Local Tech Wire 

It's 'Mobi' Time: Cingular To Provide Wireless Wide Are Network For Wake Forest U. Pilot Program

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- Campus life is about to become a bit more interesting this fall at Wake Forest University thanks to a partnership between the institution and Cingular.

The network is part of WFU's "MobileU" mobile computing effort to develop a wireless campus environment for social as well as academic life. WFU has said this is the first campus effort to utilize PocketPC devices.

Cingular won the contract last week. It had provided Wake Forest with a voice and data network service during a trial deployment in the fall of 2005. Other wireless providers also participated in the trial.

The mobile effort is just the latest in technology innovation advanced by WFU. It became the first university to require students to have laptop computers (in 1996) and has been experimenting with wireless solutions since 2003.

WFU will utilize the network with 500 Cingular model 8125 Pocket PCs. Some 500 students, faculty and staff will receive the devices this fall semester as the university expands the pilot program.

"The results of the pilot program first phase in 2005 indicated that Wake Forest could successfully offer integrated mobile technologies that enhance the Wake Forest experience for our students, faculty and staff," said Jay Dominick, assistant vice president for information systems and chief information officer at Wake Forest. "Partnering with Cingular in this next phase will allow us to provide top-notch wireless coverage from a partner that is focused on the needs of higher education."

The Pocket PCs will utilize the Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system and will operate with integrated WiFi (wireless fidelity) as well as Bluetooth wireless. They will cost $279. Students are also eligible to receive a discount on a Cingular calling plan.

The devices, called "Mobi" by Wake Forest, can also be used to connect to the university when users are traveling overseas. The devices can be used as voice phones in more than 180 countries and as data access devices in more than 100 countries.

Students will have access to the university's web information portal as well as the campus library and information from two additional services that are part of Wake Forest's technology initiative -- when and where campus shuttle buses are as well as the availability of washers and dryers in specific laundry rooms.

Other applications will be added, the university said.

Cingular will also provide Wake Forest with project management services and will install equipment needed for in-building connectivity at locations where topography, foliage or building architecture interferes with wireless coverage.

The PocketPC device has a sliding keyboard and a 2.8 inch color LCD screen.

For more information about the program, see: mobileu.wfu.edu/?page=what.mobileu