Handheld Learning - learning with mobile and ubiquitous technologies

Not sure if picked up on this but Voda have given the mobile web a nice shot in the arm by making  access to the mobile web free to their customers.....as we are shortly going to be launching our new website for downloading interactive keys, forms, maps and images, its nice to have an extra 18m customers being able to acess your stuff for free!

http://www.vodafone.com/start/media_relations/news/local_press_releases/uk_press_releases/2007/unlimited_internet.html

 

Neil

I'm in agreement with Neil and Wolf here.

Yes, it's good news.

Yes, you have to read the small print.

All of the mobile telco's are now slugging it out over mobile broadband and data tariffs. This will mean a general downward trend in pricing in much the same way we have seen for voice tariffs. But like voice we will begin to see a smokescreen of confusing tariffs. Has anyone managed to figure out which is really the best mobile phone contract for them, without the niggling doubt there's a better deal to be had elsewhere? There are whole websites designed to help you decipher mobile phone voice contracts and even these are confusing 

This got messy with roaming charges for voice until EU Commissioner, Viviane Redding got involved and regulated.

It would be helpful (to us/customers) if there was more clarity in the various tariff bands although I suspect not so useful to operators.

I'd also add that, with all 3G and HSDPA devices, ability to connect will always depend on the local cell's capacity which are surprisingly lower than you might expect. The notion that you can have 30 children all sitting in a location accessing the same cell using HSDPA devices is quite a challenge made even more difficult if they are a couple of floors up or in a high location where cells start competing. This isn't going to change soon, so Wi-Fi and WiMAX will continue to be critical carrier technologies for mobile learning.

Interestingly I know of some teachers who are using high-speed (7.2 Mbps) Vodafone USB modems connected to their laptops and then switching Internet sharing on thus allowing students unfettered access to the net over Wi-Fi at reasonable speed (think about it). 

G

Certainly the device and package that we have been offering our customers recently appears to have hit the mark.

Using the Tytn II from HTC via Vodafone, we have a truly unlimited data tariff, no limits or additional bills, in fact there is just a one off payment for the 2 years rather than monthly billing, will all data being routed via a whitelist that is going through BECTA approval as we speak.  If you look online the device itself is usually in the £400+ price mark, and for £479+VAT The SIMM provided will not allow phone calls so schools can be safe in the knowledge they won't be hit by unexpected charges as has been the case in several situations in the past.

Now this solution may not be suitable for all, but going back to a previous post of Graham's where the Home Access device spec are soon to be announced, how can an offering like this NOT be a serious consideration?

http://www.handheldlearning.co.uk/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,58/topic,1258.msg0/boardseen,boardseen#new

"A fairly timely announcement as laptop suppliers gird their loins and catalogues for the announcement of specifications from the "Home Access Task Force", expected in September, intended to provide Internet and digital access to learning for the many young learners and families who are considered to be without. It is understood that the device spec for this initiative has been largely developed in consultation with RM and that non-laptop or desktop PC devices such as smart phones or gaming consoles were not regarded as relevant access devices."

W

It's about home access to what.

In terms of specifying a device for access it is likely, and remember this is simply "informed" speculation, that such a spec will call for compatibility with various web-based learning platforms and other web-based material which does not scale well across platforms. Initiatives in the past indicate that investments from the public purse will be used to support capital expenditure rather than software. It's difficult to see where some learning platform providers will see an incentive to redevelop their web technologies to meet W3C and mobile web standards so that they will allow true mobility for the learner.

The question is why haven't other device manufacturers been consulted in this important national programme?