SmartForce Perspectives 2000 To Present Next Generation Of e-Learning Solutions; Industry Leaders Gather in NYC April 9-12 To Redefine Instructional Design for e-Learning

Business Wire, March 30, 2000

Business/High-Tech Editors

Perspectives 2000

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2000

SmartForce, formerly CBT Systems (NASDAQ:SMTF), the world leader in e-Learning for organizations and individuals, today announced Perspectives 2000, the year's largest and most comprehensive e-Learning conference. Perspectives 2000, set for April 9-12, 2000 in New York City, is designed to give corporate, higher education, and governmental training professionals practical and effective answers to some of the most critical training problems facing employers today.

The four-day conference will feature breakout sessions by 40 of the top experts in the training industry, representing dozens of corporations, universities, consulting firms, and governmental agencies. The conference will place special emphasis on SmartForce e-Learning, a fully integrated, Internet-based learning system that uses multiple, intuitive learning techniques to train employees at Internet speed.

"Perspectives 2000 is the essential industry conference for 2000," said SmartForce CEO Greg Priest. "e-Learning has exploded in the past year, and organizations of all sizes and orientations need to understand how to use e-Learning to maximize their investments in employee technical and business skills training. Perspectives 2000 will send attendees home with ideas, solutions, and most of all, a greater awareness of what e-Learning can do to keep their company's workforce constantly skilled and ahead of the competition."

Latest Technologies and Solutions

Among the topics and areas of interest covered at Perspectives 2000, to be held at the New York Hilton, are the following:

-- Building the Corporate University at Internet Speed. How one

corporation used a custom methodology for fast-cycle

curriculum strategy and development in an industry where

skill sets become obsolete every 3 months.

-- Content Publishing and Standards Implementation. Ways to

make e-Learning solutions even more powerful by enhancing

standard curriculum with your company's own training

materials.

-- Making the Point with Executives: How to get Funding for

your Corporate University. Practical steps to obtaining

funding, from analysis to sign-off.

-- Establishing a Distance Learning Culture. Follow the steps

from one of America's best-known consulting firms, including

removing typical barriers to implementation.

Keynote speakers for Perspectives 2000 will be: Brandon Hall, author of the "Web-Based Training Cookbook" and the industry report, "Online Training Management Software: Choosing a Package Your Department Can Live With"; Elliott Masie, author and columnist, who is a specialist in organizational structures for learning delivery; and Gary Heil, an international expert on leadership and change management.

"Perspectives 2000 is for anyone, SmartForce customer and non-customer alike, who is looking for a new perspective on organizational training. Different sessions will be specifically tailored to government training, higher education, and corporate training," said Priest. "Whether you're looking for relevant corporate university case studies, ROI ammunition, ideas on marketing training programs, or simply opportunities to network with other industry professionals, Perspectives 2000 will be the event of the year."

Registration and Information

Registration fee for Perspectives 2000 is $495 ($395 for federal, state, and local government attendees), which includes 2-1/2 days of breakout sessions, continental breakfasts and lunches over three days, an opening night reception, a special event on Monday night, and dinner Tuesday night with entertainment. Non-conference guests may purchase registration covering meals and evening activities for $230. Special conference room rates are available from the New York Hilton for $175 single/$195 double (valid conference dates only.)

For additional information about SmartForce's Perspectives 2000, or to register by phone, interested parties may call 800/950-9841. Attendees can also log onto www.smartforce.com/perspectives2000 where they can get more information, register online, or download a PDF form that can be printed, filled out, and faxed to SmartForce at 925/284-4161. Space is limited, and the deadline to qualify for the special New York Hilton room rate is March 30, 2000.

About SmartForce, Inc.:

SmartForce, the e-Learning company, formally CBT Systems, provides integrated enterprise e-Learning solutions. SmartForce e-Learning is available as a fully hosted Internet environment through an Internet rental model. With more than 2,500 major corporate customers, SmartForce e-Learning solutions bring the power of the Internet to the critical training business process. The SmartForce e-Learning environment is also used by leading Internet, software and other companies to provide the infrastructure to support their e-Learning initiatives. SmartForce is quoted on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "SMTF." The company, which has more than 1,300 employees worldwide, has corporate headquarters at 900 Chesapeake Drive, Redwood City, Calif., 94063. Phone: 650.817.5900. Fax: 650.817.5061. Web site: www.smartforce.com.