Blackboard Backpack(TM) Wins SIIA 2006 CODiE Award
WASHINGTON, DC, May 18, 2006 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB), a leading provider of e-Learning
software and services to colleges, universities and K-12 schools
worldwide, announces that, Blackboard Backpack, a mobile learning
application that synchronizes the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM), has
won the 2006 Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) CODiE
Award, for Best Education Technology Solution for
Productivity/Creativity. The Blackboard Academic Suite is used by
millions of people to access course materials and collaborate with
peers and faculty online.
With Blackboard Backpack, students and faculty can easily download
local course and organization content in the Blackboard Academic
Suite, so that the local application's database is up-to-date and
available for non-connected use. The primary benefit is to help
students organize all parts of their academic and social lives while
encouraging engagement, productivity and mobility.
Blackboard Backpack works with Windows XP laptops, desktops and
Tablet PCs. The product was developed by Agilix Labs for Blackboard.
Blackboard Backpack is in use today by students at many major
universities and colleges, including Seton Hall University, Drexel
University, Columbia Southern University, University of Salzburg,
Jacksonville State University, Baylor University and University of
Washington. The new solution is also currently being piloted by many
other universities.
"It's very exciting to be recognized by SIIA for Blackboard
Backpack," said Michael Chasen, CEO of Blackboard. "We are already
living and working in a mobile society, and Blackboard Backpack makes
it possible for students to improve their productivity and
organization no matter where they are."
The CODiE Awards program showcases the software and information
industry's finest products and services. The program, now in its
twenty-first year, holds the distinction of being the only
peer-recognition of its kind in the industry, providing a unique
opportunity for companies to earn the praise of their competitors.
To learn more about Blackboard Backpack, please visit
www.blackboard.com/backpack.
About Blackboard
Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB) is a leading provider of enterprise
software applications and related services to the education industry.
Founded in 1997, Blackboard enables educational innovations
everywhere by connecting people and technology. With two product
suites, the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM) and the Blackboard Commerce
Suite(TM), Blackboard solutions are used by millions of people at
academic institutions around the globe, including colleges,
universities, K-12 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 in North America, Europe and Asia.
Blackboard
Educate. Innovate. Everywhere.
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
Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 10, 2006 with the SEC. In
addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press
release represent the Company's views as of May 18, 2006. 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 May 18, 2006.
Senior Manager, Public Relations; Blackboard:
Melissa Chotiner
Blackboard Inc.
+1 202 463-4860 ext. 2404
SOURCE: Blackboard Inc.