Maybe you've been thinking of getting an iPhone but hesitate because iPhones only use AT&T service, and that coverage on campus is spotty. Now coverage will improve with the addition of new AT&T antennas, perhaps as soon as late summer, according to Tom Ball, voice engineering manager at Cornell Information Technologies (CIT).

Since early 2000, Verizon Wireless has held a contract as Cornell's preferred cellular phone service provider, offering special discounts to departments and employees. In conjunction with that agreement, Verizon built antennas on Barton and Mary Donlon halls.

But in 2005, recognizing that cellular services were "growing exponentially," CIT decided it was important to create a level playing field and invited any and all carriers to participate. The iPhone, Ball said, was an important motivator, but the move also coincides with the decision to remove in-room landline phones from North Campus housing this fall, and from West Campus a year later. Students will still have the opportunity to procure room phone service through CIT.

Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile responded to Cornell's invitation, and AT&T is the first to move ahead with plans to install two new antenna systems, on Bradfield and Mary Donlon halls. "One thing that's very important is to make these as 'stealth' as possible," Ball added. The antennas will be painted to blend in with the buildings. Eventually, he said, more antennas may be needed to cover West Campus.

The approval process for the two new AT&T antenna systems has been long and complicated, lasting well over a year, Ball said, involving stakeholders that included Cornell Real Estate, New York state and Ithaca permitting officials, the university planning and architecture office, colleges and departments that occupy the buildings, and the cellular carriers. The license agreements are still being circulated, he said.

Once the new antennas are operating, attention may be turned to improving coverage in basements and other poor-signal areas. That will be up to the carriers, Ball said. "Typically, each carrier wants to improve in building coverage by installing their own proprietary system. We're trying to get them to work together on a system that supports all the interested parties, and that is a challenge," he said.

Sprint and T-mobile have been held back by lack of funding, Ball reported, but are welcome to come in. "We're not locking the door on anybody," he said. "We want you here."