Blackboard Opens Software for All Enterprise Clients Allowing Easy Add-on Development to e-Learning Platform

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 2006--Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB), a leading provider of technology and services to academic institutions worldwide, announces its PowerLinks(TM) Software Development Kit will now be included as part of the Blackboard Learning System(TM)--CE Enterprise Ltd License (formerly WebCT Campus Edition(TM)--Institution License) for all existing and new licensees. Hundreds of clients currently use the Blackboard Learning System--CE Enterprise Ltd License platform. The PowerLinks Kit will enable these clients to seamlessly extend and tailor their e-Learning platforms through custom in-house applications, open source extensions and other third-party applications, including PowerLinks applications created by other users. Thus this free offer will foster expanded development and customization, while the mission-critical core of their e-Learning platforms--provided and support by Blackboard--will remain secure and stable.

"The PowerLinks Kit has enabled us to connect our systems for a better student and faculty experience," said Maricela Garcia, Director of Distance Education at South Texas College. "It also makes us part of the expanded community of higher education innovators that want the stability and maturity of commercial systems but the flexibility to extend them to meet our needs."

Through this new offer, all enterprise-level clients will gain access to the Blackboard Developers Network(TM), an online community of more than 840 institutions. This network features developers who use the PowerLinks Kit and Blackboard Building Blocks(TM) Software Development Kit to integrate and extend their e-learning environments; and it provides an invaluable resource for peer advice, best practices and code and documentation. The expansion of this development community is intended to affect the broader communities who use both WebCT Campus Edition and WebCT Vista by producing an increasing number of innovative PowerLinks for improved teaching and learning.

In 2003, Blackboard launched a similar initiative for the Blackboard Building Blocks development community, waiving fees to enterprise clients for access to the software development kit. Six months following this announcement, membership in the Blackboard Developers Network doubled creating a more dynamic community with increased client innovation and collaboration efforts.

"This is the first of many exciting developments that will result directly from the Blackboard-WebCT merger and the ongoing input from our clients," said Michael Chasen, Blackboard president and chief executive officer. "We believe the Blackboard PowerLinks and Blackboard Building Blocks programs provide the best of both worlds, combining a secure, reliable e-Learning platform with open architecture which is easily customized and integrated to meet individual client needs."

The PowerLinks Kit for software development includes Web services, Java interfaces and detailed documentation describing each interface. For more information on PowerLinks, please visit www.webct.com/powerlinks.

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. 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, Australia and Asia. WebCT is a wholly owned subsidiary of Blackboard Inc.

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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 July 11, 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 July 11, 2006.

CONTACT: Blackboard Inc.
Senior Manager, Public Relations:
Melissa Chotiner, 202-463-4860 ext. 2404
mchotiner@blackboard.com
or
WebCT
Director of Marketing Communications:
Lisa Philpott, 781-309-1265
lisa.philpott@WebCT.com
or
Fleishman-Hillard Inc.
Media Contact:
Amy Storey, 202-828-8819
storeya@fleishman.com

SOURCE: Blackboard Inc.