Eastern has implemented a new mobile application available on phones with smartphone capabilities that caters to students on-the-go.

The mobile application allows students to access current weather conditions, Eastern-sponsored social media, check their Panthermail and look up daily dining menus in each of the dining halls on campus.

Smartphones, such as iPhones, BlackBerrys and HTCs, have changed the way students not only communicate, but gather information as well.

Mary Kelly, a sophomore biological sciences major, said she believes the new online website will be helpful to students.

Sarah Baxter, a freshman biological sciences major, said she felt differently.

Baxter said she would not use it very often, considering she was on her laptop most of the day and her iPod is usually dead.

Eastern also has other advantages for smartphone users, such as the ability for Eastern’s Information Technology Services to sync Panthermail with existing email accounts on iPhones.

Danny Kent, a senior education major, said he is familiar with the mobile application and also uses it.

“I think it’s really good, easy, accessible and pretty accurate,” he said.

Lena Elmuti, a junior chemistry major, said she feels it would definitely benefit students.

The English department has also created a series of webshows for English majors, designed for use in conjunction to class.

However, some schools are taking it further than that.

Online education pioneer, University of Phoenix, has developed applications for smartphones that allow the students to access class material from online courses and essentially complete online course requirements through their smartphone, The Huffington Post reported.

Ball State University conducted a study in February 2009 and reported that by June 2009, the amount of students who possessed a smartphone had doubled, and of those owners, 90 percent accessed the web on their phone.

According to USA Today, other universities are following in their footsteps.

While Eastern may not be prepared to replace professors with iPods, the ability to access information on-the-go via the mobile web has some students excited and others indifferent.

Kathryn Richter can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].