Blackboard Adds Mobile Support for Android to Mass Notification Solution

Blackboard has expanded its mobile offerings for Blackboard Connect with the release of a native application for Android smartphones and devices. The app lets school and government leaders create, schedule and send messages to their respective communities directly from their Android devices.

The Android application joins existing apps for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices and a mobile Web version that give users of the Blackboard Connect platform greater flexibility in sending messages.

With the new app, Android users can now take advantage of some of the more advanced features of Blackboard Connect 5, including real-time reports to confirm message delivery for voice and SMS messages. Users can also leverage message templates for drafting and sending messages.

With Blackboard Connect, users can record, send, and track personalized voice, email, and text (SMS) messages to home phones, mobile devices, businesses, and local agencies in minutes. The system also sends posts to Facebook and Twitter and messages to TTY/TDD devices for people who are hearing impaired.

"In today's fast-paced, mobile environment it's clear that mobile technology is becoming a critical tool in the way we perform our everyday jobs," said Ed Miller, president of Blackboard Connect, in a statement. "Our support of the Android platform is just another step in our commitment to provide powerful, easy-to-use technology that enhances safety and creates connected communities."

Blackboard Connect now serves more than 28 million recipients at more than 6,500 client institutions. To date, Blackboard Connect has delivered several billion messages on behalf of its clients, with more than 1 billion messages being sent in 2011 alone.

Developed as a native application exclusive to the Android platform, Blackboard Connect for the Android is available to current clients for download at the Android App Store at no charge. The application is available to all clients using Blackboard Connect 5 who have an Android version 2.2 (Froyo) or higher.