments, and Certifications. Linux Simulator™ is used to create interactive software simulations for Linux-based applications. Performance Analyzer™ is used for creating Performance-based Evaluations, which measure, track, and evaluate/test users' performance through software simulations created for Windows-based applications. RapidGuide™ offers next-generation learning by creating 'live', step-by-step, in-application guidance and 'Show Me' simulations. RapidSVG™ is XStream's vector-based SVG authoring application, which enables developers to create SVG web sites, graphics, animations, and other authored content. sofTV Presenter™ is a streaming media authoring technology for creating Live and On-Demand presentations synchronized with audio or video content. sofTV ShowAndTell™ is a presentation tool for creating streaming audio presentations with synchronized PowerPoint slides. XStream RapidShare™ is XStream's secure, hosted web communication and collaboration environment in which users may share files and documents, participate in real-time discussions and chat sessions, exchange e-mail, post messages and notifications, engage in real-time video conferencing sessions, and more. Also available within the XStream RapidShare™ digital workspace is XStream RapidShare™ Learning Management System (LMS), a comprehensive web-based LMS module that can manage online learning content created using XStream technologies (as well as SCORM content created using XStream technologies and third-party SCORM-authoring technologies) and offline scheduled events along with many other capabilities, including e-mail notifications, learning paths, course catalogs, prerequisite definitions, self-registration capabilities, optional web-based communication and collaboration capabilities, and much more. XStream's products are in use by thousands of internationally known clients representing businesses across all market sectors.

To learn more, please visit www.xstreamsoftware.com, or call 613-731-9443, or send an e-mail to info@xstreamsoftware.com.