SkillSoft's Books24x7 Releases '2007 IT Spending Report' as Part of its AnalystPerspectives(TM) Referenceware(R) Collection

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Report Assimilates the Research and Opinions of Leading Analyst Firms to Provide IT Decision-Makers with a Consensus of the Top Technology Priorities for 2007

NORWOOD, Mass., March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Books24x7(R), a subsidiary of SkillSoft PLC (Nasdaq: SKIL) and the developer of online Referenceware(R) for IT, business, engineering, financial and government professionals, today announced that it has released its "2007 IT Spending Report."

The report summarizes, compares, and contrasts the 2007 IT spending predictions from 23 different analyst firms collected from over 40 sources. This is the industry's most complete look at what analysts think about IT spending this year. This report dissects the technology spending predictions and forecasts of leading industry analysts in order to identify key trends and priorities across a variety of regions, market segments and vertical industries. As a result, the report provides technology executives, managers and practitioners with a comprehensive benchmark to compare their own technology initiatives with those of their peers and ultimately make decisions that impact the success and performance of their organizations. The report is augmented by summary tables and charts that provide quick side-by-side views of multiple firms.

The report is automatically available to subscribers of AnalystPerspectives as part of their annual subscription. Additionally, a complimentary copy of the report can be accessed at, http://www.skillsoft.com/online/AnalystPerspectives/default.asp as well as via several IT-related web sites including IT Business Edge (http://www.ITBE.com).

Key findings from the report include:

-- With cost optimization as a prominent item on the agenda of IT decision-markers, IT spending growth in 2007 will slow down compared to 2006 levels.

-- IT spending among SMBs will be stronger, and in some geographies, is expected to surpass spending by large organizations.

-- Virtualization and Business Intelligence (BI) applications rank among the top technology priorities for CIOs in 2007.

-- Analysts agree that spending on information security will continue to increase in 2007, but they caution that the pace of growth will be slower than in previous years.

-- IT spending forecasts vary by industry. The media industry will see the greatest increase in IT spending in 2007, while consumer products will see the steepest decline.

This report is one of a series of over 200 reports produced each year for Books24x7's AnalystPerspectives collection. With over 500 research firms tracking the technology industry, selecting and digesting the right reports and applying the information to business needs is an increasingly challenging and lengthy process. AnalystPerspectives provides organizations with an efficient, cost-effective way to gain insight into technology trends by assimilating the research and opinions of multiple analyst firms to provide a comprehensive, multi-perspective consensus on specific technology topics. In addition to the 200+ reports created by the AnalystPerspectives team each year, the collection contains the full-text of hundreds of premium research reports licensed from over 30 analyst firms including Datamonitor, Info-Tech Research, PWR Consulting, and Butler Group. AnalystPerspectives is web-based and is available via an annual subscription that provides cost-effective access to the IT and telecommunications analyst information that people need to make the important decisions that affect their business.

"AnalystPerspectives is designed to deliver the consensus organizations need to make informed decisions about strategic technology investments in an efficient, cost-effective manner," said John Ambrose, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Corporate Development & Emerging Business at SkillSoft. "Created by the Books24x7 editorial team for this purpose, the 2007 IT Spending Report provides AnalystPerspectives subscribers with invaluable insight into the top IT trends and priorities for the year ahead, ultimately propelling their technology initiatives and strategies forward."

As with other Referenceware collections, all reports in the AnalystPerspectives collection are fully searchable through Books24x7's unique multi-tier search engine and many are available as PDF downloads for printing and viewing offline.

Books24x7 regularly adds new titles and materials to each collection and provides email notification and RSS feeds to apprise subscribers of recent additions to the collections. To learn more about Books24x7's latest Referenceware collections, please visit http://www.Books24x7.com.

About Books24x7(R)

Books24x7(R), a subsidiary of SkillSoft PLC, offers subscription clients online access to more than 10,000 IT and business books, book summaries, reports, and best practices. Books24x7's patent-pending technology platform enables users to pinpoint business-critical information quickly by performing multi-tier, online searches of the company's Referenceware(R) collections: ITPro(TM), BusinessPro(TM), EngineeringPro(TM), FinancePro(TM), HospitalityPro(TM), ExecBlueprints(TM), ExecSummaries(TM), ExecSuite(TM), GovEssentials(TM), OfficeEssentials(TM), Well-BeingEssentials(TM) and AnalystPerspecitves(TM).

Books24x7(R) Referenceware(R) bridges the gap between what employees know and what they need to know in hundreds of leading organizations, including Bank of America, CSC, Deloitte, EDS and Lockheed Martin. The company has relationships with more than 290 leading publishers, including AMACOM, Apress, ASTD, Harvard Business School Press, McGraw-Hill, Microsoft Press and John Wiley & Sons. For more information, visit www.Books24x7.com.

About SkillSoft

SkillSoft PLC (Nasdaq: SKIL) is a leading provider of e-learning and performance support solutions for global enterprises, government, education and small to medium-sized businesses. SkillSoft enables companies to maximize business performance through a combination of comprehensive e-learning content, online information resources, flexible learning technologies and support services.

Content offerings include business, IT, desktop and compliance courseware collections, as well as complementary content assets such as SkillSim(TM) simulations, KnowledgeCenter(TM) portals and online mentoring services. The Books24x7(R) division offers online access to more than 10,000 unabridged IT and business books in its Referenceware(R) collections, as well as book summaries, executive reports and best practices. Technology offerings include the SkillPort(R) learning management system, Search-and-Learn(R), SkillSoft(R) Dialogue(TM) virtual classroom, SkillView(R) competency management software and the Enterprise Learning Connection Suite(TM), a set of platform-neutral modules that can be used to create learning programs tailored to business needs.

SkillSoft courseware content described herein is for information purposes only and is subject to change without notice. SkillSoft has no obligation or commitment to develop or deliver any future release, upgrade, feature, enhancement or function described in this press release except as specifically set forth in a written agreement.

SkillSoft, the SkillSoft logo, Ahead of the Learning Curve, SkillPort, Search-and-Learn, SkillChoice, Books24x7, Referenceware, ITPro, BusinessPro, OfficeEssentials, GovEssentials, EngineeringPro, FinancePro, AnalystPerspectives ExecSummaries, ExecBlueprints, Express Guide and Dialogue are trademarks or registered trademarks of SkillSoft PLC in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE SkillSoft

Released March 19, 2007