Microsoft Joins Forces with it's learning, inc. to Provide Cloud-Based Applications for Education

BURLINGTON, Mass., May 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Providing better technology for education, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and it's learning, inc. (www.itslearning.net) have entered into a global alliance to integrate their Cloud-based learning solutions.  Under the terms of the agreement, it's learning will use Microsoft's Live@edu service to provide Outlook Live based collaboration and the Microsoft Office Web Apps suite to K-12 and higher education clients with the it's learning platform at no charge. The global alliance indicates the importance that Microsoft and it's learning place on the integration of communications and productivity tools into a learning management system.

"I have been very impressed with the individualized learning approach that it's learning, inc. is offering to education," said Mark East, General Manager of Microsoft Education. "Integrating the Microsoft suite of offerings into the it's learning platform will help it's learning customers broaden their communication options with students."

it's learning, inc. will integrate Microsoft Outlook Live through the Live@edu service and Office Web Applications into their individual learning platform, it's learning.  From the it's learning messaging portal, users will be able to use centrally managed, free email services without the costs of local hosting.  As a part of the day to day lesson planning and learning process, teachers and students will be able to create, easily share, and collaborate on Office documents from anywhere: within their school, across the network of 2 million it's learning users around the world, and with any user of Microsoft office.

"Microsoft's comprehensive suite of powerful online tools will help improve productivity, increase collaboration, and continue our push for improved learning outcomes," said Jon Bower, President of it's learning, inc. "Microsoft's suite offers the kind of flexibility and ease-of-use it's learning is known for. The integration of Microsoft's tools will provide it's learning customers with access to centrally managed Web-based email, and the ability to create, open and share documents on any machine at any time."

Executives at it's learning, inc. chose Microsoft as its communication and productivity tools partner because of Microsoft's ability to meet the needs of large education institutions, while having a good understanding of student requirements. it's learning will begin to offer the Microsoft communications and Office products to its two million current user accounts within the next few months. All future users will automatically have access to the new tools from within the it's learning system.

About it's learning

Since 1999, the company has provided it's learning – The Individual Learning Platform™ to European clients in K-12 and higher education. In order to provide more effective service to North American schools and universities, in the spring of 2009 it added a North American headquarters in Burlington, Massachusetts.  In additional to its global headquarters in Bergen, Norway, the company has offices in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and France. Investing in the future of education, in 2009, it's learning dedicated more than 40 percent of its revenue to the design and development of its products. The company's goals are to offer the best learning platform and related services worldwide and to be the most innovative organization within the education market.

SOURCE it's learning, inc.