November 13, 2001
Using Air2Web's wireless platform, the University of South Florida will extend its first wireless services to its students, faculty and staff beginning in January 2002.
USF's Information Technologies (IT) department is developing applications which include wireless notification of important events, changes in class schedules, reminders of payment deadlines and emergency closures.
According to George Ellis, associate vice president of information technologies for USF, there were two initial factors which prompted USF's decision to go wireless. For some time, the students had been telling the university that they wanted to be in closer touch with their administrative requirements, such as financial aid applications and payment deadlines.
Ellis also noticed that most of their student body was well equipped with digital devices.
"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," said Ellis.
"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."
USF is also designing a wireless application that will provide its 37,000 plus students access to special promotions and coupons from area merchants. Near real-time notification of offers can be made to their digital cell phone, Web-enabled phone, personal digital device (such as a Palm), or pager.
Ellis believes this wireless application will not only be of interest to the students but will be of greater interest to area merchants, eager to access the students in the Tampa Bay, Fla. area.
"This could be an important marketing tool for area and regional merchants because it allows them to reach their audience with the most current promotions," stated Ellis.
USF and Air2Web will also be jointly marketing this wireless application to other colleges and universities, who in turn can extend it to their area merchants.
"In the Tampa Bay area alone, there are at least 150,000 students attending community colleges and universities. The ability to reach that community with near real-time promotional messages will carry a lot of clout," continued Ellis.
"The wireless services that the University of South Florida are going to offer are extremely progressive and exemplify the university's ability to creatively use cutting edge technology to effectively communicate with their students, faculty, and staff, while generating revenue from Mobile Commerce," said Sanjoy Malik, president and chief executive officer of Air2Web.
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