Why have Apple and AT&T partnered with MU?
Feb. 2009
The Reynolds Journalism Institute's iPhone Student Competition is just the latest venture in a relationship between the Missouri School of Journalism and Apple. And now AT&T is part of the mix.
Dale Musser, an assistant professor of computer science, said there were three reasons why Apple and AT&T, which provides phone services for the iPhone, were interested in working with MU.
"The fact that we have an Information Technology program that is working with the Journalism School was a big factor," he said.
AT&T was a crucial player in the creation of the IT program at MU when it donated $1 million four years ago when the program was in its infancy, Musser said. On top of that, the Journalism School has a formal agreement that makes Mac the official platform in place.
In short, there were already solid working relationships in place, and last year's successful RJI-Adobe AIR Student Competition served as a model to replicate.
The sentiment described by Musser was echoed by Apple's Jason Edigar, who is head of the company's iTunes U and mobile learning initiative.
"It's a natural extension and continuation of a relationship that was already in place," Edigar said.
As part of the initiative, Apple provides the necessary platforms and information to generate iPhone applications to schools interested in incorporating it in certain academic curriculum, Edigar said.
Musser said he thinks Apple and AT&T have another interest besides marketing their products.
"They have an interest because these are the types of students they'd like to hire," Musser said.
Mike McKean, director of the RJI Futures Lab, said the success of this year's competition has persuaded the institute to support similar ones in the future.
"It's definitely been a positive experience and one we'd like to replicate," he said.