Blackboard Joins Forces with Microsoft to Make Course Information Available on Web Browsers
04 Novembre 2009 - 11:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Companies Collaborate on Blackboard Learn for Bing DENVER, Nov. 4
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBB) today
announced an alliance with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) to
offer students and learners access to information from their online
courses on Web browsers, enabling them to keep up with important
course updates while surfing the Web, not just when logged into
their Blackboard® accounts. Under the agreement, Blackboard and
Microsoft will work together to enable notifications to appear in
their Web browser using the Bing(TM) toolbar when new course
information becomes available through the Blackboard Learn(TM)
platform. The toolbar will also be compatible with the Internet
Explorer® and Firefox® Web browsers. Streamlined access to course
information will make it easier for millions of students who log in
to their Blackboard accounts several times daily to check for
assignments, grades, announcements and other information. With the
Blackboard Learn toolbar for Bing, IE and Firefox, students will
receive updates on their courses, groups and organizations directly
in their browser, regardless of which Web site they are visiting
and without having to log in to Blackboard every time. "We are
always looking for ways to get information out to students in the
places they already spend their time," said Nick McClure, Lead
Systems Programmer at the University of Kentucky. "Customizing the
toolbar to include personalized Blackboard content will make this
more than just another tool. Students will get security and
protection, while staying up to date on their courses." Blackboard
previously created similar applications to enable students and
learners to receive course notifications and alerts through the
Facebook® platform and on Apple® iPhone® or iPod touch® devices.
Together, the integrations are part of the company's overall effort
to increase student engagement by creating streamlined access to
course information in a variety of popular platforms and devices -
not just within Blackboard Learn. "This partnership extends our
effort to bring important educational information to students
wherever they are and whenever they need it, in the most convenient
method possible," said Matthew Small, Blackboard's Chief Business
Officer. "This offering will help our clients continue to drive
adoption of their e-learning initiatives on campus as well as
reduce their support costs." Work to enable access to course
updates in Web browsers, the Facebook platform and on mobile
devices is central to Blackboard's efforts to help institutions
better meet the needs of learners and promote higher achievement
through greater engagement. In each case, Blackboard has worked to
ensure the broader availability of updates on course information to
keep users engaged while taking steps to protect student privacy.
"We are excited to be working with Blackboard to enable students to
enjoy deeper connections to the information that matters most to
them," said Jon Tinter, General Manager of the Microsoft Online
Service Division. "Bing is about helping folks make smarter, faster
decisions and our work with Blackboard will empower students with
deeper connections to their course information and powerful search
technologies to help them make better decisions in their busy day
to day lives." As part of the alliance, Blackboard is also using
Microsoft's Bing decision engine to help power its SafeAssign(TM)
plagiarism prevention service. In addition, Microsoft has joined
the Blackboard Alliance Program(TM) as a Blackboard Premier
Partner(TM). For more information about Blackboard Learn, please
visit
http://www.blackboard.com/Teaching-Learning/Learn-Platform.aspx.
About Blackboard Inc. Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBB) is a global
leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that
improve the experience of millions of students and learners around
the world every day. Blackboard's solutions allow thousands of
higher education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government
organizations to extend teaching and learning online, facilitate
campus commerce and security, and communicate more effectively with
their communities. Founded in 1997, Blackboard is headquartered in
Washington, D.C., with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and
Australia. Any statements in this press release about future
expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard and other
statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans,"
"expects," "will," and similar expressions, constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements
as a result of various important factors, including the factors
discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-Q filed on
August 6, 2009 with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking
statements included in this press release represent the Company's
views as of November 4, 2009. The Company anticipates that
subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views
to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these
forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company
specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These
forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as
representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to
November 4, 2009. DATASOURCE: Blackboard Inc. CONTACT: Matthew
Maurer of Blackboard Inc., +1-202-463-4860 ext. 2637, Web Site:
http://www.blackboard.com/
Copyright