m-learning Forum News
May 2002
These
news-clips have been collated from various news sources because they are
considered possibly relevant to mobile learning developments.
May 2002
(Europe) EC
e-content report - “Digital
Content for Global Mobile Services”
The EC e-Content programme have
released their report, entitled “Digital Content for Global Mobile
Services”, which provides strategies on how to foster the development of the
mobile content market. It looks at applications including Edutainment:
educational games, interactive reference publications (encyclopaedia,
dictionaries, etc.) and interactive guides (city guides, museum guides, etc.)
(Source: Cordis) (see
article) (download
summary) (download
full report)
(USA)
Report - Wireless “hot spot”
This
report looks at the emerging market for wireless "hot spots”, that
offer consumer and enterprise users roaming connectivity to data networks. It
explores the technologies, business models, and hurdles for hot-spot
deployments and places hot spots in the context of new "final-feet"
questions that will challenge service providers to understand unique PAN and
LAN use patterns. (Source: SRI Consulting)
(see
report summary)
(UK) Report
- The Adoption Of High-End Phones: A forecast for multimedia phones through
2005 (Part One)
This
study looks at mobile handsets sales between 2002 and 2005, and what will
drive these sales and the adoption of 3G technologies. It explores the
circumstances that will allow vendors and operators to successfully emphasize
mid- to high-tier multimedia models, which includes high-resolution displays,
colour, and sound capabilities (Source: CMS) (see
report summary)
29 May 2002
(Europe) Pictures Messaging prioritised
over 3G by Vodafone
Picture messaging by mobile
phones is being heralded as the killer application for the coming year,
according to Vodafone. They have pushed back their mass 3G rollout until 2004.
Chief executive Chris Gent insisted that applications, not technology would
appeal to its customers, he also pointed out the success of J-Phone's "sha-mail"
picture messaging services camera-enabled handsets, The services will trial
initially in Germany and Portugal, and expected to be rolled out across Europe
in the run-up to Christmas. (Source: The Register) (see
article)
24 May 2002
(France) Orange
launch fixed charge Internet
Orange are launching a fixed
charge unlimited Internet access to entice millions of subscribers to try
using the Web on the move. For an additional 6 Euros a month, subscribers will
have online access at all times. However, the GPRS technology will still not
be powerful enough to send photos, watch video clips or open email
attachments. Orange is launching the services for France only on May 30 for
the Samsung T100, Philips Fisio 820 and Sony Ericsson T68, but expects to have
some 15 handsets signed up by December. Orange users will also be able to
access the services on their existing handsets. Users should be able to send
and receive messages with photos attached by Christmas. Orange plans to launch
this offer Europe-wide by September. (Source: Telecom.paper)
22 May 2002
(Canada) Calgary
Schools to go Wireless
The Calgary Board of Education
will equip more than 221 primary and secondary schools with wireless learning
capabilities using the Avaya Wireless local area network (LAN) portfolio. More
than 90,000 students will benefit from incorporating wireless computer access
into their classroom learning environments as students can move from
room-to-room with their laptops without losing network connections.
"We envision a learning environment where students are empowered
to research, explore and communicate with technology from every corner of
their school," said Mike Bester, ICT curriculum specialist. (Source:
Avaya) (see
press release)
21 May 2002
(Japan) 3G
subscribers exceed expectation
KDDI has signed 334,000 third
generation (3G) subscribers in the first 30 days of offering 3G voice and data
services. "The response from our new 1X customers about the 3G data
services has been overwhelmingly positive. The tremendous and quick growth in
the first month of offerings is better than we had forecast," said
Tadashi Onodera, president of KDDI Corp. (Source: PR Newswire) (see
press release)
(USA) ritemail
available on Palm
Pen&Internet have developed
wireless connectivity for its riteMail(TM) application on Palm Powered
products. riteMail allows users to create and send their own handwritten notes
and drawings -- to any email address, in any language and can be used on all
wireless connection methods for Palm OS(R) based products. (Source: PR
Newswire) (see
press release)
9 May 2002
(USA) First
GSM 850 MHz Call
Cingular Wireless has completed
the first GSM call utilizing 850 MHz spectrum outside of a lab environment.
"The ability to effectively use 850 MHz spectrum for GSM is
critical to our plans to build a unified voice and advanced data network
nationwide, said Bill Clift, Chief Technical Officer of Cingular. (Source:
Cingular) (see
press release)
6 May 2002
(Finland)
Downloadable Games for Mobile
phones
Jippii
Group have launched their Jippii eXchange (JeX) Gaming Portal that will allow
users to download Java games/other applications to their mobile phone/other
wireless handsets and also enable application developers to sell their
products without the needing a separate connection and billing agreements with
network operators. Jippii eXchange already contains of a library of 60 games
and is growing rapidly (Source: Jappii) (see
press release)
(USA) Alliance
to boost wireless industry
IBM and Openwave have signed a
10-year agreement to develop, deploy and market open solutions, through the
combination of IBM’s e-business infrastructure and Openwave’s messaging
and mobile software. The companies will enable service providers to grow
revenue through the rapid introduction of innovative data applications,
products and services as well as reduce the cost of managing an increasingly
complex operational environment. Consumers will benefit from better service
and faster access to more data applications delivered to mobile devices.
(Source: Openwave) (see
press release)
(USA) You
need a PC to do a Degree
Personal Computers with wireless
cards are becoming an essential utility for University students, as
Universities in the 21st century are extremely computing-centric and
everything from offices to classrooms to dorm rooms are networked. The
Internet has replacing both the school library as a focus of research and the
campus music store as a source of hit tunes. (Source: Wireless NewsFactor) (see
article)
(USA)
Telephone signals at the speed of light!
A new centre at the University
of Washington is pushing computer, telephone, radar and data network signals
to the speed of light. “Photonics
research involves translating signals into optical format and shooting them
through fibre-optic systems,” said UW chemistry professor Larry Dalton
(Source: Wireless NewsFactor) (see
article)
(USA)
Palm launch Graduate Pack
Palm has launched a customised
low cost m125 Grad Pack ($199) aimed specifically at high school and college
graduates. It includes a Palm m125 handheld, a USB HotSync(R) cable and an
expansion card titled "Shortcuts to Success" that features
productivity tools, games and Charles Webb's novel "The Graduate" in
eBook format. (Source:Palm) (see
press release)
1 May 2002
(USA)
Harcourt
Company Teams with Wireless Generation for New Mobile Observational Assessment
Solution
Rigby
has teamed up with Wireless Generation to develop the Rigby Reading Assessment
System. The new system is powered by Wireless Generation's mCLASS(TM)
technology and will be available in Autumn 2002. (Source: Harcourt)(see
press release)
(USA)
AU to Become University-Wide Wireless Campus
American
University aims to become a leading wireless university by converting
campus-wide to a wireless system that will handle voice, data and messaging.
It will be available for students, faculty, and staff in time for the Autumn
2002 semester. The project will reduce costs while increasing student and
staff services through a host of new and future wireless technology
applications. It will eventually save the University the maintenance cost of
at least half of its current wire-line phones. (Source: American University) (see
press release)
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