So apparently EMU has teamed up with AT&T and Rave Wireless to offer “Eagle Mobile”. According to the e-mail and the web page, you will get a phone with custom “University-sponsored mobile applications and programs, such as text alert services for class change notices and emergency alerts.” If you sign up early, you can apparently get a $50 discount. They list the pricing on their “Learn More” section of the website.
In My Opinion while I like the idea that the university can do emergency alerts.. you have to a) sign up for this service, b) get one of their phones, c) be tied to AT&T/Rave Wireless. I don’t even think the plans are that much of a deal at all. The website is also poorly designed and does not look good at all…
Edit: Chris has pointed out in his comment that you can get text messaging by registering and not signing up for service. It’s only available to students.
Wow, I so agree with you on this, Mike. Heck, I didn’t put down the money to give up the service I’ve had for years (Verizon, BTW) to get the iPhone that I covet. Why on earth would someone who already had a phone service do this?
Actually I just signed my “Verizon Phone” up for FREE to get Text Messages from EMU. Though I agree the email is misleading, BUT YOU CAN GET TEXT MESSAGES FOR FREE with out buying a “Rave / AT&T” Phone.
Go to: https://www.getrave.com/login/easternmichigan (Only students can sign up)
Then follow the directions and fill out the info they ask for.
Than once you are done with that you will need to “Log-in”
Once you log in for the 1st time it will ask you weather you want to buy a Rave Phone or just sign up for text messages on your existing phone. (that’s what I did)
I just wanted to state the facts, though the email was misleading.
I was able to sign up for the text message alerts, even though I am not a currently enrolled student. (I am, however, in the “student” class for Banner purposes, since I took a class at EMU about 10 years ago) Using my Verizon #.
I was able to sign up too, I think, but it was as if I had to join twice. Kind of weird. I guess I’ll have to wait and see if I get any alerts.
I think the texting alert feature is potentially very useful. Besides being handy for immediate emergency issues (e.g., the shootings that happened at Virginia Tech), I can see it being good for things like announcing snow days or even just sending basic reminders that everyone on campus should know but that most of us probably forget– when registration starts, last day to drop a class and get your money back, etc., etc.
But some of the other things they have don’t seem to me like something I’m liable to use. There is some kind of email feature with Rave; why would I use that? There is a whole thing that looks kind of like Facebook; I already have a Facebook account, so why would I use this?
And as I understand it there are some features designed for teaching. The problem with that though is, ironically enough, I ask students in my classes to turn their cell phones off.
Here’s a question and maybe I just missed the answer, but is the text messaging free or just signing up for the service is free? I know some phones/companies charge for text messaging if you don’t have a plan.
Signing up for the text messaging is free, BUT if you do not have a Rave phone, like I have a Verizon Phone, standard text rates apply.