Longman Partnering With Xemplar For Multimedia Curriculum

Addison Wesley Longman (AWL) - the leading schools book publisher, has announced an alliance with Xemplar, one of the best known suppliers of computer equipment to schools, to offer total solutions of software, hardware and services to UK Primary and Secondary schools.

For AWL, this announcement follows the conclusion of an agreement with the Jostens Learning Corporation to localise, market and sell the Tomorrow's Promise multimedia curriculum products in the UK. Two AWL divisions, the Longman book company and Logotron, have together commenced a 3 year project for the complete language and cultural translation of the Jostens Learning material and, most importantly, a careful alignment with the UK National Curriculum.

The Longman Tomorrow's Promise software is available on both Apple Macintosh and Windows PC platforms and Xemplar is announced as a supplier of choice for the range.

For Xemplar, this alliance with AWL is very timely. With Windows PCs now part of their product portfolio, Xemplar will offer both PC and Apple Macintosh versions of Longman Tomorrow's Promise multimedia curriculum. Xemplar MATRIX networking products and services will provide guaranteed and accredited network installations of Longman Tomorrow’s Promise to ensure that schools obtain the most appropriate educational solution.

AWL and Xemplar recognise that schools will often be investing in hardware along with multimedia curriculum products, whether standalone or networked. They aim to strike the right balance between software and hardware; not to put more and more computers into schools for their own sake, but to work together to put the customer first. The partnership will be particularly valuable to customers requiring combined quotations for software and hardware in order to take advantage of various types of funding schemes.

John Penrose, Head of AWL UK Schools businesses, explained the concept. "The New Labour government’s commitment to improving standards of numeracy and literacy is great news. However, a lot of ICT spending that is driven by a desire for more and more hardware is like the tail wagging the dog. Through Logotron, we have a long term relationship with Xemplar, whose experience in the schools market will help us to offer our customers a good balance; putting the customer first; starting with the educational results we want, then defining the products to achieve them."

Brendan O’Sullivan, Managing Director of Xemplar, said, "Xemplar have been careful to select a learning system which improves on the restricted and closed ILS systems from the past, which are still on the market. This alliance with AWL enables us at Xemplar to provide schools with a learning environment appropriate to their requirements. Its availability on Apple Macintosh and PC platforms suits our open approach to the educational needs of our customers."

Information on the Longman Tomorrow's Promise announcement is available separately.

For further information please contact:

• Gerry Daish - 01223 425558 x702 - gdaish@logo.com
  
• Longman 124 Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 4ZS