WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --  Blackboard Inc. today announced the launch of a native mobile app that allows Blackboard Connect^™ message recipients to get alerts and personalize their messaging experience directly from their mobile devices. The Blackboard MyConnect^™ application is now available for free on the Apple iTunes and Google Play app stores. Institutions using Blackboard Connect can make the app available directly from the platform's user interface.

The new app allows community members to subscribe to Blackboard MyConnect groups, which are topic-based subscription lists provided by their institutions. Community members can also identify message mode preferences – including voice, email or SMS/text – and recipients can use the app to review all of these messages at their convenience. Blackboard MyConnect takes advantage of the mobile environment by delivering push notifications anytime a recipient receives an alert.

The app also leverages the platform's presence in education, government and corporate markets by allowing recipients to manage notifications from different institutions with whom they are affiliated that use Blackboard Connect. For example, parents can stay informed about their child's school, while also getting up-to-date alerts from their local city or county, or even their workplace, all from within the single app.

"We live in a world of texting and tweeting, and people today are more likely to get the message if it is mobile-friendly and easily accessible," said Ed Miller, president of Blackboard's administrative platform group. "Blackboard MyConnect makes it simple for users to stay connected to the issues and the institutions that matter to them."

Engaging more than 44 million people around the world, Blackboard Connect is the leading mass notification system connecting organizations with their communities. In 2011, Blackboard Connect delivered more than 1 billion messages, and has achieved superior levels of reliability, delivering up to 99.999 percent uptime over the past three years.

For more information about Blackboard MyConnect, visit www.blackboard.com/myconnect.

About Blackboard Inc.

Blackboard Inc. 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 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.

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SOURCE Blackboard Inc.