Turn pointless delays into a learning experience - literally. This is the promise of wireless e-learning. Next time you are stuck waiting for a train or a flight, you could be improving your mind.

Learn French from your mobile, boost your memory, bone up on new skills for your job: many of the larger e-learning providers are trying to move their courses from the PC to mobile devices. These range from laptop computers to personal organisers to the phone in your pocket.

Many companies are talking about it, but few have achieved it yet. One that has succeeded is US-based Global Knowledge, a training company that specialises in IT. It has developed a range of what it calls m-learning modules for use on hand-held computers from Palm or Handspring. These modules enable IT staff who are studying for vendor certification exams to have access to its courses wherever they are.

Global Knowledge's m-learning guide includes a fact mode, which allows the user to read and review text; a search mode for finding specific data; and Q&A and challenge modes, which enable users to test themselves and check their progress.

M-learning guides are available for Telecommunications Fundamentals and for Cisco Certified Network Associate preparation, and are planned for Microsoft Certified System Engineer, Unix, JavaScript and others. Cushing Anderson, a learning services analyst at IDC, says the m-learning guide provides useful reinforcement for learners and a handy reference tool on the job.

SmartForce, a global training company with online courses, also introduced wireless e-learning courses in financial management and IT skills late last year.

MindSurf, a joint venture between Sylvan Learning Systems and Aether Systems of the US, provides wireless online learning for schools to encourage students and staff to collaborate even when learning takes place off-site, such as in a museum.

Michael Jones, non-executive director of Atrium Group, a UK-based video technology and training company, says: "e-learning is one of the biggest areas in which cost savings can be seen, especially in areas such as call centres where there is a high level of churn and there are always new staff who need to be trained.

"It is also great for reinforcement training. No one takes in more than 80 per cent of the course first time round. So with our call centre video training we provide 10-minute videos to help train staff on particular issues, such as how to deal with angry customers.

"At present, these are delivered to the user's PC over their company's intranet, but we can deliver video to 2.5G [higher speed] mobiles when these become more widely available."

Wireless e-learning could even mean that for infrequently asked questions, staff could get by with "just-in-time knowledge" - looking up the answer on their mobile or laptop with wireless communications.

The 2000 report of the American Society for Training and Development (which estimates the US spends $60.6bn on training) predicts that face-to-face training will fall from 79 per cent to 66 per cent of the total by 2003.

However, a number of issues need to be resolved before wireless training becomes widespread. Paul Henry, executive vice president of marketing and sales development at SmartForce, points out that "rich learning experiences aren't viable on tiny PDA or mobile screens with limited fonts. The lack of high-speed data services for most mobile users is another problem."

However, in April 2001 SmartForce did begin offering a number of training modules that can be downloaded from the internet or an intranet onto a laptop. "This will enable employees to test themselves on the skills they've learned using our online training on their desktop PCs," says Mr Henry.

"Looking at my own schedule, I'm not going to do huge amounts of training in the office, but I can see myself downloading information to look at - for example, at home or on a plane," he says. "But I'd want it to be integrated with the online system, so when I arrived back to the office, my offline test scores would be uploaded and I could go straight to the next task.

"We'll offer this kind of integration with PC-based learning and we're also thinking of providing e-mail access to experts via PDAs."

Many companies are planning their moves into the wireless e-learning market in the near future. The first courses are likely to offer training in information technology or mobile data to people who are already comfortable with technology, or will address the education sector.

Lawrence Sellin, mobile e-business alliances executive at IBM, says: "I think university or other similar local wireless or fixed-wireless Lans [local area networks] will provide the first movers in the marketplace. "In such environments, courses can be delivered to wireless hand-held devices."

But many lower-tech courses could easily be adapted to mobiles. Course books for a range of subjects can be loaded on to personal organisers or electronic books - and, incidentally, French conversation can be offered as easily over a mobile as over a fixed phone.

In spite of the obstacles, wireless e-learning makes sense. With employees working longer hours, finding time to study on the office PC may be a challenge too far. Aircraft, train, home or hotel are a much better option - especially if you want to learn something that will be more useful for your next job.