ORLANDO, Fla. (USA) — When COVID-19 struck, Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) supported customers with free 90-day licences for conducting distributed virtual simulation training using VBS3 and VBS4. Despite nations coming out of lockdown, social distancing restrictions continue to be a major factor impacting training.
BISim continues to see a strong uptake in militaries using VBS3 and VBS4 for distributed training from new military installations as well as home locations. We are therefore extending the offer of free licences to our Government customers for distributed virtual training uses until 31 December 2020.
For customers to implement flexible and agile solutions for distributed virtual training, they may need to use Virtual Private Network (VPN) technologies and work from non-military premises and even on non-military computers. Therefore, in addition to free licenses, we are also waiving the VBS3 and VBS4 End User License Agreement (EULA) restrictions on the use of non-military computers on non-military premises, and the use of remote desktop environments for the remainder of 2020*.
“By extending the use of temporary work-from-home licenses and allowing virtualization of work-based licenses till the end of the year, our customers will have significantly more flexibility as they continue to face COVID-19 related restrictions,” said Arthur Alexion, BISim’s CEO. “Despite the challenges of these present restrictions, innovative customers have seized the moment to explore the benefits of virtual training in online environments and we are happy to support them. I would encourage any customer who needs further licensing flexibility to facilitate full usage of our products to contact us. We want to be flexible and are open to suggestions.”
For the issue or extension of these temporary licences, please contact support@bisimulations.com or your normal BISim point of contact.
Virtual training on distributed online networks offer these benefits:
- Socially distanced training, including from home locations
- Maintaining individual and collective training levels, remotely
- Training with other units without the need for co-location
- Being better prepared for when field exercise is available by repeated virtual practice
- Combining virtual training with theory using commonly used online applications
- Taking the opportunity to conduct Combined Arms training by bringing other arms into training virtually
- Trying out more complex tactics that are infrequently practiced in the live environment
To read how the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry successfully implemented distributed virtual training using VBS3 from multiple locations, across countries and from its soldiers’ homes, read their use case.
Click here for a brief guide on setting up a distributed virtual simulation network for VBS3. Contact sales@bisimulations.com if you’re interested in using VBS4 for similar distributed virtual training uses.
* Subject to the following conditions: (i) applicable to Government Licensees only, (ii) for use by personnel of the Government Licensee only (including use on PCs or laptops located at the homes of the Government Licensee’s personnel), and (iii) time-limited until 31 December 2020. All of these conditions must be met by the Government Licensee for this temporary variation of usual licensing terms to apply. Except as temporarily varied, all terms and conditions of the BISim EULA(s) for the relevant BISim products continue to apply.
About Bohemia Interactive Simulations
Founded in 2001, Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) is a global software company at the forefront of simulation and training solutions for defense and civilian organizations. BISim utilizes the latest game-based technology and a 200-strong, in-house team of engineers to develop high-fidelity, cost-effective training and simulation software products and components for defense applications.
Globally, more than 500,000 military personnel are trained every year using VBS software products. More than 50 NATO and NATO-friendly countries and over 300 integrators/prime contractors use VBS technology, many making significant funding commitments to extend VBS product capabilities. Customers include the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, Australian Defence Force, Swedish Armed Forces, French MoD and UK MoD and most major integrators. VBS products have become, by far, the world’s most widely used COTS product range in the military-simulation sector, supporting hundreds of military use cases and vastly greater military exploitation than any comparable products.