14 DAY TRIAL // On Monday, Microsoft and Seton Hall University announced a new initiative as part of Seton Hall's Mobile Computing Initiative, aimed at delivering Nokia Lumia 900 devices to all incoming freshmen.
The entire class of 2016 will be offered Nokia Lumia 900 smartphones running under the Windows Phone 7.5 operating system, in an attempt to support the university's goal to deliver high-end technology to students.
Seton Hall has been offering mobile technology to its students since 1997, in an attempt to facilitate mobile computing, sharing of ideas and collaboration.
The University believes that mobile technology can offer new means of enhancing the life of students, and it encourages them to engage with one another and the university community in this direction.
"Nokia has a long history of innovation and their partnership with Microsoft allows us to extend the core academic and community resources of the University into the pocket of our students," noted David Middleton, executive director, Center for Mobile Research and Innovation, and assistant vice president of administration at Seton Hall University.
"By providing our new incoming students with the Nokia Lumia 900, Seton Hall University can expand our existing Windows services and infrastructure while providing a unique, high quality, dynamic and engaging mobile experience."
Seton Hall students are able to access the SHUmobile application, which was designed with support for a wide range of platforms, and which provides campus news feeds, directories and maps.
The Lumia 900 will arrive with a custom Freshmen Experience component as part of this application, with customized social media integration and with direct communication channels with their freshmen peers and other persons.
The University is also looking to leverage Nokia Data Gathering so as to get in touch with the incoming freshmen to provide them with information to prepare for college, and to receive details on the manner in which they can take advantage of Nokia Lumia 900 and other technologies.
"Mobile technology has become ubiquitous and pervasive, but we are just beginning to understand the breadth of its impact across campus,” Michael Taylor, academic director, Center for Mobile Research & Innovation, said.
“Smartphone use in higher education has tended to rely on finding a specific app to fulfill a specific curricular purpose. With the close collaboration between Nokia and Microsoft on the Lumia 900, the phone itself takes center stage.”