Portsmouth students offered Google Apps

30,000 University of Portsmouth students get Google Apps accounts

The University of Portsmouth has given 30,000 students their own Google Apps account to use during their studies.

The Google Apps Education Edition is free of advertising and within days of the service being introduced Portsmouth students were using it in 17 countries in 10 languages. Google Apps offers students a range of applications accessible from anywhere using any internet-connected device, including mobile phones.

University of Portsmouth information services director Andrew Minter said Google offers a package of collaborative applications that students want, allowing them to work together online in real time.

"It's the sort of integrated system students have been crying out for," he said.

As well as email, students can use instant messaging, share documents, set up their own web pages, and build their own calendars, which will soon have personalised timetables incorporated.

"It also has masses of storage space for each student. It's not just an email system - it's a study, work and social network package built into one application," said Minter.

Student Union vice president in charge of communications Jacob Leverett said: "Switching to a more modern, easy-to-use system will save students time and make communicating with staff and other students a lot easier."