This was too amusing an article for me not to repost it. And please, don’t transfert there just for the sake of a free iPhone. It would be cheaper just to get one here 😉

Japanese college giving away free iPhones, using them to track students’ attendance

by Laura June, posted May 22nd 2009 at 11:06AM

Nearly 500 students and faculty at Aoyama Gakuin University in Japan will receive free iPhones as part of the school’s new Mobile & Net Society Education and Training program. The trial, which is set to begin this fall, will use the iPhone’s built in GPS function to determine if the students are present, and use that information to replace traditional methods of taking attendance. The university’s announced a deal with provider Softbank Mobile to provide the phones and basic services to all students and staff at the school for no charge. The school also plans on rolling out simple tests and homework assignments using the device. So… is there an app for that, or what?