Telecommunications


E-Rate Applications Surge in 2011

Applications for the federal E-rate program were up to 44,139 for the 2011 funding year, representing $4.31 billion in requests, the highest level in nearly a decade, according to an analysis released this week.

NEA Program To Award Smart Phone Grants

The NEA Foundation is expanding the focus of its Challenge to Innovate (C2i) grant program. In the latest phase, the foundation will award five grants to support innovative ideas for using smart phones in the classroom.

A Taste for Telepresence

Although high-end videoconferencing is still new to this Maryland school district, it's a sensible next step on a well-planned path to location-free communication.

Calm in the Face of Crisis

When faced with a serious threat, an Iowa school district quickly mitigates panic and confusion with the help of a newly implemented mass notification system.

Schools Begin Moving Unified Communications to the Cloud

Public K-12 school districts have begun shifting their unified communications solutions over to the cloud. In fact, according to new research released this week, a quarter of them either have done so already or are in the process of doing so.

E911 Not Pervasive in Education

Enhanced 911 hasn't gained widespread adoption in schools yet, nor is it even well understood among IT people. Although 65 percent of education organizations reported they have a "comprehensive" emergency communication plan in place, only 40 percent currently use an E911 system.

New York City Schools Sign $43 Million UC Deal

The New York City Department of Education has signed a five-year, $43 million agreement to overhaul voice communications at 300 of its schools.

HP Launches webOS-Based TouchPad

HP has debuted three new webOS-based mobile devices--a slate called the HP TouchPad and two smart phones, including the smallest webOS-based phone to date.

Android Climbs to No. 2 Smart Phone Slot

Worldwide sales of Apple's iOS-based smart phones grew from 24.9 million in 2009 to 46.6 million last year, bringing it to a 15.7 percent overall market share. But that growth was dwarfed by Google's Android OS, which leapfrogged over both No. 3 Apple and No. 4 Research in Motion and climbed to 67.2 million units in 2010, up 888.8 percent from sales of 6.8 million in 2009, according to a new report from market research firm Garner.

Why Mobile Is a Must

Why Mobile Is a Must

We need a new educational model that makes learning personal and motivating, and helps secure our students’ future in the knowledge economy. Mobile technology opens the door to it.