Loyola Marymount University has unveiled its official mobile app, which is now available on iPhone, iPod Touch, BlackBerry, and Android devices.
LMU is the largest university in Los Angeles to offer an official mobile app. Called iLMU mobile, the app brings LMU’s online resources to smartphone-carrying students, alumni and the community.
“Many other universities already have apps that can be used on current smartphones, but we wanted to build something that goes further,” said John Kiralla, senior director of Web, New Media and Design at LMU. “Not only did we create an app with a lot of functionality, but we’ve laid the groundwork for future expansion.”
Among those features are a multitouch searchable campus map; updates on LMU’s athletic teams; a direct link to the university’s iTunesU presence, where students can access class videos and other resources; and images, videos, news and events.
The app was conceived and created by LMU in collaboration with Blackboard, a developer of classroom software and other technologies used by colleges around the country. In less than two weeks since its announcement on campus, the app has already been downloaded more than 1,500 times.
Much of the information available through the iLMU app is available on the university’s website, though the mobile app aggregates numerous streams of information and makes them easier to find. As users depend more and more on their phones and other devices to access the Internet, a university’s central website moves further away from being the primary source of information.
“Very soon, students will expect to be able to add and drop classes, apply for admission, and check their financial aid on their mobile devices,” Kiralla said. “Those are all functions that we’re exploring for future versions of the app.”
The app is the latest and most visible step into the mobile arena for LMU. Already, campus radio station KXLU has its own mobile app, LMU Magazine publishes an iPad-optimized version of its content, and alumni e-newsletters are formatted for easy viewing on mobile devices.
