Comments on: Blackboard Is Losing Customers, but What Does It Mean? http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/ What We Are Learning About Online Learning...Online Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:42:18 +0000 hourly 1 By: wmrandth (Randy Thornton) http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-842 wmrandth (Randy Thornton) Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:15:05 +0000 http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-842 <a rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/botimer" rel="nofollow">@botimer</a> true for now, but given <a rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/mfeldstein67" rel="nofollow">@mfeldstein67</a> analysis of BB biz model http://tinyurl.com/mxwpu5 gloves will come off eventually... @botimer true for now, but given @mfeldstein67 analysis of BB biz model http://tinyurl.com/mxwpu5 gloves will come off eventually…

]]> By: Blackboard is losing its customers, but what does it mean? « Chris Coppola's Blog http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-841 Blackboard is losing its customers, but what does it mean? « Chris Coppola's Blog Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:26:37 +0000 http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-841 [...] does it mean? 2007 November 7 tags: education, open source, sakai, technology by Chris Interesting analysis compliments of Michael Feldstein and Jim Farmer over at e-Literate. 33.508856 [...] [...] does it mean? 2007 November 7 tags: education, open source, sakai, technology by Chris Interesting analysis compliments of Michael Feldstein and Jim Farmer over at e-Literate. 33.508856 [...]

]]> By: Blackboard’s Market Share Erosion http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-840 Blackboard’s Market Share Erosion Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:11:25 +0000 http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-840 [...] bolstered by the excellent financial forensic work of Jim Farmer, I wrote a post entitled “Blackboard Is Losing Customers, But What Does It Mean?” Then in March, 2008 I reported on a survey by the American Association of Community [...] [...] bolstered by the excellent financial forensic work of Jim Farmer, I wrote a post entitled “Blackboard Is Losing Customers, But What Does It Mean?” Then in March, 2008 I reported on a survey by the American Association of Community [...]

]]> By: Duane http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-839 Duane Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:07:47 +0000 http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-839 Potential Enterprise customers are leaving in droves because Enterprise is too expensive a bump just to add an LDAP/AD interface. Rather than diversifying and trying to get those customers to buy something else, they could easily have created an Enterprise Lite/Starter, which just adds the LDAP component. That would have kept many customers on the hook, generating revenue and even creating an opportunity later for those customers to bump up another notch if some future capabilities and features come along that look too compelling to pass up. Few customers want to pay an additional $35K just to get LDAP/AD, especially given their posturing about inventing the LMS and attempting to crush or buy out competition. If they think they can develop that next year and get customers to dump their open source products and come back to the table, they are sadly mistaken--they walked away from the negotiating table by continuing to quote an exorbitant price to customers that only needed one feature. They sadly and incorrectly assumed that a) there was no alternative and their monopoly was sounds, and b) people would pay the extra price to save the administrative headache built into their Basic product (with no LDAP). I look forward to reading IT/IS case studies on Blackboard in approximately 3-5 years. Potential Enterprise customers are leaving in droves because Enterprise is too expensive a bump just to add an LDAP/AD interface. Rather than diversifying and trying to get those customers to buy something else, they could easily have created an Enterprise Lite/Starter, which just adds the LDAP component. That would have kept many customers on the hook, generating revenue and even creating an opportunity later for those customers to bump up another notch if some future capabilities and features come along that look too compelling to pass up. Few customers want to pay an additional $35K just to get LDAP/AD, especially given their posturing about inventing the LMS and attempting to crush or buy out competition. If they think they can develop that next year and get customers to dump their open source products and come back to the table, they are sadly mistaken–they walked away from the negotiating table by continuing to quote an exorbitant price to customers that only needed one feature. They sadly and incorrectly assumed that a) there was no alternative and their monopoly was sounds, and b) people would pay the extra price to save the administrative headache built into their Basic product (with no LDAP). I look forward to reading IT/IS case studies on Blackboard in approximately 3-5 years.

]]> By: Michael Feldstein http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-838 Michael Feldstein Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:29:33 +0000 http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-838 Luke, somebody told me just yesterday that Blackboard has lost a couple of Vista customers since I wrote this post, but I can't confirm that. In any event, it looks like Blackboard NG will be an upgrade for Blackboard users but a migration for Vista users, so I suspect that there will be some defections over the next few years even if there haven't been any yet. Luke, somebody told me just yesterday that Blackboard has lost a couple of Vista customers since I wrote this post, but I can’t confirm that. In any event, it looks like Blackboard NG will be an upgrade for Blackboard users but a migration for Vista users, so I suspect that there will be some defections over the next few years even if there haven’t been any yet.

]]> By: Luke Fernandez http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-837 Luke Fernandez Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:05:14 +0000 http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-837 Michael, Any chance you know whether the following quote from your post about Vista customers still holds true? "The first thing to understand is that the Enterprise license numbers include all WebCT licenses—both Vista and CE. According to Mr. Stanton, Blackboard hasn’t lost a single Vista customer since the acquisition." Cheers, Luke Michael,

Any chance you know whether the following quote from your post about Vista customers still holds true?

“The first thing to understand is that the Enterprise license numbers include all WebCT licenses—both Vista and CE. According to Mr. Stanton, Blackboard hasn’t lost a single Vista customer since the acquisition.”

Cheers,

Luke

]]> By: Bad News for Blackboard, Good News for Moodle at e-Literate http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-836 Bad News for Blackboard, Good News for Moodle at e-Literate Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:07:09 +0000 http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-836 [...] The degree to which this will impact their bottom line and stock price are complex questions. First of all, a lot will depend on how many Blackboard Enterprise customers they lose. Keep in mind that Blackboard has already lost close to a third of their “Basic” license customers in 2006 and 2007 (where the “Basic” category also includes WebCT Vista and CE) and they still performed pretty close to their guidance to Wall Street during that time. In order to keep this feat up, they need to hold on to their lucrative Enterprise license customers We’re in LMS buying season right now; watch to see how many Blackboard Enterprise customers announce that they’re leaving for other platforms versus how many new Enterprise wins they get. Blackboard is also trying to sell more stuff to the customers they already have. Notice that they’ve been on a bit of an acquisition spree lately, buying up everything from content management to emergency warning systems to video surveillence systems. They’re trying to diversify their way out of this problem. Still, even if Blackboard manages to continue its financial levitation act for the next few years, part of its stock valuation is based on the assumption that the company has a near-monopoly with all that implies. If it loses 20% market share then it will almost certainly lose market value regardless of its revenues because the “multiplier” that Wall Street applies will go down. [...] [...] The degree to which this will impact their bottom line and stock price are complex questions. First of all, a lot will depend on how many Blackboard Enterprise customers they lose. Keep in mind that Blackboard has already lost close to a third of their “Basic” license customers in 2006 and 2007 (where the “Basic” category also includes WebCT Vista and CE) and they still performed pretty close to their guidance to Wall Street during that time. In order to keep this feat up, they need to hold on to their lucrative Enterprise license customers We’re in LMS buying season right now; watch to see how many Blackboard Enterprise customers announce that they’re leaving for other platforms versus how many new Enterprise wins they get. Blackboard is also trying to sell more stuff to the customers they already have. Notice that they’ve been on a bit of an acquisition spree lately, buying up everything from content management to emergency warning systems to video surveillence systems. They’re trying to diversify their way out of this problem. Still, even if Blackboard manages to continue its financial levitation act for the next few years, part of its stock valuation is based on the assumption that the company has a near-monopoly with all that implies. If it loses 20% market share then it will almost certainly lose market value regardless of its revenues because the “multiplier” that Wall Street applies will go down. [...]

]]> By: Blackboard vs Desire2Learn « Green Tea Ice Cream http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-835 Blackboard vs Desire2Learn « Green Tea Ice Cream Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:22:01 +0000 http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-835 [...] Eighteen months later (and most likely an appalling amount of legal fees), a jury finds against 35 of the 44 patents - but upholds the remaining 9. Some are calling this a significant victory for D2L (though I’d be a teeny bit worried about the $3 million dollars the jury awarded). Still, it’s only the first round - this one could run for years. Meanwhile, it isn’t winning Blackboard any friends in HE - and they may even be losing customers. As for Blackboard, they don’t appear to have anything to say on the subject. [...] [...] Eighteen months later (and most likely an appalling amount of legal fees), a jury finds against 35 of the 44 patents – but upholds the remaining 9. Some are calling this a significant victory for D2L (though I’d be a teeny bit worried about the $3 million dollars the jury awarded). Still, it’s only the first round – this one could run for years. Meanwhile, it isn’t winning Blackboard any friends in HE – and they may even be losing customers. As for Blackboard, they don’t appear to have anything to say on the subject. [...]

]]> By: Details Are Trickling In at e-Literate http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-834 Details Are Trickling In at e-Literate Sat, 23 Feb 2008 17:56:37 +0000 http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-834 [...] One thing that is clear, however, is that so far nobody has benefited financially from this. The $3.1 million Bb could receive in settlement probably won’t even cover their legal fees. Their stock is at the same level it was when they initiated the lawsuit and down over 40% from its highs. And obviously D2L has not come out richer either. Blackboard has a net loss of customers and has created tremendous negative press for itself while D2L now has at least one major customer who is willing to go on record saying that they are worried. (We know a lot less about the financial impact on D2L because it’s not a publicly traded company.) Tell me again how software patent assertion is going reward and enhance innovation in higher education? addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fmfeldstein.com%2Fdetails-are-trickling-in%2F'; addthis_title = 'Details+Are+Trickling+In'; addthis_pub = ''; [...] [...] One thing that is clear, however, is that so far nobody has benefited financially from this. The $3.1 million Bb could receive in settlement probably won’t even cover their legal fees. Their stock is at the same level it was when they initiated the lawsuit and down over 40% from its highs. And obviously D2L has not come out richer either. Blackboard has a net loss of customers and has created tremendous negative press for itself while D2L now has at least one major customer who is willing to go on record saying that they are worried. (We know a lot less about the financial impact on D2L because it’s not a publicly traded company.) Tell me again how software patent assertion is going reward and enhance innovation in higher education? addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fmfeldstein.com%2Fdetails-are-trickling-in%2F’; addthis_title = ‘Details+Are+Trickling+In’; addthis_pub = ”; [...]

]]> By: Michael Feldstein http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-833 Michael Feldstein Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:02:05 +0000 http://mfeldstein.com/blackboard-is-losing-customers-but-what-does-it-mean/#comment-833 These numbers are for LMS licenses only. I haven't looked at Commerce or Content carefully, but my impression is that their license numbers are still rising. If so, then this would be consistent with the theory that Blackboard is managing to get more revenues out of its customers on the high end while losing customers on the low end. These numbers are for LMS licenses only. I haven’t looked at Commerce or Content carefully, but my impression is that their license numbers are still rising. If so, then this would be consistent with the theory that Blackboard is managing to get more revenues out of its customers on the high end while losing customers on the low end.

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