Blackboard Launches Public Cloud Version of its Learning Environment

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackboard plans to launch a new version of its flagship learning environment that is delivered via the public cloud, the company announced today. Whether self-hosted, hosted in Blackboard's private cloud, or via the public cloud, the company is now providing institutions with the industry's most flexible deployment model and most comprehensive set of deployment options available to date.

The public cloud delivery option of the company's fully-featured learning and synchronous collaboration environment will be fully available later this summer. By adding this option, Blackboard is providing institutions with unprecedented choice when deciding how they want to work with Blackboard on their hosting environments.

Taking a broader cloud approach allows Blackboard customers to leverage the benefits of different deployment options. The public cloud offering will allow for the automatic delivery of the environment's most current features and capabilities without upgrade downtimes and with less change management.

"We are very excited to bring a broader cloud strategy to market that give schools a wide variety of reliable and sustainable deployment options," said Mark Strassman, senior vice president of product management for Blackboard. "I am incredibly proud that we are the only major education technology company that is able to invest in and offer three different deployment methods. This approach allows us to help all schools build and grow education programs that work best for them and their students."

Open Education powered by Blackboard, the company's fully functional course platform that allows teachers and faculty to run public online courses and/or Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), is currently being piloted via the public cloud.

For more information about Blackboard, please visit www.blackboard.com or follow @Blackboard on Twitter.

About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard is the world's leading education technology company that is reimagining education by challenging conventional thinking and advancing new learning models. We rapidly deploy relevant and meaningful technologies and services to meet the needs of the modern day learner and the institutions that serve them, driving success and growth for both. In partnership with higher education, K-12, corporate organizations, and government agencies around the world, we help every learner achieve their full potential. For more information about Blackboard follow us on Twitter at @Blackboard.

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release. Actual results may differ materially as a result of various important factors. 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 statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.

SOURCE Blackboard Inc.