UK cloud services provider Northgate has won a five-year US$266 million contract to offer cloud services, compatible with smartphones, to 1,200 schools and more than 350,000 teachers and students in Northern Ireland, Internet Evolution reports.

Improving wireless technology supports the growing trend for using mobile devices in the classroom, allowing teachers and students to gain access to the network and resources securely via personal devices such as smart phones, IPads, tablet PCs and laptops, according to Northgate.