UC Mobile Connects with Students
by Diana Noelcke
UCit introduced UC Mobile powered by Cincinnati Bell at Student Orientation. We are offering incoming freshmen free RAZR phones if they sign up for data plans or free Nokia 6030s for signing up for the UC Mobile voice-plan only. The project team has worked closely with Admissions and Enrollment to make UC Mobile a wow factor for this year's incoming class. We have branded the cell phones with a C-Paw, our school song as the ring tone, and a great shot of our Bearcat mascot as the default wallpaper.
We will be rolling out UC Mobile to faculty, staff, and upperclassmen later this year.
Phase I Status Update
Part of Phase I involved the design and installation of cellular base stations and additional rooftop antennas. The preliminary survey indicated the buildings, specifically the CAS Administration building, Old Chemistry, and Daniels Hall. The final design determined locations to be Daniels and Rieveschl, with details yet to be determined on Rieveschl. Daniels' cellular buildout will be completed by the end of September. The new Athletic Center will get enhanced underground cell phone coverage by the end of this year. Along with the cellular infrastructure buildout we have been working on the Wireless Data (Wi-Fi, i.e., Wireless Fidelity) buildout. We will begin with a pilot covering the Calhoun Street redevelopment area. Once the pilot is complete and evaluated, we will provision the University's existing wireless Wi-Fi to allow public access to the Internet from anywhere on campus that has wireless Wi-Fi access today. Public Internet access will utilize Cincinnati Bell's network, whereas UC's private Internet will remain on the campus network.
UC Mobile Applications
UC Mobile is more than great cell phone service at a great price. Designed for the UC student, UC Mobile features UC-centric applications which cannot be found anywhere else. All three applications will function on any UC Mobile Bearcat phone &ndash from the no-cost Nokia to the high end i-mate K-JAM.
Mobile Help Phone - With any UC Mobile voice service plan you can dial *UC and be connected directly to the University's Public Safety office. You can use this UC Mobile feature for:
- General campus safety information
- Vehicle jumpstarts on or near campus
- Vehicle unlocking on or near campus
- Making a UC Police report
Cellular coverage is guaranteed on 90% of campus, so you will be able to make this call from virtually anywhere, here.
Course Alerts - Rather than having to log in to see if an instructor has posted new online course material, students with any UC Mobile voice service plan may opt in to receive a text message anytime something changes within any of their courses mounted on Blackboard. A student whose UC Mobile service also has a data plan will receive a URL link embedded in the message. The student can click to download and view the posted changes on his or her phone.
Shuttle Bus Notification - A student with a UC Mobile data plan can check where the next shuttle bus is - for any stop - and receive a real-time ETA (Expected Time of Arrival) via the phone browser for the next three shuttle arrivals. During peak season, the University operates twelve separate shuttle routes, each with multiple stops to assist you in getting around the campus. This service uses actual times, not published schedules, ensuring that students do not waste precious time waiting for the shuttle bus to arrive.
For more information regarding the UC mobile applications, please visit http://www.uc.edu/ucmobile.
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