14 DAY TRIAL // It appears that more and more universities are trying to offer their students and teachers tools that will keep them informed even while on the go.
After Ashford and Rockies launched their Android apps, the University of Liverpool took the things even further and announced that it has selected Blackboard Mobile Central and Blackboard Mobile Learn mobile applications to offer vital campus information for its students and teachers.
The apps allow users to access and check for multiple things such as grades and assignments, or upload course content.
In addition, users will be able to create threaded discussion posts, as well as email their classmates and instructors or comment on blogs.
“We took an in-depth look at the market and no other vendor inspired the same degree of confidence as the team from Blackboard Mobile,” said Jake Gannon, head of Applications, Systems and Services at the University of Liverpool.
According the University officials, the Blackboard Mobile Central app will be deployed this summer and will be especially branded for the institution.
Devs who wish to create other modules that will add to the solution will be able to take advantage of the Blackboard Mobile’s Software Development Kit (SDK), which will also be released soon afterwards.
“Blackboard offers great value as it provides the resource and capability to offer mobile functionality across a wide range of mobile devices and platforms. It simply wouldn’t be an option to build a team to do this in-house,” added Gannon.
Blackboard Mobile Central is available in native applications for Android, BlackBerry and webOS, but also for iOS (iPhone and iPod touch).
In addition, the application will be available in a mobile Web version to support a broader range of browser-enabled devices.
Blackboard Mobile Learn is available in native applications for Android, BlackBerry, webOS and iOS and iPad.
Obviously, the applications are available for free from various app stores, but only after they are enabled by the institution.