Mobile learning: The introduction of online and offline mobile learning systems based on cellular phones

The development of new technologies and the advent of mobile learning systems have created a significant breakthrough in education towards comprehensive learning, for individuals in any time and place. This has attracted the attention of the industry owners and mobile technologies. In this paper, having studied different views towards mobile learning definition, we have provided a comprehensive definition of such a learning system given the present needs and expectations of learning forums. Having categorized the mobile learning systems into online, connected to Internet; and offline, without Internet connection,the necessary theoretical foundation in designing systems based on the learning theories are studied. Afterwards, the mobile-partner intelligent electronic system as an online sample is proposed. In addition, an offline system, needless of Internet connection, and just based on the capability to send and receive text, voice and multimedia messages is proposed considering the limited Internet facilities available on the mobile systems in Iran.