U of Houston first in the U-verse.

IN SUMMER 2009, AS RESIDENTS MOVE into the University of Houston's Calhoun Lofts, they'll be getting more than just brand new one- and two-bedroom apartments. With the $108 million residence hall project breaking ground as the nation's first planned deployment of AT&T's U-verse services into student housing on a college campus, robust voice, data, and video services will come with the package.

Students accustomed to the U-verse television service from home are no doubt aware of the more niche and high-definition programming choices it provides. Unlike with traditional cable TV or a satellite network, IP-based U-verse uses switched video delivery so that content choice isn't limited by the size of the "pipe" flowing into the home. "We wanted to make this cutting edge and enhance the services from what we have now," says Vice President for Student Affairs Elwyn Lee. For instance, students on campus can't currently get caller ID, voicemail, or pay-per-view.

Each resident of the 700-apartment building will likely have a basic service of high-speed internet, a voice-activated phone, and video capability included in their rent, Lee notes, adding that students will have the freedom to individually upgrade services.

As for the university upgrading to this type of service, Lee estimates that start-up costs are comparable to traditional services, yet with greater capacity, flexibility, and support built in. Over time he expects that choosing U-verse will be a moneysaver, as all of its services will be purchased through a single provider. "We hope this will be a model for other colleges and universities," he says, adding that U-verse would be particularly attractive to institutions with large residence hall projects, since certain economies of scale can help with pricing.