Duke: iPhone Not To Blame

It's been widely reported over the last week that Duke University had suffered network outages caused by Apple's iPhone. Duke University CIO Tracy Futhey released a statement Friday refuting this, saying not only that the problem had been minor and temporary, but that it was not caused by the iPhone at all.

According to Futhey's statement, the problem was identified as an issue related to the deployment of "a very large Cisco-based wireless network that supports multiple network protocols."

"Cisco worked closely with Duke and Apple to identify the source of this problem, which was caused by a Cisco-based network issue," Futhey's statement read. "Cisco has provided a fix that has been applied to Duke's network, and there have been no recurrences of the problem since. We are working diligently to fully characterize the issue and will have additional information as soon as possible.  Earlier reports that this was a problem with the iPhone in particular have proved to be inaccurate."

Futhey added that Duke's wireless network is fully functional and that the iPhone is "fully operable within our environment."

The complete statement can be found at the link below.

Read More:

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • semi-transparent AI brain with circuit elements under a microscope

    Anthropic Develops AI 'Microscope' to Reveal the Hidden Mechanics of LLM Thought

    Anthropic has unveiled new research tools designed to provide a rare glimpse into the hidden reasoning processes of advanced language models — like a "microscope" for AI.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Launches Claude for Education

    Anthropic has announced a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.

  • abstract AI pattern

    Meta Forms 'Superintelligence Group' to Pursue Artificial General Intelligence

    Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is assembling a new team focused on achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), amid internal dissatisfaction with the performance of its current AI offerings. The team, known internally as the superintelligence group, is part of a broader effort to enhance Meta’s AI capabilities.

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.