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Blackboard Launches Alliance Program for Partner Network

By: Chris Riedel

10/29/2008

Blackboard has announced a new partner program, dubbed the Blackboard Alliance Program, designed to increase market and support opportunities for the company's partner network.

With more than 130 commercial partners, developing hundreds of products and applications for the Blackboard platform, the Alliance Program will establish three new levels of partnership: Blackboard Strategic Partner; Blackboard Premier Partner; and Blackboard Signature Partner. The additions expand the company's Blackboard Building Blocks program, which boasts more than 2,000 commercial and academic partners, providing solutions and support to users worldwide.

"We are excited about the potential for this program to dramatically improve collaboration in our partner community and ultimately benefit the millions of learners, instructors and administrators who use Blackboard solutions every day," said Matthew Small, chief business officer at Blackboard, in a prepared statement.

According to the company, the structure allows participants to target specific market segments, including higher education, K-12, corporate, and government organizations, among others. Benefits include enhanced technical support, customized event packages, marketing and sales resources, as well as "integration" into the company's sales channels.

In conjunction with the program's launch, the company has announced charter members at each level of partnership. Strategic Partners include Dell and Presidium Learning; Premier Partners include Echo360 and Wimba; and Signature Partners include Softchalk and Respondus.


About the author: Chris Riedel is a freelance writer based in Florida. He can be reached here.