VSI Communications Group Introduces Mentor™ for Outlook 2000

Announcing an entirely different way to learn Outlook 2000 while dramatically reducing Help Desk costs

Norwalk, CT, December 10, 1999—Mentor™ for Outlook 2000, the new multimedia Communication, Learning and Support (CLS) system introduced by VSI Communications Group, represents an entirely new way of learning—at the desktop—for less cost per user than a single Help Desk call.

Premiered at Microsoft Exchange Conference 99, Mentor™ for Outlook 2000 delivers concise, just-in-time demonstrations right from Microsoft Outlook 2000. Instead of reading a book or taking a class, users can learn just what they need to know, just when they need to know it.

"By adding this integrated performance support to Outlook 2000 and Exchange, companies can get everyone up to speed fast, and provide convenient reminders to experienced users of how to perform any Outlook task," said Dave Malcom, group product manager for Exchange Server at Microsoft Corporation.

VSI has sold over one million seats of Mentor CLS Systems in the last two years. CEO Dan Gallo credits Mentor's success with the speed at which users master new software, and Mentor's proven ability to reduce training and ongoing support costs by as much as 40%.

"Mentor is the only end-to-end solution," says Mr. Gallo, "that addresses the multiple needs for companies when they are deploying new applications. From pre-rollout to enterprise-wide assimilation, Mentor communicates the benefits of a new application, helps users learn how to use it, and provides performance support."

"It's like being able to afford a personal trainer at every workstation," explains VSI's Director of North American Sales Scott Weinstein. "Users just click the Mentor icon to watch a short multimedia unit that is far more powerful than text help. Everything they need to become 'power users' is instantly available and clearly explained."

Mentor™ for Outlook 2000 shows users how to use Outlook's tools, work with folders and items, use the Inbox, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Notes, and Journal—over 250 topics in all. It also gives feature overviews and explains underlying concepts of the application.

"The reason companies deploy new software in the first place it to take advantage of productivity enhancing features," says Mr. Weinstein, "but until people learn a new application—and use it well—companies don't see any increased productivity, and they certainly don't see any return on their investments."

Mentor is already installed at IBM, DuPont, Colgate-Palmolive, Duke Energy and Transamerica, in addition to Reuters, Canon, Philips Petroleum, Bayer and many smaller companies.

Mentor™ for Outlook 2000 compresses four hours of high quality multimedia training in less than 30 megabytes of disk space. It installs in minutes and integrates into the Microsoft Outlook 2000. Using bit streaming and high compression techniques; Mentor delivers its content to workstations with connections of 28.8kbps or faster via LAN, intranet or Internet. No downloading is necessary.

Mentor™ for Outlook 2000 lists for $15 a seat for 1,000 seats—less per user than one Help Desk call, a good user manual, an extra half hour of classroom time or a CBT course," Mr. Gallo notes. Smaller quantities and large volume discounts are available. A new 25-seat Starter Pack is also available for product evaluation.

For more information, call 203.847.5555.

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Outlook 2000 is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Mentor is a trademark of VSI Communications Group.

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