Dell lends hand to revolutionise campus communications

Not content with creating one of the world's biggest PC companies, Michael Dell is overhauling the US education system.

This week, it emerged that he is to advise Campus Pipeline, a start-up company that is already revolutionising communications on the campus.

Darin Gilson, COO of Campus Pipeline, said: "Michael lends credibility to our mission. He has a deep understanding of the technology industry and obviously has the ability to build a very distinctive company."

Campus Pipeline aims to lead the field in campus intranets. It offers a single Web interface to replace the countless green-screen terminals which amount to the typical student experience. Now students can enrol for courses, order and pay for books securely, consult tutors and do their research from any Internet-enabled computer.

The company claims its technology can save students hours each day, as it enables them to do all their chores from their desktop. Nine universities helped pilot the technology, which has now been adopted by over 500 campuses across the US.

Campus appointed Dell to its board of advisors in August 1999, and plans to make an official announcement shortly.

"We're concentrating right now on getting our technology solid," Gilson continued. "Michael Dell will be on hand to provide us with perspective and advice at periodic intervals through the year."

The company already boasts Dave Peterschmidt, CEO of Inktomi, on its board of directors, and Keith Krach, CEO of Ariba on its board of advisors.