UPEI Mobile up and running!

Interacting with the University of Prince Edward Island just got quicker and easier with the development of UPEI Mobile, a version of the university's website designed for mobile phones.

UPEI Mobile was created by the university's web development team as part of the content management system for its website, which is built on the open-source Drupal platform. Drupal.org recently gave UPEI front-page billing as a showcase for what can be done with the platform in an academic setting.

'This powerful new communications tool will enhance the experience of new students in particular as they get to know the university,' says Dave Cormier, web projects lead in UPEI's Integrated Communications department. 'It will make navigating around the campus-physically and virtually-- and making connections with people much easier.'

By accessing UPEI Mobile, users can search for people on campus, look up the location of specific departments, watch videos, get emergency information, read the latest media releases and access the full UPEI website. They can also use an internal 'twitter-style' community space developed by the UPEI web team.

The easy-to-use interface closely resembles the one traditionally found on an iphone, but the content is automatically drawn from individual departments' websites.

UPEI Mobile can be accessed on Apple iPhones, iPod Touches, Google Android-based phones HTC Hero, HTC Magic and HTC G1, Palm Pre phones, and desktop and laptop computers.