Blackboard brings student IDs to the iPhone

Washington, D.C.-based Blackboard announced a new platform called Blackboard Mobile Credential, which allows college students, faculty and staff to add their student ID cards to their iPhones and Apple Watches. The Apple Wallet program launched Tuesday at Duke University, the University of Alabama and the University of Oklahoma.

“Students’ worlds revolve around convenient mobile solutions, and they’ve come to expect a simple, frictionless mobile experience in all aspects of their lives, especially when it comes to the Apple devices they love and carry with them,” David Marr, president of Blackboard Transact said in a press release. “Blackboard is very excited to announce support for Student ID on iPhone and Apple Watch. We truly appreciate the role our client community has played in creating a student-centric environment to support such a transformative experience for Apple users.”

We're thrilled to announce Blackboard Mobile Credential support for Student ID cards in Apple Wallet, which brings students the ability to add their student ID to Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch. Learn more in the press release: https://t.co/KApFsE8WfH #mymobileid pic.twitter.com/7A0ysqNBho

— Blackboard (@Blackboard) October 2, 2018

Users can easily access facilities and make payments at locations around campuses where they would normally use their student ID (think: libraries, dining halls and laundry rooms). Unique to Blackboard, some students will be able to securely access residence halls using the single mobile credential platform.

“I’m proud that the University of Alabama is one of the first to experience this technology and be on the forefront of new and exciting innovations to improve our campus community,” University of Alabama student Royce Dickerson said in a statement.

Johns Hopkins University, Santa Clara University and Philadelphia’s Temple University will launch their Mobile Credential programs later in the school year.