London Grid for Learning (LGfL), a consortium of all London's
local authorities, has launched Microsoft Live@edu network services
for up to one million students across London. The shared
collaboration network could save each school it covers £18,000 a
year.
London Grid
says this is the first network of its scale for schools. LGfL is
the only network globally providing fast fibre optic connections to
every school it covers.
Branded "London Mail" by LGfL, the new service will incorporate
33 local authorities and 2,500 schools, and is the largest
potential deployment of Microsoft's Live@edu mail services
worldwide.
Schools will be making significant cost savings using the hosted
service. Live@edu includes applications such as mobile, desktop and
web-based e-mail, encouraging students to collaborate, create
online communities, and make learning and the sharing of
information easier.
"Part of our responsibility within education is to bridge the
gap between school and the world of work. London Mail gives
students an e-mail experience in line with what they will use when
they graduate," said Brian Durrant, CEO of London Grid for
Learning.
"Amongst the 25,000 students we have been piloting the system
with, we have enabled an increase in teamwork across schools, which
is extremely positive."
Said Durrant, "We estimate the average secondary school could
save about £18,000 a year using London Mail, so across the 2,500
schools in London, it is a multi-million-pound reduction in
costs."
The e-mail inbox can be used by students as their primary
account, but they will also benefit from additional services,
including:
· Office Live Workspace, which provides an online place to save,
share and access documents without having to download anything
· Windows Live SkyDrive, which allows students to store
documents and photos online, accessible from any computer connected
to the internet
· Windows Live Spaces, which lets students set up a space for
weblogs and links to documents stored in SkyDrive