The upside of wireless VoIP on campus

I'd bet they didn't have this when you were in college. Or if you are a college student, I'm almost positive this hasn't come to your campus yet.

I am talking about cell phones that when in the presence of a Wi-Fi signal on the campus network, can then access the Internet and then morph into VoIP phones.

The value-add is not only cheaper phone service, but better network integration. That's because in such a set-up, cell phones can actually become an organic part of the campus network rather than just be in communication with it. Plus, this integrated capability will allow for unified single-account  billing, rather than invoices for separate accounts.

This initiative will be as part of a beta test of the new VeriSign Wireless IP Connect Service, and include beta testers at the University of Michigan, Northwestern University and Texas A&M. From what I am able to tell, students will not be part of the initial test group. It will be limited to selected administrators and faculty members at each university.

But it is a start toward more efficient services and invoicing. My X-chromosomal unit is an administrator at a local university in the Portland, Oregon area - and she sure can tell you about days where she has spent hours untangling inefficient invoicing..