Montclair State mandates use of GPS-enabled phones
Nearly six months after Slippery Rock University introduced a RFID payment system for mobiles at its campus, we've learned that Montclair State University is requiring that all full-time undergraduates carry a school-issued mobile for their own safety. The handsets, which cost some $210 per semester, are already being carried by about 6,000 students, and feature a GPS function that can be activated to ensure campus police are alerted of their location if something goes awry. Aside from being able to send a request for help immediately, the phone will also call for assistance should the feature remain on for longer than a preset length of time. As it stands, the university has yet to see the Rave Guardian technology used in situations other than false alarms, but a 32-member police force is kept on staff in case any future calls prove legitimate.[Image courtesy of WCBSTV]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nijnsky @ Dec 4th 2007 2:33AM
If other Schools end up doing this, I hope they either make it Dual sims for personal sim card or what not.
Binary Star @ Dec 4th 2007 3:44AM
I'm confused - did these students not already have mobile phones? Was there some kind of crazy crime wave going on at MSU? Either way, 6,000 * $210 = about 1.3 million extra bucks
Mark @ Dec 4th 2007 11:43AM
That's an A900m. Its been discontinued by Sprint a while back.
PSM @ Dec 5th 2007 12:21AM
If I had gone to school there my GPS-alarm-thingy would lead the cops right to the dresser in my dorm room, where my phone would sit from the day I got it, while I used WHATEVER DAMN PHONE I PLEASED.
Anonymous Comment @ Dec 5th 2007 8:56AM
Wow... the school must want a class-action lawsuit bad...
What's with the mandatory requirement of all students at Montclair being forced to pay for these voice plans? I wonder if Montclair is aware that it is actually in violation of the the Federal Telecommunications Act in violating inaccessible accommodation for Deaf and Hard of hearing students who cannot hear on the phones. Forcing Deaf and Hard of Hearing students to use the mandatory phones renders the phones absolutely inaccessible for an extra fee in the tuitions also creates a legal issue for the school. It might make an interesting follow up on the story to see how the school responds before such class action lawsuits hit them.