Handheld Learning

Abilene Christian University in Texas is embarking on a pilot programme to provide every student with an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch according to The Unofficial Apple Weblog.

ACU video on social uses

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Tp8fHgp0xhU&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Tp8fHgp0xhU&rel=0</a>

ACU video on academic uses

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/TLCTpX3tJEQ&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/TLCTpX3tJEQ&rel=0</a>

Further information at:
http://www.acu.edu/technology/mobilelearning/index.html

Indeed although I think the new tariffs (£35 for 600 mins talk and all-you-eat Internet via EDGE) aren't too bad even for impoverished students given that they yack so much on the phone anyway 

The Wi-Fi question is a good one but the iPhone connects to The Cloud for free which currently provides 7500 hotspots around the UK and a lot of coffee bars and pubs targeting students offer free Wi-Fi. I think the biggest problem with using Wi-Fi on a personal device in Universities is actually allowing students access to the campus or dormitory networks. On the basis of potential virus threats or bandwidth abuse many students are locked out of their own University wireless network.