Distance learning education on mobile phones

Kolkata, Jan 24 (UNI) Tata Teleservices Limited and SNDT Women's University have entered into a strategic alliance to provide distance learning education on mobile phones.

Unveiling the new service, Mr. C N Nagakumar, Chief Human Resource Officer, Tata Teleservices Ltd.,today said it would enable delivery of e-learning programme to people even in remote locations.

"This remote mobile education services is mainly targeted at the students in rural areas, who don't have access to qualified teachers or even proper colleges by simply unleashing yet another aspect of mobile technology", he said.

Under this alliance, the content is developed and managed by SNDT University. Tata Indicom is acting as the carrier, whereas Atom Technologies is providing the intermediary interfaces and the service distribution and dissemination system is managed by IPTL (through Pay Phones' Welfare Association and 500,000 constituent members).

Elaborating on the joint initiative, SNDT University Vice Chancellor Chandra Krishna Moorthy said this service would enable the education beyond the four walls of a school or institution.

Through this service the mobile phone undergoes a metamorphosis from a device that allows one to access voice and text messages to the one that helps to access accredited educational content, take mock tests on the move regardless of users physical location.

To access this service one need to log-on to the net through any mobile phone and type the web address http://atomschool.athcx/CATWeb and take the mock tests. Initially this service will be available in Hindi and English language but will be expanded in other regional languages as well.

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