PERSONA is now working to integrate its advanced stand alone door access and locking system software with the Blackboard Transaction System. Persona’s “offline” locks provide an excellent complement to Blackboard’s “online” locks, in that campuses will frequently wire external doors to the online system, but not internal doors such as those in dormitory rooms. The software interface will enable the Persona system to exchange user data with the Blackboard® system, making it possible for higher education institutions to use a single campus card to access both the Blackboard system and Persona locks. This will help schools expand their card services, while simultaneously reducing costs associated with traditional key locking systems.

Creating a compatible software platform will provide convenience for both campus administrators and students; school personnel will spend less time maintaining data, while students will be able to access buildings, rooms, meal plans, vending machines and other POS systems and ID verified systems with a single card.

“We look forward to expanding our relationship with Blackboard and coordinating our software systems to further benefit the higher education marketplace,” said Angelo Faenza, PERSONA General Manager. “Our stand alone locking solution coupled with the Blackboard Transaction System will simplify life for campus administrators and students.”

The agreement was facilitated by PERSONA’s status as a partner in Blackboard’s Building Blocks Program which allows third parties to interface with Blackboard’s e-Education software suite. Blackboard’s software is used to manage campus card systems at more than 450 schools throughout North America.

“We are very pleased to welcome PERSONA to the Building Blocks Program,” said Greg Baker, Vice President of Product Strategy for Blackboard. “Blackboard believes in facilitating choice for our clients, and the PERSONA solution is an About PERSONA PERSONA develops and markets advanced electronic access locking systems for medium sized to large campuses. PERSONA, under the auspices of the VingCard Group, introduced its first lock for educational campuses in 1995, focusing on dorm applications. The PERSONA stand alone access application is based on VingCard’s 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. PERSONA is now focused on the university and campus market, while VingCard remains committed to the hospitality market. Both PERSONA and VingCard are part of the ASSA ABLOY group. For more information, visit www.timeloxpersona.com.

About Blackboard Inc.

Blackboard was founded to transform the Internet into a powerful environment for teaching and learning. The company offers a complete suite of enterprise software products and services that power a total “e-Education Infrastructure” for schools, colleges, universities and other education providers. Blackboard solutions deliver the promise of the Internet for online teaching and learning, campus communities, auxiliary services and integration of web-enabled student services and back office systems.

Blackboard’s Learning, Community Portal and Transaction Systems are consistently ranked by industry analysts as the market share and customer satisfaction leaders for thousands of academic institutions and a leading number of the Internet’s most popular consumer education sites. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices and staff across North America, Europe and Asia. Visit www.blackboard.com for more information.

For more information contact:

Angelo Faenza, PERSONA, 800-481-8464 x3188