Arel Communications & Software, the world's leading provider of interactive distance learning (IDL) systems, today announced that it has been selected by Anheuser-Busch Companies, the world's largest brewer of beers such as Budweiser and Michelob, to install an interactive distance learning system which will provide training programs for employees of Anheuser-Busch and its independent wholesalers across the United States.
The contract, calls for the installation of IDL systems to the existing Busch Satellite Network, which will provide real-time, two-way interactive training programs for its corporate employees and wholesalers across the United States. In addition, Anheuser-Busch has an option to order additional classrooms during 2000. EchoStar Communications, a value-added reseller of Arel's interactive distance learning products, will deliver, install and support Arel's IDEAL (Interactive Distance Education and Learning) system to hundreds of Anheuser-Busch independent wholesalers. EchoStar previously installed a similar IDEAL system for Lucent Technologies.
Arel's IDEAL system enables an instructor to broadcast, control and conduct real-time interactive sessions from one center to a large number of participants in remote locations, who can actively participate in the lecture and interact with the instructor by inputting simple keystrokes on personal interaction devices. Participants in "virtual classrooms" can engage the instructor in an interactive conversation, while everyone on the network hears both question and responses.
With Arel's IDEAL system, Anheuser-Busch will be able to hold training sessions from its central location to their network of independent wholesalers in remote locations. Student results are compiled and saved in the Arel robust SQL database package and are available for immediate display to all participants. Instructors can also analyze class results in real-time, providing valuable feedback on his/her own teaching performance.
"We are excited to provide our system to Anheuser-Busch," said Moshe Ben-Yishai, president and chief executive officer, Arel Communications & Software, Inc. "Arel's IDEAL system provides a quick and cost-effective method for companies to train or to bring important information to employees who are spread across a wide geographic region."
Published by Israel's Business Arena on December 21, 1999.