Elearning! Magazine: Building Smarter Companies via Learning & Workplace Technologies.
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News FCC's Net Neutrality Plan to Open 'Internet for All' Despite challenges from some elected leaders in Congress, Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler says that his new Net Neutrality plan will ban paid prioritization of content and maintain an open Internet for all. His new draft rules will reclassify Internet service providers (ISPs) as common carriers. The regulations apply to both wired and wireless providers. The fve-member FCC was scheduled to vote on Wheeler's plan on Thursday, Feb. 26. "These enforceable, bright-line rules will ban paid prioritization, and the blocking and throttling of lawful content and services," Wheeler wrote in Wired magazine. "I propose to fully apply — for the frst time ever — those bright-line rules to mobile broadband. My proposal assures the rights of Internet users to go where they want, when they want, and the rights of innovators to introduce new products without asking anyone's permission." Learning Investments Globally Hit All-Time Peak of $2.34 Billion In 2014, global investments made to learning technology companies reached $2.34 billion, up from the previous record of $1.64 billion set in 2013. This marks the sixth time in the last 16 years that investment totals exceeded the billion-dollar threshold and the frst time in the history of learning technology that investment reached the $2 billion threshold. "The most signifcant investment patterns in the learning technology industry in 2014 were the spike in funding of companies operating in China, a dramatic increase in investments made to self-paced e-learning companies, and a renewed investor interest in corporate-facing learning technology companies," says Ambient Insight's chief research offcer Sam S. Adkins. "Investments in companies operating in China accounted for 24% of all investments made to learning technology companies in 2014." There was a sharp spike in investments going to self-paced e-learning companies, reaching $1.07 billion in 2014, up from $565.3 million in 2013. —Download free whitepaper: www. ambientinsight.com/Resources/ Documents/AmbientInsight_2014_ Global_Learning_Technology_ Investment_Patterns.pdf Desktops Still Rule Work, According to 2014 Study Saba Acquired by Its Partner Since 2013, Vector Capital U.S. employees still stick with their trusty desktop computers when it comes to on-the-job devices, based on a September 2014 study. How- ever, this may not last forever, as there was a noticeable drop in desktop usage between 2011 and 2014, from 84% of U.S. employees to 71%. Though a meager 7% of respondents reported using tablets for work, they were the only device type that saw an increase in usage. Laptops saw a tiny decline in usage, as did smartphones. Meanwhile, another study (from CNBC) found that 78% of business ex- ecs worldwide use their smartphones for business and 75% use tablets. —More info: www.emarketer.com/Article/How-Much-Work-Do- Mobile-Devices-Do-Offce/1011798/1#sthash.gMrw7Feb.dpuf Saba has entered into a defnitive agreement with affliates of Vector Capital, under which an affliate of Vector will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Saba common stock. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions and the approval of Saba shareholders, is expected to close in the coming months. It is not subject to any fnancing conditions. After evaluating a wide range of strategic alternatives, Saba's Board of Directors believes that this agreement will "provide signifcant cash value for our shareholders." "Over the last 17 years, Saba has delivered a growing set of innovative intelligent talent management solutions, which are in use today by more than 2,200 global market leaders and innovators," says Saba president and CEO Shawn Farshchi. "Vector has been a great partner to Saba since 2013. We are thrilled to continue the relationship, and take advantage of the support and resources of Vector and their partner network to strategically invest in expanding our product portfolio, further our customer success programs, and continue to the next stage of the company's growth and market leadership." Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC is acting as fnancial advisor to Saba, and Morrison & Foerster LLP is acting as Saba's legal advisor. Shearman & Sterling LLP is acting as Vector's legal advisor. Saba senior management is expected to remain in Redwood Shores, Calif. 12 February / March 2015 Elearning!