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[samintx]

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/c...gn_id=yhoo

[graylocks]

[quote samintx]http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2008/tc20080827_832352.htm?campaign_id=yhoo
so is the school also paying for the data plan?

[rgG]

so is the school also paying for the data plan?

That's the question I have every time I hear this "iPhones given to ...," who is paying AT&T? You can't use the new 3G iPhone unless activated with AT&T, so are you forced to sign up for their cellphone plan? You know that 99% of these kids already have a cellphone, so what about that? I can understand if it was an iPod touch, like I read one college was giving out; they could use it on the school's WiFi, but what the heck is the deal with the iPhone? They never mention how the AT&T part gets paid in these articles.

[macphanatic]

You may see more and more schools doing this. Colleges and Universities have invested in emergency notification systems (such as E-call). They ask students to provide contact info for their mobile devices so the school can send out emergency alerts. Unfortunately, at many schools the participation level is less than 50%. Some of the schools are using this as a means to increase participation.

At least on school that I know of is also offering the E-call system to parents.

[lafinfil]

Come on - you sell them on craigslist and that pays for beer for the first semester.