Leading European Institutes Turn To Blackboard For Secure, Reliable Hosting Services

Washington, DC, August 07, 2007 - Six leading European institutes, spanning three countries have selected Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB) to provide hosting services for their entire e-Learning implementations. BPP College of Professional Studies, Leiden University, Niels Brock University, University of Exeter, University of Nottingham and York St. John University and will utilize Blackboard ASP(sm) services to host their e-Learning programs. 

All of the institutes currently use Blackboard® technology to enhance teaching and learning. While some clients choose to locally host their Blackboard applications, many are now exclusively relying on Blackboard's technical and application expertise to host and manage their infrastructure. Blackboard's ASP Services, backed by industry-leading service level agreements, is quick, easy, and affordable -offering clients the benefits of financial flexibility, operational freedom and reduced risk. Blackboard provides advanced tier one infrastructure, 24x7x365 support, physical and electronic security, and in-built support for business continuity and flexible working.

Michele Shoebridge, director of Academic Services, University of Exeter says: "Selecting Blackboard ASP services has been an excellent decision. Without the constant challenge of managing our IT infrastructures, we can, together with staff and student support, concentrate our time and resources on developing pedagogical best practices, perfectly confident in the knowledge that our platform is robust and secure."

Tim Collin, vice president for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region at Blackboard said: "Academic institutes across Europe must juggle the continually changing technology environments with increasing demands from faculties and students, and are expected to do more with less.  We are pleased that these leading colleges and universities have chosen Blackboard ASP services, freeing them up to focus on exploring new ways of leveraging investment in the technology." 

More than 3,400 clients in over 70 countries currently license Blackboard® software products and services. Blackboard ASP services are used by more than 450 institutions across the world to provide stable, secure hosting of the Blackboard e-Learning environment. 

About Blackboard Inc.
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. Millions of people use Blackboard everyday 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.

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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 Form 10-Q filed on August 6, 2007 with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of August 7, 2007. 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 August 7, 2007.