TheCN is a different product and fills a different niche in the educational landscape—and it has a different business model. Unlike most learning technologies, it is free to users and is based on principles of social networking designed to help students and faculty connect globally with other learners interested in the same course subject or topic--both in the credit and noncredit arenas. Because it is free (no license) and easy to use, it is a wonderful complement to course management systems like Blackboard, Sakai, Epsilen, Moodle, D2L, and other Learning Management Systems.