ATLANTA—The University of South Florida plans to use Air2Web’s wireless platform to extend wireless services to students, faculty and staff beginning in January 2002.
The University’s IT department is developing applications including wireless notifications of events, class schedule changes, payment deadline reminders and emergency closures. “For years, we have been operating under the assumption that students would arrive on campus with laptop computers and use them as an information appliance,” George Ellis, associate vice president of IT for USF, said in explaining the University’s recent decision. “While there are a number of laptops used around campus, there are far more mobile devices in use such as digital cell phones, pagers and palmtops. So, we thought that if we interfaced a wireless application with our administrative system then we could wirelessly keep our students notified of class meeting changes, payment and paperwork deadlines, as well as important events.”
The University also plans to install a wireless application that will offer its students access to promotions and coupons from area merchants.
