Simult Gives Microsoft ISA Server 2004 the Edge in Sales and Training Efforts



April 16, 2005 -- Simult, Inc. today announced that Microsoft Corporation has been successfully using its SimuActive (interactive simulation) software for product demonstrations and worldwide channel partner education for Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004. The ISA Server 2004 Interactive Training (using SimuActive technology) guides Microsoft's potential customers and channel partners through ISA Server 2004's main features and benefits, as well as its set-up and configuration for various real-world network security scenarios. Users can also roam freely through the various nodes of the network or drill down into the server's management console, and "play" with the product as if it were live and deployed.

Simult developed SimuActive for software or hardware products that reside in a network environment with interdependent components. Often, such dynamic relationships are not accurately captured in the static environments represented in linear Flash presentations, or are challenging and expensive in a "Webex" session for product demonstrations and training. Without the ability to show these feature-rich products inside the environment where they are deployed, it is difficult to communicate a product's value proposition and functionalities.

Henry Hon, President of Simult says, "We are extremely proud that our technology is a part of Microsoft product marketing and training efforts."

SimuActive creates a realistic simulation of any technology product functioning in its operating environment. It combines live product interactivity with the low-cost reach of online browser based accessibility.

Internal research has shown that traditional linear, Flash presentations are ineffective at holding a viewer's attention and lead to low retention rates of a product's features and benefits. SimuActive goes far beyond screen and motion capture by embedding the product's logic and replicating the external inter-dependencies into the simulation.

Whether in either an active-guided and/or the Freestyle mode, SimuActive engages users, leading to more effective product demonstrations, much higher retention rates during training exercises, and lowering engineering support costs.

"We've heard from our customers that they are looking for an easier way to evaluate software products, such as ISA Server 2004," says Josue Fontanez, senior product manager, Security Business and Technology Unit, Microsoft Corp. "With the SimuActiv solutions from Simult, we've been able to create a simulated live network that provides customers with important education and training while helping them gain a better understanding of the value that ISA Server 2004 brings to their company. This is a key tool to help us drive evaluations of ISA Server 2004."

In the SimuActive "freestyle" mode, users explore and experiment with the product, test different settings or configurations and instantly see the resulting effects across the entire system. In this way, the understanding provided to the user by SimuActive is almost as real as, and can often be better than, actually working with the physical product.

"We are so confident that our technology will increase sales and/or reduce costs for our customers that we will even guarantee a ROI". Hon added

Stimulat has found that often, current product demonstration and educational tools leave firms poorly equipped to cost-effectively market products to large numbers of remote or non-technical users and the result is a lower return on their product investment. SimuActive also provides the companies with other benefits, helping them through the entire sales lifecycle from lead generation through product training and support.

To find out how SimuActive can realistically demonstrate or train users on your product, please visit www.simulat.com .

About Simult
Founded in 2003 in Berkeley, CA, Simult is striving to change the way companies today conduct product demonstrations and training. Simult sells comprehensive solutions to deliver state-of-the-art interactive virtual replication of complex products for lead generation, sales support, demonstration, and training purposes. For additional information, please visit www.simulat.com or call for sales information.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.





Simult Gives Microsoft ISA Server 2004 the Edge in Sales and Training Efforts