SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Oct 11, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ — The Motorola Solutions business of Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced that colleges, universities and K-12 institutions around the world are rapidly adopting its wireless network solutions to enhance learning through technology and better prepare students for entering the mobile workforce.
KEY FACTS
- K-12 and higher education institutions are expanding their network infrastructures to support an influx of high-bandwidth mobile applications, e-learning tools and devices, and the need to provide high-speed wireless Internet access to all corners of districts and campuses.
- Motorola enables always-on learning environments, so no matter where students, faculty or staff are located – in the classroom, across campus or in the community – they have access to the information they need.
- Motorola’s broad portfolio of indoor and outdoor wireless network solutions, network security and management tools, provide the connectivity, bandwidth and reliability necessary for schools to create an always-on learning environment that delivers high-speed access to digital learning resources to enhance the learning experience.
- Campbell County School District (U.S.), Hopwood Hall College (U.K.) and North East Independent School District (U.S.) have all deployed Motorola’s wireless solutions to support high-bandwidth e-learning applications used in the classroom, such as streaming video and multimedia, online testing and student assessment, and curriculum personalization through 1:1 computing initiatives.
- Charles Sturt University (Australia) selected Motorola’s wireless solutions to improve connectivity and provide access to online learning resources from indoor and outdoor locations across its nine campuses, while Manipal University (India) chose Motorola for campus-wide coverage, extending connectivity beyond the classroom to provide students, faculty and staff with faster access to information, from anywhere on campus.
- Motorola’s wireless solutions are helping bridge the digital divide at Northern Michigan University by extending support of 1:1 computing for students living both on- and off-campus and reaching into rural communities surrounding the university. In Medellin, Colombia, more than 1,800 students and 16 different primary/secondary schools in hard-to-reach areas are connected to higher education entities in the region through Motorola wireless solutions to extend learning opportunities.
- Motorola is working with K-12 districts in the U.S. to pilot programs that give students Wi-Fi access while riding the bus to and from school. Buses are equipped with Motorola access points that use 3G/4G cellular networks to provide a connection to the district’s network, giving students secure access to the resources they need in a mobile classroom environment.
- The new Motorola AP6511 802.11n WallPlate access point extends the benefits of 802.11n wireless access to dormitories and residential facilities in an easy-to-deploy and easy-to-afford package, giving colleges and universities the ability to provide students high-speed mobile access for bandwidth-demanding voice, video and data applications where they study and live.
SUPPORTING QUOTES
Maribel Lopez, founder and principal analyst, Lopez Research
“With the rapid expansion of e-learning tools and applications, K-12 and higher education campuses require a network that can deliver high-speed voice, video and data streams to different device types and high densities of users without interruption. Advancements in wireless, such as the high-speed 802.11n standard or continued innovation in mesh, point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless broadband technologies, have led to significant improvements in reliability and security, making Wi-Fi as robust as traditional wired approaches, at a fraction of the cost.”
Robert Armstrong, global education solutions, Motorola Solutions
“Today’s educational IT decision makers understand the need to upgrade existing wireless networks to reliably support the increased use of high-bandwidth mobile applications and devices in schools, colleges and universities, as well as to answer student demands for high-speed Internet access across, and even beyond, all corners of campus. Motorola helps educational institutions around the world identify cost-effective, reliable and secure wireless solutions that extend network reach, provide always-on connectivity to transform the learning experience and ensure schools are prepared for future advances in technology.”
Lyla Downey, assistant superintendent of technology, Campbell County School District (U.S.)
“At Campbell County School District, we’re working to build 21st century classrooms that enhance instruction through the use of technology and prepare students for college and future careers. The Motorola 802.11n wireless network delivers a very cost-effective, reliable solution that enables us to give students the most advanced learning environment possible. It has performed flawlessly since deployment, giving our IT staff, students and teachers the confidence that online assessment tests and in-class projects are performed without any interruptions due to network downtime.”
Phillip Roy, director of operations, division of information technology, Charles Sturt University (Australia)
“Before deploying the Motorola solution, CSU’s wireless networking experience was ad-hoc, with access limited to certain hotspots around campus. The new indoor/outdoor wireless network and AirDefense solutions from Motorola provide blanket coverage across all our campuses, and even extend to adjoining student residence halls. The network also supports the large number of different devices students use to consume and share online content, including smart phones, mobiles, laptops, tablets and more.”
Daran Hermans, product manager, Motorola Solutions
“Online resources and mobile applications have become an integral part of the education curriculum, but many students still face challenges when accessing these tools from their dorm rooms – especially when older networks can’t handle the multiple devices used by students every day, or predate the explosive use of wireless devices for entertainment, gaming and social networking. Motorola’s 802.11n WallPlate gives students reliable access to information so they can continue to study and learn outside of the classroom setting, while cost-effectively allowing campuses to support their high-bandwidth digital lifestyles.”
SUPPORTING RESOURCES
Website: Motorola Education Resource Center
Video: Always-On Learning
Blog: Wireless Insights
Other colleges, universities and K-12 institutions that have recently selected Motorola’s wireless network solutions to enhance connectivity in the classroom, across campus and into the community include: The Autonomous University of Mexico (Mexico), Ekurhuleni East College for Further Education and Training (South Africa), Keller Independent School District (U.S.), Lewis University (U.S.), Los Rios Community College (U.S.), Nanjing University (China), Over Betuwe College (Holland), Spoon River College (U.S.), Stony Brook University’s Center of Excellence for Wireless and IT (U.S.), The University of Guadalajara (Mexico) and VIT University (India).
Motorola will demonstrate its wireless solutions for the education market Oct. 12-15 during the EDUCAUSE annual conference in Anaheim, Calif. Attendees can visit Motorola at booth #1911/1913 to speak with education executives and learn how Motorola creates always-on learning environments, so students, faculty and staff always have access to the online resources they need – whether it’s in the classroom, across campus or in the community.
About Motorola
Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications and is focused on advancing the way the world connects. From broadband communications infrastructure, enterprise mobility and public safety solutions to mobile and wireline digital communication devices that provide compelling experiences, Motorola is leading the next wave of innovations that enable people, enterprises and governments to be more connected and more mobile. Motorola (NYSE: MOT) had sales of US $22 billion in 2009. For more information, please visit www.motorola.com.
