Education
Cingular Goes to Head of Class in Wake Forest University Mobile Program
Source: Cingular Wireless
Jul 18, 2006, 09:05

Prestigious Institution Selects Cingular as Exclusive Voice, Data Provider For Acclaimed Wireless Technology Initiative

ATLANTA and WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.--(COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--July 18, 2006--Cingular Wireless has been selected as the exclusive wireless wide area network provider for Wake Forest University�s acclaimed mobile computing wireless technology initiative. Cingular was awarded the contract by the nationally ranked, liberal arts university to supply it with all wide area voice and data services for the program following a fall 2005 trial deployment in which it and other wireless carriers participated.

Wake Forest is believed to be the nation�s first University to explore potential college campus uses for advanced converged mobile technology using the Pocket PC phone.

Wake Forest University is deploying up to 500 Cingular 8125 Pocket PCs this fall to students, faculty and staff on its Reynolda campus who are participating in 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.� 

Unique Applications
The EDGE-enabled Cingular 8125 Pocket PC � with a full QWERTY �slider� keyboard, the latest Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system, integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth(R) support � gives pilot program participants the power to access several custom applications to help them manage their hectic everyday on-campus lives. The university dubbed the device the �Mobi.�

Using the Cingular 8125, pilot program members have direct access to the university�s campus portal, called the Wake Information Network (WIN). From there students easily can download their class schedules into the device�s calendar. A special application developed by the university for the Cingular 8125 ensures that the device�s phone doesn�t ring when the schedule indicates that the user is in an important meeting or class. 

Students also can check their grades and search campus directories to find other students, professors or administrators and easily download their contact information into the Cingular 8125�s contact list, all while on the go. Program participants also receive alerts automatically on their devices with notifications about such things as a package waiting at their campus mail box.

Students in the pilot program can use their Cingular 8125 to search the main campus library�s voluminous holdings and find the location of the resources they select. They also have access to two cutting-edge, voice-enabled applications that let them know when the next campus shuttle bus will arrive at their specific location, and the availability of washers and dryers at a given laundry room.

The University is in the process of developing several additional applications enabled for the Cingular 8125 for use in the program.

�This pilot program is illustrative of why Wake Forest University is regarded as being at the forefront of technology in higher education,� said Chris Hill, vice president, government solutions, for Cingular Wireless. �The innovative applications that the University has developed for use in conjunction with Cingular 8125 Pocket PC demonstrates the positive impact that wireless can have on the lives of not only those who live and work in a university setting but in many other walks of life as well. Cingular is honored that Wake Forest University has selected it as a collaborator in this groundbreaking program.�

Beyond the Campus
Beyond on-campus uses, the Cingular 8125�s quad-band capabilities will allow faculty and students to stay connected to the University when traveling abroad. More than 600 members of the Wake Forest community travel overseas each year and they will be able to use the Cingular 8125 in more than 180 countries for voice services and more than 100 countries to access data.

As part of the contract, Cingular will assist Wake Forest University�s Information Systems Department by providing project management services for the deployment of the devices. Cingular also will install in-building connectivity solutions to deliver voice and high performance data services inside those buildings on campus where factors such as topography, foliage and building architecture impact cellular coverage.

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About Wake Forest University
Known as a technology leader in higher education, Wake Forest University is ranked 27th among 248 national universities in the 2006 edition of U.S. News & World Report's guide, "America's Best Colleges." Wake Forest became one of the first universities in the country to provide laptop computers to its students when it began including ThinkPad computers with tuition in 1996. For the past four years, the university has experimented with mobile computing pilot programs to determine what technologies are most useful in an academic environment. CIO Magazine recently named Wake Forest a recipient of its CIO 100 Award for 2006, and the University was a finalist for ComputerWorld Magazine�s 2006 Best Practices in Mobility and Wireless Award.

About Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 55.8 million customers.  Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation � the ALLOVER(TM) network � and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(R), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/.

Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Contact:
John Kampfe
Cingular Wireless
973-637-9387 (office)
908-432-3473 (wireless)

or

Laurie Parker
Cingular Wireless
615-221-3690 (office)
615-202-3463 (wireless)

or

Kevin P. Cox
Wake Forest University
336-758-5237 (office)