Several days ago (7/19), Exduco: Best Graduate School Guide published an article titled, “Microsoft picks new UW center to develop distance learning technologies.” The article notes:

ConferenceXP, the videoconferencing system developed at Microsoft Research, . . . is less expensive and more flexible than commercial videoconferencing tools. The current version delivers high-quality video content almost instantly, using standard computer hardware and university campuses’ high-bandwidth Internet connections. In the test last year, standard computers relayed high-quality audio and video among four classrooms with virtually no delay.

and

The ConferenceXP software is a shared source project, allowing any researcher to tinker with the code and create new add-ons. Conference Presenter and ConferenceXP are both available free for download; the programs require the Windows operating system.

A quick Google of “Conference XP” revealed the application’s home page at Microsoft Research and the Microsoft hosted support forums.

I believe there are several implications.

First, the ConferenceXP software is currently licensed for non-commercial use with the education community generally encouraged to participate in collaborative efforts to further develop the tool. It seems as though it may present, at least in the interim, an opportunity for inexpensive desktop videoconferencing. It’s certainly worth exploring for higher education institutions.

Second, this fans the flames suggesting Microsoft may begin competing with Blackboard/WebCT at some point in the next 1.5-2 years. I’ve not yet encountered any official news or press releases that suggest Microsoft has a comprehensive software solution that provides typical LMS functionality in a single package (discussion boards, content management, grade/records management, etc). However, looking at some of the products being released and refined (MS Live @ EDU and business intelligence, CRM, and application integration for education, plus MS Groove), the Microsoft Learning Gateway for K-12 and several other pages that turn up in searches (see a reference to MS hardware serving an LMS) - it seems that Microsoft may not be very far from having a complete package to compete with Blackboard’s Learning Management System. Microsoft appears to have the tools in place to compete with the community system (collaborative tools) and content system (sharepoint). If you combine those tools with the advantage Microsoft would have over Blackboard/WebCT regarding videoconferencing, wireless network integration, and mobile convergence, MS’s full entry into the LMS market with a comprehensive, package solution could be interesting.

It may not be all that revelatory a thought, but it’s a thought at least. Certainly, the open source market competes to some extent with Blackboard/WebCT, but I’m sure the market would welcome a competitor to Blackboard/WebCT.