ND Students in Mainstream of Mobile Culture

Use cell phones for talk, text and Web

By Shawn Nichols-Boyle
December 11, 2006

Ten years ago, a blinking red light on your sophisticated hotel-style dorm room phone was a beacon of popularity. Someone cared enough to leave you a message. Phones didn’t vibrate, send texts, take pictures, or have Napoleon Dynamite ringtones. But times have changed; cellular technology has evolved and with it Notre Dame’s approach to communication on campus.

As the end of the fall semester draws to a close, the University’s experiment in removing most landline phones from residential halls and improving cell phone coverage has proved largely successful. Sophomore Angela Comana says, “No one really ever used the dorm phone anyway.” By and large, students have transitioned to the new model with little fanfare.

Most students agree that Notre Dame was making official a change that had already occurred in practice, especially among underclassmen. Freshman Kayla Condeni adds, “Everyone I know relied on their cell phones even before they came to school, so it is not a big adjustment having to use them for everything. The students here are so active and rarely in their rooms anyway that increased use of cell phone coverage has actually been beneficial.”

Within residential halls, rectors, assistant rectors, and resident assistants still have phones in their rooms, as well as two hallway phones per floor, but usage of communal phones is infrequent. “Issues of vandalism and privacy keep hall phones from getting used,” says Notre Dame senior RA Daniel Allen. However, most students seem content with just cellular communication.

Many incoming students are already part of their parents’ (mobile phone) plan and find cell phones an easy way to keep in touch with family. Under the new “opt-in” model, only 70 students enrolled for a landline telephone in their dorm room this fall—proving the time was clearly right for the cellular coverage initiative. Overall, the Notre Dame community appears satisfied with the coverage provided by the 16 disguised antennas scattered throughout campus.

Chief Technology Officer Dewitt Latimer says, “Everybody seems very pleased with the stealthy aspect of the antenna system. We have the full faith and blessing of campus leadership to proceed judiciously, continuing to improve coverage as necessary and practicable.”

Perhaps the best proof that the antennas suit Notre Dame’s environment is that most students have not noticed the additions. The curious might try looking underneath any of the library’s four corners or watching for slightly suspicious lampposts behind the bookstore or on the way to Carroll Hall. A really keen eye might even spot the antenna carefully hidden away in the main building overlooking the Main Quad.

Verizon and Cingular are the two current service providers that have invested in the distributed mobile phone antenna system, but more carriers are expected to join over time.

Latimer says, “The reaction from those using Cingular or Verizon has been largely positive; the entire system is still being mapped out and we are working with the two carriers to cover any remaining holes in coverage we may find.”

“Those using other carriers, however, have expressed frustration,” Latimer adds.

Since the carriers pay for the new system themselves, each company has to go through an internal review process to justify the capital investment at Notre Dame vs. some other service location. “A key element in their decision making process to is to hear from their customer base,” states Latimer. “The fear of losing a customer to a competitor because of poor service is an important driver for them.” Latimer urges students, staff, and faculty to inform their carrier whenever they have difficulty connecting or experience dropped calls.

While improved campus coverage was the primary focus of the project, improved capacity during football weekends was also a goal. “There is nothing more frustrating than to be looking at 5 bars on your phone and not be able to make a call,” states Notre Dame alumna Kelly DuLong, who attended a football game on campus this season. To this end, both Verizon and Cingular are transmitting on three antennas located at the press-box level of the stadium.

“Cingular has gone the extra mile and placed antennas on top of Legends and DeBartolo Hall to help tailgating areas and in each of the Joyce Center domes; that extra capacity during football weekends has certainly helped,” Latimer says. About 65-70% of the calls are getting through during the busiest times leading up to the game. “The carriers will not add the capacity necessary to ensure 100% of the calls go through for football weekends. That excess capacity goes unused the other 358 days of the year,” Latimer notes.

The realization that people were using more text messaging and web browsing (data) than previously anticipated on campus has already led to an adjustment with current providers, Latimer says. Instead of the initial 5% data and 95% voice distribution, 20% is now devoted to data and 80% to voice.

For today’s on-the-go Notre Dame student, the switch to purely mobile communication is timely and sensible. However, there may still be a touch of melancholy and mixed feelings among some older students. Allen explains that “The downside is that there is no directory for students to get ahold of each other unless they exchange cell phone numbers” and adds, “I do miss everyone having a room phone.”

Yet most see the new University-approved cell phone culture as a non-event. It is time to bid a fond farewell to the luminous red messaging service and days of dialing the guy/girl from the directory with the cute-sounding name. Welcome 2 the world of txting ;) Bring on the Fighting Irish ringtones.