Blackboard Expands BbOne(SM) Reach with a Dozen New Universities
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) announced today that it has added twelve universities to its growing roster of BbOne(SM) clients. The most recent BbOne additions include: Berkeley College, California Institute of Technology, The Claremont Colleges Consortium, Clemson University, The State University of New York at Geneseo, Louisiana State University, University of New Haven, the University of Oklahoma, Spring Arbor University, Texas A&M University – Commerce, The University of Washington and Wesleyan University. BbOne enables students and faculty at these universities to use their university ID cards as a form of payment with off-campus merchants.
“We are delighted to see our clients taking this important step toward networked transaction environments in which students and faculty can use one account for all their transactions, both on campus and off,” said Michael Chasen, CEO of Blackboard. “BbOne connects students, faculty, local merchants, institutions and parents to make shopping at community stores easier and more convenient than ever. It also provides a safeguard, through Student ID cards managed by the university, to prevent overzealous spending.”
Each of these BbOne agreements represents an extension of Blackboard(R) services beyond the central university to the greater community. Several of these universities are active users of the Blackboard Learning System(TM), the company’s flagship e-learning platform for online course development, and have also adopted the Blackboard Transaction System(TM) for managing student debit accounts online.
“Clemson University is pleased to utilize the BbOne program to expand acceptance of the Tiger 1 Card to off-campus merchants,” said Steve Robbins, Director of Information Technology Services for the Division of Student Affairs at Clemson. “Over the last 15 years Clemson and Blackboard have partnered to allow for growth of our transaction system and the services we offer at the University. We have found Blackboard solutions to be a great benefit to our students.”
BbOne is part of the Blackboard Commerce Suite(TM), a package of three enterprise software applications supporting cashless transactions on-campus, off-campus and online and allowing for identification and security access. By utilizing an existing student debit account at the university, BbOne provides students with a safe, secure, cashless and convenient way to make transactions on- and off-campus, while assuring parents that their funds will be spent within a university approved merchant network.
About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard is a leading provider of enterprise software applications and related services to the education industry. The Company’s product line consists of five software applications bundled in two suites, the Blackboard Academic Suite (TM) and the Blackboard Commerce Suite (TM). Blackboard’s clients include colleges, universities, schools and other education providers, as well as textbook publishers and student-focused merchants that serve education providers and their students. Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices and staff in North America, Europe and Asia.
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 most recent 10-Q filed with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of November 11, 2004. 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 11, 2004.
CONTACT:
Melissa Chotiner, Public Relations Manager of Blackboard Inc.
+1-202-463-4860 ext. 2404
Mchotiner@blackboard.com
Media Inquiries:
Stacey Finkel of DBC Public Relations
+1-866-774-4720
stacey@dbcpr.com
for Blackboard Inc.
Web site: http://www.blackboard.com
