The Convergence of Content Providers and Learning Platforms

As an academic content provider, Harvard Business Publishing's Higher Education group distributes business content to educators who then post that material on learning platforms.  But often times our content and other publishers' content is distributed by 3rd party content aggregators who then sell directly to educators.  Historically there was a clear distinction between content providers (publishers and aggregators) and the learning platforms on which their content was distributed/used.  That's no longer the case -- there has been a massive convergence of these entities across both web and devices.  Here's some that piqued our interest.

Please note that some of these entities now have or have had business relationships with Harvard Business Publishing. This post isn't meant as an endorsement or criticism of any of the companies -- just an observation on the convergence of content distribution vs. learning platform business models.  The truth is there are pros and cons to any distribution system.  Some of these platforms have valuable features that might benefit faculty and students who don't already have a standardized learning environment or platform.  On the other hand, platform costs then drive up the cost premium that some content aggregators already have to add above the original publishers' costs.  But what's most interesting is the fact that both software platforms and content distributors seem to feel they need each other to create a winning value proposition for educators.

MBS Direct + Xplana	MBS Direct is one of the largest academic content aggregators in the world.  They are the virtual bookstore for thousands of universities serving millions of students.  In 2009 they purchased Xplana, a rich "personal learning space" platform.  Now facutly can procure any of MBS Direct's content directly from within the Xplana environment, and student notes and tags are 'liquid' between online, offline, and tablet/phone app channels.
Ingram + VitalSource	Ingram (and in particular Ingram Digital) has a long history of trade books, periodicals, and publisher services.  In 2006 they acquired VitalSource, a digital textbook delivery platform.  The VitalSource business model includes selling eBook platform services and content to schools as well as aggregating content from publishers.
Follett+ CafeScribe	The Follett Higher Education Group manages over 800 bookstores and provides used textbooks and services to almost 2,000 bookstores.  In 2008 they acquired the company that owned the CafeScribe digital textbook platform.
B&N + Nook Study	The convergence doesn't always have to happen through acquisition.  Barnes & Noble created its Nook Study platform (a separate platform from their Nook eReader device) to give students powerful notetaking and tagging features to augment content procured from bn.com.
Pearson + Learning Studio	Pearson's Learning Studio is a "next generation learning management system" -- a software-as-a-service online platform -- for delivering and using Pearson content.
Cengage + MindTap	Cengage's MindTap platform is a "personal learning environment" that allows educators to add "apps" to the online experience to augment how their students interact with the Cengage content.
McGraw Hill + Connect	McGraw-Hill's Connect platform provides online learning assignment and assessment solutions for faculty, and also includes eBook utilities, study aids, and other student learning aids.
Inkling	Inkling began as "interactive textbooks for iPads" and garnered investment from private equity and big publishers alike.  But their rich treatment of interactive eBooks targeted to a single device wasn't enough -- the company is now creating an online store and a web-based eReader.
Kno	Kno began its life as a hardware tablet, but the iPad quickly put a change to that strategy.  The company abandoned its hardware play completely and is now trying to amass a content collection to market itself as a web and tablet-based eReader.
Courseload	Courseload provides a rich learning platform for students but also aggregates content for delivery to school customers.
Blackboard	At first glance Blackboard might seem to be bucking the trend and remaining at the 'learning platform' end of convergence spectrum.  But they actually have formed critical content partnerships with many publishers who then create special integration capabilities that allow BB customers to more easily procure and deliver content.  Examples from the list above include these integration projects: McGraw-Hill Connect, CafeScribe, and B&N Nook Study.