Blackboard Continues Their Expansion ...

... into new markets. Just off the top of my head, they've purchased WebCT, Angel, Elluminate, Wimba, MobileCentral. They are systematically consolidating and controlling the entire online learning ecosystem (including LMS, mobile, web-conferencing, and now a variety of student support services).

Is anyone else troubled by this?

In Bid to Expand Into Student Services, Blackboard Buys Presidium:

Blackboard, known for its course-management software, is moving into a whole new sector. Today the company announced that it bought Presidium Inc., which provides outsourced call centers and consulting services for admissions, financial aid, and other student services, and also runs IT help desks for many colleges.

Blackboard paid $53-million to acquire the company, in a deal that wrapped up December 30. Blackboard already held about 10 percent of the company, which was founded by former Blackboard employees, said Matthew Maurer, a spokesman for Blackboard. Presidium is based in Reston, Va., and has 160 full-time employees.