Presenter Inc. is preparing for the April 30 launch version 3 of its iPresentation Suite, a Web-based software package designed to help train sales staff, with new administration, authoring, video, and wireless capabilities.

Sales managers can create or change Microsoft PowerPoint presentations and then post them online using the new iPresentation Authoring Server. Sales managers can use iPresentation Video Studio to add narration for the presentation. The Management Server lets an administrator set up security policies, user and group accounts, and authoring privileges. In addition, sales professionals that are on the road can view the presentations over a Pocket PC and listen to the audio portion using a mobile phone.

Analysts say the iPresentation software is an example of the expanding choices available for CRM. "A lot of [companies] have PowerPoints they developed for the sales organization," says Denis Pombriant, research director for Aberdeen Group. "They try to get the sales organization to use and internalize the information, and something like this could be a good tool to get that information out to the sales force."

But Pombriant sees a more strategic use for the technology Presenter has created. "Right now, if a customer has a problem, they can inquire about it online and get a text box with a response, but it would be very appealing if customers got a video-and-sound response, and it could also cut down on support costs," he says. Presenter says that out of the 40 customers for its software, about five are using the iPresentation software to make sales presentations to customers online.