| Offered online, Official Microsoft E-Learning Products provide learners with practical tools and insights that lead to improved job performance. In the information age, learning opportunities span a lifetime. Customers require less time out of the office and yet continue to need education in order to keep up with today's technology advancements. Official Microsoft E-Learning Products enrich any learning experience and can be used as a stand-alone resource or as part of a broader blended learning offering. What is the global market opportunity for e-learning? Given evolving customer needs, blended training and e-learning are areas for continued and focused growth for Learning Solutions partners. Background facts include: The Global Corporate Technology Training Market was $17B for CY03 with a 7% growth projected between CY03 and CY05. ILT ($12B) is projected to decline 1% between CY03 and CY05. E-learning accounts for 27% or $4.7B of the global corporate training market ($17B). E-learning is projected to grow 19% from $4.7B in CY03 to $5.6B in CY05. Live e-learning is currently the smallest, but fastest growing segment, with a projected 46% growth rate from CY03 to CY05. Self-paced e-learning includes CD-ROM and online asynchronous learning; a 15% growth is projected from CY03 to CY05. The US represents the largest e-learning market share - 47%, or $2.2B; this reflects a 14% growth rate between CY03 and CY05. The IT content segment (vs. services segment) of e-learning represents approximately 50%, or $1.1B, of the US market. The US e-learning IT content segment (excludes services segment) opportunity on Microsoft Technologies is approximately $300M. IT Pro and Developer represent approximately 65% of the IT content e-learning revenue opportunity on Microsoft Technologies in the US. Sources: IDC Training Market Study for MSL (Dec 2003) US Corporate & Gov’t E-Learning Forecast, 2002-2007 (Sep 2003) Giga Research Corporate E-Learning Market Overview (Jun 2003) By integrating a blended learning solution as part of the Organizational Assessment skills gap training plan, Learning Solutions partners are well positioned to take care of a customer’s training needs. Creating a business model focused on producing integrated learning plans is a very important step. Tips and techniques can be found in the Organizational Assessment section of this guide and/or by downloading the “Developing Customized Organizational Training Plans” document. Additional useful terms and definitions include: Global Technology Training Market: Includes corporate spending for technology training via classrooms, e-learning, satellite, and video-tape (excludes corporate technology training budget spent on books). E-Learning: Includes 1) e-learning services for both IT and non-IT training needs and 2) IT content. Self-paced e-learning: CD-ROM and online asynchronous computer or Web-based training. Content: Includes course structure, multimedia, simulations, testing, and assessments. Services: Assistance with strategy development, design, deployment, hosting, integration, management, and support of IT and non-IT e-learning solutions. Microsoft e-learning is currently available in North America only. Pilots are being conducted in Europe and other regions, with expanded availability to be announced in FY05. There are currently 12 Microsoft e-learning technical courses available and these can be found at www.microsoftelearning.com Continue to check the Learning Solutions partner secure Web site for developing opportunities around e-learning.