Blackboard Announces Building Blocks Partnership With McGann Software

WASHINGTON (PRNewswire)–Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB - News) announced that McGann Software Systems, Inc. has signed a partnership agreement that will make McGann’s Parking Management Software System and the Blackboard Transaction System(TM) interoperable through Blackboard’s Building Blocks Program(TM), which provides developer services for creating extensions to Blackboard’s product suites.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies are developing real- time IP Transaction and Data Integration Agents to enable debit transaction interoperability and demographic information exchange between McGann’s Parking Management Software System and the Blackboard Transaction System.

The McGann Parking Management System provides all the functions and reports required to successfully operate one or more parking facilities. Revenue and contract parker access is controlled, counted and tracked providing real-time control over the entire parking enterprise. All manner of credentials (e.g., proximity, AVI, barcode, smart card, mag-stripe, etc.) and all types of payments (credit card, smart card, cash, check, etc.) are accepted. A full-featured, integrated Accounts Receivable package ensures the integrity of the system. Connectivity to management stations and external systems is available by network, telephone and Internet, and data may be presented on a PC, PDA or browser.

“Our market is telling us that fully integrated systems that provide efficient data exchange and online payment are becoming mission critical for ensuring efficient and cost-effective campus parking operations,” said Lawrence Feuer, Vice President of Marketing at McGann Software. “This partnership will enable us to offer comprehensive parking transaction functionality between our Parking Management System and the Blackboard Transaction System.”

“Our Building Blocks architecture is designed to satisfy our clients’ requirements for effective integration between multiple technologies, with the vision of creating a seamless campus experience,” said Kathy Turany, Vice President of Corporate Development at Blackboard. “The integration of the McGann Parking Software System with the Blackboard Transaction System will deliver significant benefits to our higher education clients, with a positive impact on increased client satisfaction and operational efficiency for parking operations at colleges and universities.”

About Blackboard Inc.

Blackboard is a leading provider of enterprise software and services to the education industry. The Company’s product line consists of five software applications bundled in two suites, the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM) and the Blackboard Commerce Suite(TM). Blackboard’s clients include colleges, universities, 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 and staff in North America, Europe and Asia.

About McGann Software Systems, Inc.

Since our incorporation in 1982, McGann has become the leader in the design and development of standard, specialized and customized application software for parking. With one of the largest teams of software engineers, system analysts, technical writers, and support specialists, and with over 3,200 installations worldwide, we are the largest independent developer of parking software in the industry.