In recent months, Penn State has been instrumental in developing and expanding a new technology for AT&T Wireless.

Since April 2002, the university has been the testing ground for AT&T Wireless' new data service in preparation of deploying the service nationally.

The new service, called Global System Mobile (GSM), will enable digital technology to move at faster speeds, said AT&T Wireless spokeswoman Ellen Webner.

Penn State is currently the only location in Pennsylvania where operating cell sites for GSM service are located.

The GSM service enables data to be transmitted at a speed comparable to that of computers, Webner added.

AT&T Wireless began building the service more than a year ago in Seattle and by the end of this year the service will be live across the country, Webner said.

At that time, all AT&T customers with the current service will be transferred to GSM.

Instead of Penn State merely leasing its territory as a testing ground to AT&T Wireless, it is taking advantage of the opportunity to learn more about wireless technologies.

"What's interesting about the relationship is that we decided to swap our knowledge," Webner said.

A group of staff and faculty at Penn State were given some new phones from AT&T to try the GSM service on a trial basis, and they have been providing feedback.

The business relationship benefits the university because it shows how the market responds to the new technologies.

"It's giving a good insight into what we need to do," said Jeff Kuhns, senior director of consulting and support services of Information Technology Services.

Currently, the university wants to know what kind of technologies people will use and what the student market needs, he added.

Kuhns said the business relationship is worthwhile because Penn State is able to "understand the thinking of a major cellular provider."

The GSM network is an update from another wireless digital technology that AT&T Wireless currently uses, Webner said.

"All cellular companies are upgrading equipment," Kuhns said.

In 1997, Penn State first developed a relationship with Vanguard Cellular when the company established five cellular sites on campus.

The company providing discounted rates to on-campus users, Kuhns said.

AT&T Wireless later bought Vanguard Cellular, and Penn State has continued the relationship with the wireless service provider to date.

While Penn State also has service agreements with Verizon Wireless and PCS, AT&T Wireless is the only provider that has cell sites on campus.

Nicole Rishty (senior-telecommunications) uses a wireless phone on a Cingular plan, which has the same current service as AT&T Wireless, and she is happy with service on campus.

When asked if she would change her plan to the AT&T's updated network, she said, "I can't because I'm on a contract" with her current phone plan.

AT&T Wireless' technology was last updated in September 2001, increasing the capacity for the wireless network by 50 percent, Webner said.

She could not make a prediction of how much the GSM network would increase capacity.