Hot Lava Software Adds I.C.O. Europe as m-Learning Dealer in the Netherlands

Warrenton, VA and Zierikzee, Netherlands (August 13, 2007) -- Hot Lava Software, Inc. (“Hot Lava”), the leading mobile authoring and m-learning publishing provider, to deliver the industry’s premier solution for anytime, anywhere learning for today’s increasingly mobile society, has added I.C.O. Europe, a leading e-learning solutions provider for corporate, educational and government customers, to the Hot Lava Software dealer network. Under the terms of the agreement, I.C.O. Europe will represent Hot Lava’s industry recognized Learning Mobile Author (LMA) development and delivery suite and the Hot Lava Mobile Delivery and Tracking System (MDTS) in the country of the Netherlands, as well as several surrounding European countries.

“We chose Hot Lava Software’s Learning Mobile Author (LMA) and Mobile Device Tracking System (MDTS) toolkit because it is a user-friendly authoring tool that is top quality in design. The speed in which it allows us to generate content, and the way it allows us to easily upload content, is like a Dutch way of working together; the Hot Lava approach is very open and effective, listening to demands from user groups. It gives the right feel to work with Bob and his team,” states Drs. Albert de Vos, CEO, I.C.O. Europe. “Because of the fast technical development with mobile phones I was looking for a tool that was able to handle PDAs, mobile phones, html and SCORM. I was also looking for an innovative, effective solution for M-Learning. Hot Lava covers all of this.”

“Today’s market is all about convenience. With more and more people all around the world using mobile devices, we have to stay in sync with what is in demand. I.C.O. Europe is a consulting firm that specializes in E-Learning and Mobile Learning solutions for business and educational purposes, “ says Bob Sanregret, CEO, Hot Lava Software. “Sharing knowledge is I.C.O.’s core business. They have focused their visions of m-Learning on the customers, empowering them with the ability to have learning at hand, any time, anywhere. If you are truly mobile, you will not have to have a desktop or laptop sitting in front of you.”

“Because I work most of the time with other countries on international projects I was able to combine Dutch harvesting technology on educational content with U.K. repository technology. In this process of connecting VLE-independent repositories to all kinds of VLE's, the LMA and the MDTS fits perfectly in the process to transform from E-Learning to M-Learning; or as some call it, C-Learning (collaborative learning). It's all about sharing knowledge and sharing and developing educational content. The focus on our projects is to work with repository services. The repositories for educational content we use are based on international standards for sharing, storing and delivering content within communities,” says Drs. de Vos. “For this purpose we use metadata harvesting technology for searching and finding content also based on these international standards. M-Learning is a part of the range of blended learning products, so the repository service plays a crucial role the distribution and development within learning communities.” Adds Drs. de Vos. “We expect that because of the new technology on cell/mobile phones with the access to internet the way of learning is going to change. The repository is for the distribution and development within the communities for mobile content. The MDTS makes it possible to use this content in a flexible and effective way.”

“Mobile learning is not in the future. Mobile learning is now. Keeping up with today’s time-conscious society is very critical. You have to be careful or you will get left behind. So many people just don’t have time to just stop what they are doing and sit down for a learning session. But, if you put it at their fingertips the possibilities are virtually endless as to how far you can take learning on the go,” says Sanregret. “And there are so many different types of mobile devices out there today that anyone can effectively learn with out being confined to a desk. I.C.O. Europe realizes the need to be in the forefront of the mLearning market and they are taking this cutting edge technology to new heights in the European countries.”




Contacts:

Bob Sanregret, CEO, Hot Lava
bobs@hotlavasoftware.com
+1 (703) 754-1218
www.hotlavasoftware.com


Drs. Albert de Vos, CEO, I.C.O. Europe
vov@roczeeland.nl
00+3(111) 855-8900
www.icosales.eu


Paula Bernard, Project and Support Manager, Hot Lava
paulab@hotlavasoftware.com
+1 (479) 668-0238
www.hotlavasoftware.com

A Mobile Learning Story

Trainers at Tyco Fire and Security Inc. are planning to replace a large portion of traditional classroom product instruction with just-in-time support delivered to pocket PCs and other wireless devices carried by employees. Doing so will quickly expand the skills base of technicians while also cutting costs by reducing “time off task,” figures Don McDougal, Director of Learning Technology for parent company Tyco International.
At the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Training Manager Sharon Ridings is beta testing the use of BlackBerrys as a job aide and assessment tool in conjunction with instructor-led leadership training. The agency is tracking retention of course material by testing its mobile workers via the devices.
Experiences like those are becoming more commonplace today as organizations seek ways to expand the use of ubiquitous cellular phones, PDAs and other mobile devices for training purposes. It’s easy to understand why. Not only can the devices be accessed virtually anywhere, they are practically implanted as body parts of the gadget-savvy generation currently entering the workplace. And with every technological advance, it seems, the devices become more suitable for the delivery of learning applications.
As the Tyco and EPA pilot programs illustrate, the use of mobile learning has expanded beyond quick tutorials for “field” employees such as sales representatives and technicians. Indeed, university students, healthcare workers and others are accessing critical knowledge from wireless handheld devices while on the go.
“Companies are finding new ways to employ mobile learning as part of a blended learning solution,” says A.J. Ripin, director of global learning solutions for MovingKnowledge Inc. The Orlando, Fla.-based company designs, creates and executes m-learning solutions for Fortune 100 companies. In the case of Tyco and EPA, two MovingKnowledge clients, that involves the introduction of shorter web-based training curricula for m-learning delivery, and empowering field-based employees to make decisions that reflect their new capabilities.
Ripin says a prime attraction for training directors is the availability of SCORM compliant mobile authoring platforms that extend their e-learning portfolios, along with tracking and delivery systems. “These tools help make m-learning an additional arm of their training and operations solution while also saving companies money.” He says one popular solution is provided by Hot Lava Software Inc., a Warrenton, VA - based m-learning software developer. Hot Lava’s Learning Mobile Author is a mobile authoring and publishing tool that allows the rapid design, editing and publishing of trackable mobile learning and testing content.
Ripin says the product enables quick design and deployment to all types of mobile devices. “It can be mastered very quickly with little or no previous software experience,” he claims. Hot Lava’s mobile delivery tracking system is a server product that can be “bolted” onto an LMS to deliver mobile m-learning to a mobile-enabled audience.

Hot Lava CEO Robert Sanregret says his nine-year-old company is enjoying the growth of an industry segment that is, well, on the move. With some two billion cell phones in use throughout the world today, a number expected to hit three billion within five years, continued growth is assured, he believes. Sanregret’s definition of m-learning does not include the laptop computer. “Being truly mobile means ready accessibility 24/7, with no additional connections required,” he insists. The necessity of connecting to a local access network (LAN) – which is not always possible in remote situations – disqualifies laptops in his book, a stipulation he insists is gaining acceptance within the m-learning community. But it does include MP3 players and the growing universe of podcasting.
“Thanks to Steve Jobs, mobile learning content has taken off,” he says, especially among the Echo Boomer generation that lives with their Ipods. They are totally receptive to podcasting of learning content, he claims. Sanregret says the principal negative on podcasting involves training managers, who must cope with the lack of “trackability” to determine who took what course. Training organizations are limited to determining who downloaded files for their IPods, he says.
While he classifies the U.S. m-learning market as “robust,” he says it is exploding in the Asia-Pacific region where the use of cell phones for web and multimedia uses dwarfs that of North America. For example, he says, a large Singapore-based multilevel marketing firm employs Hot Lava’s software to showcase new products to customers on mobile devices. A Chinese language version is very popular in that country, he says. By comparison, the U.S. and European m-learning markets have been slower to develop, in part because workforce trainers have been “burned” by e-learning and LMS implementations that over-promised, says Sanregret. “This is a reason why the training and education market is reluctant to jump onto new technologies,” he contends.
But that is about to change, he predicts. Opportunity is knocking on many fronts as trainers and educators awaken to the technology’s potential. Among examples: The University of Pennsylvania at Westchester, where sociology students are exploring the use of m-learning to augment classroom instruction and testing. One trial program tested the knowledge of students who performed homework exercises delivered to their mobile devices, and compared it with performance of others using more traditional methods. Students who used m-learning had exceptionally better test scores, prompting the school to consider its use for everyone, according to Sanregret.
Another contented customer is the federal government’s Defense Medical Readiness Training Institute, which delivers m-learning to field soldiers and physicians in a variety of medical settings. The institute has created 25 modules delivered in Palm OS and other mobile formats. In addition, its web site offers free downloads of m-learning content on health-related topics.
Such converts reinforce predictions by Ripin and Sanregret about m-learning’s secure future. “Five years from now, the use of mobile learning, testing and job aides will be more prevalent in society than books are today,” contends the Hot Lava chieftain. Ripin insists that while the march of technology might change the delivery, mobile learning is here to stay. What’s more, he says, the beauty of the burgeoning m-learning market is that standards have not yet been identified either for operating systems or delivery. That’s great for the consumer, he figures, because it means continued development of better solutions.

Hot Lava Software Inc Adds Kalleo Learning as m-Learning Dealer in South Afriica

Warrenton, VA and Johannesburg, South Africa (April 24, 2007) – Hot Lava Software, Inc. (“Hot Lava”), the leading mobile authoring and m-learning publishing provider, to deliver the industry’s premiere solution for anytime, anywhere learning for today’s increasingly mobile workforce has added Kalleo Learning (“Kalleo”) a leading e-learning solutions provider for corporate customers to the Hot Lava Software dealer network. Under the terms of the agreement, Kalleo will represent Hot Lava’s industry recognized Learning Mobile Author (“LMA”) development and delivery suite and the Hot Lava Mobile Delivery and Tracking System (“MDTS”) in South Africa and the other countries of Africa.
“What we like about Kalleo Learning is that they are customer focused visionaries who see mobile phone delivered learning, mobile testing and mobile job aids as a critical addition to the mix in 2007-2008. They are an organization that understands the fundamental needs of the learners and have kept this ideal foremost in the decision to add mobile learning to their offering,” states Bob Sanregret, Hot Lava’s Chief Executive Officer. “Together, Hot Lava and Kalleo are committed to bringing mobile learning to corporate, academic and government learners in South Africa and the rest of Africa. Empowering learners through cutting edge technology to enhance and extend learning and organizational development beyond the current technical and operational boundaries that constrain the typical enterprise in communicating with an increasingly mobile workforce and global marketplace.”
Willie Maritz, Managing Director at Kalleo Learning adds, “South Africa’s mobile communications networks are among the most advanced in the world. The penetration of mobile communications to users in Africa is, together with some Asian economies, the highest in the world. It makes sense that we should put more focus on delivering learning, assessments, skills guides and job guides through this widely used medium. We believe Mobile Learning has a strong value proposition for specific niche requirements and we are committed to finding and delivering on these opportunities. Hot Lava Software is leading the global market in Mobile Learning technologies and we are very proud to be associated with them.”

About Hot Lava Software
Hot Lava Software, provides mobile content solutions and a mobile content design, authoring and publishing solution, Learning Mobile Author to Corporations, Governments and Universities around the World. This toolkit allows rapid creation and deployment of mobile content to multiple devices such as Pocket PC, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Nokia, Palm OS, mobile phones and the desktop. Visit Hot Lava Software at: http://www.hotlavasoftware.com/.
About Kalleo Learning
Kalleo Learning is a global leader in the use of technology in learning solutions. The company is based in Johannesburg, South Africa and focuses on the African skills development industry. Kalleo Learning has built a reputation with various global organizations for "just making it work". Their innovative use of technology and best practice business processes ensure learning solutions that are "Quicker, Simpler, Cost Effective and Business Relevant". Visit Kalleo Learning at http://www.kalleo.com/.

Contacts:
Bob Sanregret
bobs@hotlavasoftware.com
+1 (703) 754-1218
http://www.hotlavasoftware.com/

Willie Maritz
williemaritz@kalleo.com
+27 (0) 11 782-1380
http://www.kalleo.com/

Hot Lava Software Inc. Adds BrilyanLearning as M-Learning Dealer in Indonesia

Warrenton, VA and Bekasi, Indonesia (June 25, 2007) – Hot Lava Software, Inc. (“Hot Lava”), the leading mobile authoring and m-learning publishing provider, to deliver the industry’s premiere solution for anytime, anywhere learning for today’s increasingly mobile workforce, has added BrilyanLearning, a leading e-learning solutions provider for corporate, educational and government customers, to the Hot Lava Software dealer network. Under the terms of the agreement, BrilyanLearning will represent Hot Lava’s industry recognized Learning Mobile Author (LMA) development and delivery suite and the Hot Lava Mobile Delivery and Tracking System (MDTS) in the country of Indonesia.

“BrilyanLearning is a company that offers a diversity of learning methods. Adding mobile learning to their core offering will enable their clients to have access to this learning around the clock, no matter where they are. Mobile learning allows the learner to have the necessary, vital materials at hand,” says Bob Sanregret, CEO, Hot Lava Software, Inc. “BrilyanLearning is a company that realizes the critical need for this widely used medium. This high tech company will be a leader in the integration of mobile learning. Hot Lava Software and BrilyanLearning are committed, together, to empower learners to enhance and extend learning and organizational development, through cutting edge technology.”

BrilyanLearning develops Learning Management Systems (LMS) that act as portals or gateways, allowing corporate, education and government sectors to manage, facilitate, and/or control the processes needed for learning, education, and training. They provide learning in context, determined by the learner's needs and the organization's objectives.

“Providing mobile learning was the logical next step. Hot Lava Software’s mobile authoring tool, Learning Mobile Author (LMA), is the only authoring tool I have come across that provides a comprehensive way to secure an entire development for a successful mobile learning business,” states Ikhlas Bahar, President Director of BrilyanLearning. “The insides and ideas of building multiple professional management systems, using Learning Mobile Author, and Hot Lava’s Mobile Delivery and Tracking System (MDTS), will help our developers create, integrate and publish a high quality of mobile learning content in an efficient and timely manner. With this tremendous breakthrough technology we will extend our domination as market share leader in content development in this region.”

BrilyanLearning is the first e-learning solution provider in Indonesia to offer a one stop solution from blue print design, content development and technology integration all the way up to management levels. Their services consist of, but are not limited to, corporate training, distance learning, knowledge management, customer education, online learning, virtual classes, e-university and online schooling.

Contact:

Bob Sanregret
bobs@hotlavasoftware.com
+1 (703) 754-1218
http://www.hotlavasoftware.com/


Ikhlas Bahar
ikhlas@brilyan.com
+62-21-82408929
http://www.elearning.brilyan.com/