University Technology Services announced Monday that a new app, Bb Student, will replace the Mobile Learn for Compass 2g app. The app was first launched in 2015.

“The reason for the announcement now is to really drive home the point that the old app, first of all, (is) no longer going to be available in the app store and then later on, support for that app will be eliminated,” said Brian Mertz, chief communications officer of Technology Services.

Mobile Learn will leave the iTunes Store, Google Play and Windows Store on Dec. 31. Support for the Mobile Learn app will no longer be available beginning June 30, 2017.

Mertz said he has not heard of Illinois students reporting issues with the Bb Student app and is confident that students will use it to connect to Compass.

On iTunes, Bb Student is rated at about 3.5 stars overall, while the Mobile Learn app only has 2 stars.

One of the major differences between Bb Student and Mobile Learn is that Bb Student contains push notifications. In Mobile Learn, students needed to open the app and log in to see notifications.

The push notifications will let students know about upcoming tests, due dates for upcoming assignments and when grades are posted.

Another major change with Bb Student is that it can be accessed in 21 different languages.

“I think that’s a really great part as well,” Mertz said. “(Students) can kind of overcome easily any language barriers that may be out there.”

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