A Guide to Online Learning Service Providers
By Donna Abernathy

Don't know your ASPs from your portals? Here's help.

You know the names: Saba, DigitalThink, Click2learn.com, THINQ. These service providers represent part of the popular content-technology-services triad of categorizing the e-learning market.

Content providers include traditional classroom-training companies, course publishers, manufacturers, and licensors. Technology providers specialize in e-learning tools, management systems, and hardware. Service providers, on the other hand, offer a variety of online features, tools, and consulting options, including learning communities, testing and certification services, and custom content development. They're some of the most recognizable names in the business. But, surf their sites to compare offerings and you'll soon realize the hefty challenge of determining what businesses some of them are in. And you can chalk up part of the haziness to the shear speed of e-learning. The blur.

There's increasing overlap among vendor offerings as companies expand and enhance their services. For instance, IBM Mindspan Solutions--presented here as a service provider--is also a key technology player. VCampus and IntelliNex straddle those two segments, as well. Learn2.com and LearningByte fall into the services and content groups. And Click2Learn, SmartForce, Mentergy, KnowledgePlanet, and DigitalThink are considered to be key players in all three areas: content, technology, and services.

Simply put, online learning service providers don't offer the same wares, and that makes comparison a sticky affair. There are several ways to "organize" them, however; one way is to look at their areas of specialty. For example, you can categorize service providers into the following general areas this year: learning portals, hosted learning service providers (LSPs), and other professional e-learning services. Some companies fit multiple areas; others fit one. And that's not a gauge of quality, but an indicator of a company's current focus and revenue streams.

Cornelia Weggen, e-learning analyst with W.R. Hambrecht + Company, offers this breakdown of service providers:

Learning portals "provide consolidated access to learning and training from multiple sources by aggregating, hosting, and distributing content." Some portals operate online communities as stand-alone learning communities or combined with course offerings. A number of content providers and tool companies have launched portals, in addition to their core business.

Hosted LSPs are a "specialized type of application service provider (ASP) that offers learning and content management services, training delivery software, and other enabling technologies and services on a hosted basis via diverse business models." This category also includes companies that offer assessment and testing services, certification, degrees, online tutoring and mentoring, Internet-based collaboration services, and media production and delivery services.

Professional e-learning services "include contract content developers and distributors, content conversion services, consultants, and implementation and support services."

To help you understand the e-learning services marketplace, here's a sampling of providers, their contact information, offerings, and available pricing data. Until the next big merger, acquisition, strategic alliance, or new product announcement, that is. And those things you can count on.

SERVICE PROVIDER AND CONTACT INFORMATION	OFFERINGS	COURSE OR SERVICE PRICE RANGE (US$)
Brainbench Headquarters: Sterling, Virginia URL: brainbench.com Phone: 703.437.4800 Email: sales@brainbench.com	Hosted LSP Web-based skills-testing and certification preparation. Vendor-neutral certification authority.	Online courses are $3 to $50 each. Full-service account setup is $300, plus volume discounts--from 6 to 33 percent--on above prices.
Click2learn.com (formerly Asymetrix Learning Systems) Headquarters: Bellevue, Washington Offices: United States, Canada, United Kingdom URL: click2learn.com Phone: 800.448.6543 or 425.462.0501 Email: sales@click2learn.com	Learning portal Professional e-learning services E-learning content marketplace for business, IT, and health and safety topics. Strategic consulting, development, systems integration, technical support, and placement services. Also, e-Learning Network.	Online courses range from $29.95 to $1,995; combination course packs available. Contact company for professional services pricing.
CyberStateU.com Headquarters: Lafayette, California URL: cyberstateu.com Phone: 888.438.3382 or 925.299.2000 Email: admissions@cyberstateu.com	Hosted LSP Web-based IT and certification training.	$49 to $4,495 per course.
DigitalThink Headquarters: San Francisco Offices: London URL: www.digitalthink.com Phone: 415.625.4000 Email: info@digitalthink.com	Hosted LSP Web-based IT and corporate training. Awards CEUs, some of which can be applied toward college credit at the University of Phoenix.	$45 to $600 per course; series pricing available.
eMind.com Headquarters: Los Angeles URL: emind.com Phone: 310.823.6692 Email: info@emind.com	Learning portal Hosted LSP 1,200-plus online courses for banking, securities, accounting, IT, and personal development. E-learning consulting services.	$25 to $396 per course.
Headlight.com Headquarters: San Francisco URL: headlight.com Phone: 415.882.0222 Email: info@headlight.com	Learning portal Learner Management System and 3,000-plus online courses for business and IT.	$10.99 to $199.99 per course. Contact company for corporate pricing.
Hungry Minds Unveristy Headquarters: San Francisco URL: hungrymindsuniversity.com Phone: 415.277.2500 Email: info@hungryminds.com	Learning portal 17,000-plus online courses ranging from how-tos to college courses.	Contact company for pricing.
IBM Mindspan Solutions Headquarters: Armonk, New York Offices: Worldwide URL: www.ibm.com/mindspan Phone: 800.324.9469 Email: Use online form.	Hosted LSP Professional e-learning services E-learning planning, creation, and deployment. E-learning center powered by Lotus LearningSpace 4.0.	Contact company for pricing.
iGeneration (formerly HyCurve) Headquarters: San Francisco URL: igeneration.com Phone: 877.411.4141 or 415.371.5300 Email: info@igeneration.com	Hosted LSP IT certification and testing services.	Online course price range: $195 to $325.
KnowledgePlanet.com Headquarters: Reston, Virginia Offices: five other U.S. locations URL: knowledgeplanet.com Phone: 800.869.5763 or 703.262.6600 Email: info@knowledgeplanet.com	Learning portal Hosted LSP Professional e-learning services Integrated eLearning Marketplace and KP2000 Workforce Performance Management platform. Planning, content development, and customization services.	Contact company for pricing.
Learn2.com (formerly 7th Street.com) Headquarters: Pryor, Oklahoma URL: learn2.com Phone: 800.842.4723 or 918.825.6700 Email: admin@learn2.com	Learning portal 1,200-plus IT, workplace, and personal development courses. Also available: Learn2University.	Contact company for pricing.
MindLever.com (formerly Empower Corporation) Headquarters: Raleigh, North Carolina URL: www.mindlever.com Phone: 919.875.0033 Email: info@mindlever.com	Hosted LSP Hosted, subscription-based e-learning services, tools, and learning management system.	Contact company for pricing.
Powered, Inc. (formerly notHarvard.com) Headquarters: Austin, Texas URL: powered.com Phone: 866.682.3290 or 512.682.3200 Email: info@powered.com	Professional e-learning services Custom, client-based, e-learning centers that feature free classes. Focus on "educommerce."	Contact company for pricing.
RWD Technologies Headquarters: Columbia, Maryland Offices: United States, Germany, and United Kingdom URL: www.rwd.com Phone: 888.793.8324 or 410.730.4377 Email: reception@rwd.com	Professional e-learning services E-learning performance improvement and consulting services.	Contact company for pricing.
SmartPlanet.com Headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts URL: smartplanet.com Phone: 888.321.1357 Email: Use online form.	Learning portal Personal development, IT, career, and business courses. CEUs and SmartPlanet certificates available.	Membership ranges from free (limited course access) to $15.95 monthly (access to all courses under $20). Other courses purchased à la carte.
THINQ (formerly TrainingNet) Headquarters: Billerica, Massachusetts Offices: United Kingdom and United States URL: thinq.com Phone: 978.671.7500 Email: info@thinq.com	Learning portal Learning marketplace of 3,000-plus training providers. Courses include IT, business, management, legal, and industry-specific topics.	Prices vary by course and vendor; contact company for pricing.
University.com Headquarters: Minneapolis URL: university.com Phone: 612.843.6500 Email: info@university.com	Hosted LSP Hosting, content development, instructional design, and support for online universities and portals.	Contact company for pricing.
VCampus (formerly UOL Publishing) Headquarters: Reston, Virginia Offices: four other U.S. locations URL: www.vcampus.com Phone: 800.915.9298 Email: info@vcampus.com	Hosted LSP 1,100-plus online courses, covering such areas as academics, health care, IT and certification, office skills, and management skills.	Prices vary by course and vendor; contact company for pricing.

Published: October 2000