Maybe I am being naïve but it sounds to me as though they are eventually heading towards a seamless integration, but then again perhaps a joining must be seamless to be an integration. I am out of my depth on this too by the sounds of things.
David
-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Julian Swindell
Sent: 18 October 2005 15:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VLES] WebCT, Blackboard - the official line
Ye Gods! Do we really buy educational software from people who write English like this? What are "multiple years"? What on earth does "The combined company will continue to invest in each company's products consistent with product development directions respectively communicated to each client base.." mean?
I know I am out of my depth with all of this VLE stuff, but I didn't realise quite how deep the water was.
Julian
--
Julian Swindell,
Principal lecturer in GIS and digital education
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, GL7 6JS, UK
tel. +44(0)1285 652531 fax. +44(0)1285 642740
email [log in to unmask]
http://www.rac.ac.uk/~julian_swindell
-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of Peter Trethewey
Sent: 18 October 2005 14:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VLES] WebCT, Blackboard - the official line
Just is case you haven't seen this??
Greetings,
As we at WebCT have been talking with many
customers over the last couple days, a number of
important questions have been asked over and over
again. We wanted to follow up with you to ensure
you receive answers to those top-of-mind
questions:
What will happen to my product? Will I have to
switch to Blackboard's products?
Blackboard announced that it plans to develop,
innovate, upgrade, improve, and support both
Blackboard's and WebCT's products, including
WebCT
Vista and WebCT Campus Edition, and the
Blackboard
Academic Suite and Blackboard Commerce Suite. The
combined company will continue to invest in each
company's products consistent with product
development directions respectively communicated
to
each client base. Right now, WebCT is still hard
at
work on new product releases, including a new
release of WebCT Campus Edition and WebCT Vista
in
2006.
What's your product roadmap? When will the
next-generation platform be available?
Blackboard has announced that, following the
merger, it will develop common, standards-based
APIs, based on Blackboard Building Blocks and
WebCT
PowerLinks, which will allow the existing product
lines to interoperate with one another. Following
the merger, under Chris Vento's leadership, we
will
eventually develop a new next-generation,
standards-based, product set that incorporates
the
best features, usability characteristics, and
technical architecture from the two product
lines.
Note: Chris Vento is WebCT's current Chief
Technology Officer and will be taking on the role
of Sr. VP of Technology and Product Development
in
the combined organization.
The development of this next-generation suite is
expected to be an effort that will take multiple
years and most likely happen as the existing
products evolve over time and therefore should
not
impact your current upgrade and deployments
plans.
Neither Blackboard nor WebCT can provide more
information about future development timelines
right now because we are still operating as
completely independent companies. After the
merger
is complete, we will provide more specific
information as it becomes available.
How will WebCT's practices and standards for
quality account management, quality service and
quality support be integrated into the combined
company?
WebCT employees will represent roughly 50% of the
combined company in the Academic Suite business.
Blackboard is keenly aware of WebCT's reputation
for quality and direct communications in our
account management, professional services, and
support interactions and will seek to adopt
WebCT's
best practices across the entire combined
company.
We also would like to encourage you to attend the
town hall-style information session that
Blackboard
and WebCT are holding jointly at the EDUCAUSE
2005
Annual Conference, in Orlando, Florida. The forum
will establish an open dialogue between members
of
the academic community and Blackboard and WebCT
CEOs about the planned merger. The meeting will
take place on Wednesday, October 19th at 11:40
a.m.
at the Orange County Convention Center, Exhibit
Hall A-2. The session will be repeated on
Thursday,
October 20th at 2:20 p.m. in room W204A.
If you have any additional questions, please do
not
hesitate to contact your current WebCT account
manager. We look forward to our continued
partnership, hearing your thoughts, and answering
any questions you might have.
Sincerely,
Carol Vallone
Chairman, President & CEO
WebCT
Michael Chasen
President & CEO
Blackboard
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Education, which accepts no related responsibility.
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