Overview of IP Technologies for the Blackboard Commerce Suite

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Overview of IP Technologies for the Blackboard
Commerce Suite

• Presented by Michele Neyers, Blackboard Sr.
  Solutions Engineer
• April 13, 2005

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A word from our lawyers

• Any statements in this presentation 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 most recent 10-K
  filed with the SEC. In addition, the
  forward-looking statements included in this press
  release represent the Company's views as of April
  11, 2005. 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 April 11, 2005.
  Blackboard, in its sole discretion, may delay or
  cancel the release of any product or
  functionality described in this presentation.

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Blackboards IP Technologies

• Session Objectives
• To review the IP based solutions offered for the
  Blackboard Commerce Suite and discuss how these
  technologies may benefit you/your card programs
• Innovation
• Facilitate discussions around available IP
  technologies and how campuses are taking
  advantage of these solutions
• Results/Outcomes
• Provide attendees with an understanding of
• Blackboards IP based products and solutions
• The benefits of IP over traditional serial
  technologies
• Options and considerations around making the
  switch to IP

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The Past A Quick Look at Serial Communications
Terminal Server ?
RS-485
Lantronix box
RS-232
CP16
? ? ? ?
Converters
Digiboard
DB25 Male
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Blackboards Product Strategy

• Leading institutions are wiring their campuses to
  connect people and resources in new and powerful
  ways.
• In moving beyond Meal Plan Administration, these
  institutions are deploying their core
  technologies in an effort to establish a dynamic
  and cohesive commerce and access network.
• Blackboards product strategy is to help our
  clients meet their objectives by developing and
  supporting the core technologies that enable a
  true Networked Transaction Environment.

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Introducing the Networked Transaction Environment

• Networked Transaction Environment
• A true networked transaction environment exists
  when any student, teacher or member of the
  university community can use a universal account
  on campus, off campus, and online for all
  commerce transactions, activities, facilities
  access and web-based services.

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Networked Transaction Environment
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The Present and Future How is Blackboard
positioned for IP Technology?

• Currently Available IP Native Bb and Third Party
  Hardware
• IP Converter, IPCONVU
• IP Vending reader, VR/MDBMP1
• IP Copy reader, CR30001
• IP Access Control reader, SA3000 series1,U
• IP Debit/Activities Terminal, AT30002, U
• NCR RealPOS70 and RealPOS20W
• Micros WS43
• Micros Eclipse WS3
• Micros Keyboard WS43
• Bb/Sequoia Wireless Handheld Reader (uses TIA)

1Also supports RS-485 (Unix only) WCurrently
available for Windows Edition only 2Also supports
RS-232 (Windows) and RS-485 (Unix) UCurrently
available for Unix Edition only 3Requires Micros
9700 also supports 802.11b wireless through
PCMCIA slot
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The Present and Future How is Bb positioned for
IP Technology?

• Bb IP Hardware currently In Development
• IP Laundry Reader
• Wireless connectivity option to washers/dryers
• IP Value Transfer Station (VTS)/Card Management
  Center (CMC)
• IP BbOne Reader
• Enhanced capabilities to work with off-campus
  merchants utilizing high speed internet
  connections
• release not yet scheduled

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The Present and Future How is Blackboard
positioned for IP Technology?
Transaction Integration Agent
3rd Party Point of Sale
Bookstore Systems
FULL AES ENCRYPTION 128 bit Government Standard
Print/Copy Management
TIA Building Block
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The Present and Future How is Blackboard
positioned for IP Technology?
Blackboard Building Blocks Partners who have
certified their products to the IP-based TIA
specification

• Third Party Commerce/POS
• Campus Video Solutions
• Catapult POS (Aramark)
• InfoGenesis
• Informed Decisions/CASHNet
• Micros 9700
• Radiant Systems
• Ratex Business Solutions
• Sequoia Retail/POS
• Tangent/Venue1
• USA Technologies (e-Suds)

• Bookstore POS/Inventory Management
• Booklog (Computerworks of Chicago)
• BUDGEText
• Follett/JDA
• Nebraska Book Company

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The Present and Future How is Blackboard
positioned for IP Technology?

• Print Management
• Envisionware
• Equitrac
• GoPrint Systems
• Pharos UnipriNT
• Sequiam Software
• VendPrint
• Complete list http//buildingblocks.blackboard.c
  om

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The Value PropositionWhy make the switch to IP?

• Economical Considerations
• IP devices allow the campus to leverage the
  investment made in the existing network
  infrastructure
• Potential for recurring costs for dedicated
  copper wiring
• Leased lines, dry circuits, POTS (dial-up) lines
• Time and materials costs
• Troubleshooting and repair
• Expensive to replace wiring that is not easily
  repairable
• Communications Hardware
• Recurring maintenance charges
• Repair or RMA charges
• Replacement costs over time
• Upgrades to backend system to support serial
  connections

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The Value PropositionWhy make the switch to IP?

• Technical Security Considerations
• Special skill set required to maintain serial
  connectivity
• Leverage existing IP/Network resources
• Blackboard IP devices offer added security in
  the form of full encryption
• AES 128-bit Government Standard
• DHCP and Static IP addresses supported
• Eliminates extraneous equipment
• Less equipment Less connections Less points
  of failure
• Increased device up-time (the network has to stay
  up!)
• IP devices can be more easily managed and
  configured remotely across the network
• Higher data transmission speeds and more reliable
  than a standard serial data connection
• Blackboard manufactured supported devices

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Finding the Right Migration Path Things to
Consider

• Know what you already have
• Review existing readers and communication
  protocols deployed
• Document and categorize reader locations
  protocols in use
• Visit the sites if youre not sure what is
  deployed
• Ask your IT Support Team for help
• Involve your IT/Network team to determine
  IP/network availability at the targeted reader
  locations
• Determine locations where IP connectivity may not
  be possible
• Discuss possibilities for wireless
• Determine overall cost estimate for adding new
  connections
• Discuss ways that your IT/Network Support team
  might be able to assist in the transition,
  deployment of new readers and/or the on-going
  care and feeding of deployed readers
• Consider executing a Service Level Agreement
  (SLA)

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Finding the Right Migration Path Things to
Consider

• Start small and work your way up
• Consider existing pain points and locations
  that experience chronic communications issues
• Consider drop-in replacements that can easily be
  converted to IP at a later time
• Consider instituting a policy to use IP readers
  and connectivity in all new reader deployments
  (where applicable)
• Develop a comprehensive plan
• Determine whether you will need to perform an
  upgrade before you can deploy any of Blackboards
  IP technology
• Develop a 1, 2, 3 or 5 year transition plan and
  budgets
• Align this transition with existing equipment
  amortization schedules and overall replacement
  strategies
• Work with your Blackboard Regional Account
  Executive/Account Manager

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Closing Thoughts

• Innovating Together in 05
• Know the technology and solutions available to
  you
• Speak with other clients on their efforts and
  success around deploying Blackboards IP based
  technologies
• Set up meetings with Blackboard to assist you in
  your planning efforts
• Resources Available
• Always remember BtB http//behind.blackboard.com
  
• Client listserv
• IP Reader Workshop and the Hardware Lab
• Follow up Contact(s)
• Michele Neyers, mneyers_at_blackboard.com
• IF YOU ONLY REMEMBER 1 THING
• Blackboards IP technologies and solutions have
  been built to help you achieve a true Networked
  Transaction Environment