Volvo Chooses ONE TOUCH Knowledge Systems

    SAN JOSE, Calif.--July 24, 2001--ONE TOUCH Knowledge Systems, the company that powers live, interactive communications, collaboration, and learning with broadband applications, today announced that Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. has selected the ONE TOUCH KnowledgeSite(TM) Classroom solution to communicate and collaborate with its retailer network and corporate employees. Initially, Volvo will reach 400 sites located across North America, delivering mission-critical training and communications from a single studio in Rockleigh, N.J., through its network called VENSTAR.
    "Originally, we looked to this solution to fulfill our expanding technical training needs," said Randy Smith, Volvo's Manager of Interactive Distance Learning. "But now that other departments' managers within Volvo have discovered the powerful capabilities of communicating via VENSTAR, I don't know how we're going to hold them back."
    Smith predicts Volvo's ONE TOUCH-powered network, VENSTAR, may eventually need to secure additional channels in order to fulfill all the requests for programming. VENSTAR is already broadcasting over 40 hours of training and communications per week to its dispersed retailer locations.
    "Because the ONE TOUCH KnowledgeSite Classroom solution brings critical training and communications directly to our Volvo technicians, they have more time to generate revenue," continued Smith. "We expect to see a return on investment faster than originally anticipated."
    Volvo's plans for future content over the VENSTAR network include internal town-hall meetings and programs designed to increase the company's ability to share best practices among retailing partners.
    "Volvo is well known for their value and integrity," said Kimberly Baker Kelley, VP of Industry Solutions, ONE TOUCH Knowledge Systems. "We are extremely pleased to provide them a cost-effective means to ensure all retailer and internal employees continue to receive quality training and communications that reinforce their company values."
    With the ONE TOUCH KnowledgeSite Classroom solution, a Volvo presenter or subject matter expert using a Presentation Server can reach, train, and share knowledge with any number of employees, at multiple remote locations. Volvo retailers and employees see and hear the presenter on a classroom TV and interact by pressing appropriate keys on the patented ONE TOUCH Interactive Touchpad, which includes a built-in microphone and LCD message display. A KnowledgeSite Manager is located at each remote classroom and manages all voice and data transmission between that site's Interactive Touchpads and the presenter's location. Participants can answer yes/no, true/false, multiple choice, and numeric response questions from the instructor with a simple touch of the Interactive Touchpad. Participant results are compiled and available for immediate display to everyone, while post-class tabulation allows presenters to determine their effectiveness in reaching participants. Additionally, Volvo can export all student results to an enterprise learning or resource management system.