The group is to be a focal point for international co-operation with the worlds regulatory administrative and standards organisations. IMT2000 is the term used by the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) as the specification for 3G services based upon a family of compatible standards of which a GSM-based spin-off is set to be the most widespread.

The group will cover policies and strategies for standardisation regulation and operation as well as liaising with other 3G bodies around the world says the groups leader Jonas Twingler.

Our aim is to ensure that the best interests of both operators and customers are served. The IMT2000 group will play a critical role in ensuring global co-ordination of generic 3G standards technology and regulatory procedures.

Our goal is to lead the way in providing a forum for operator harmonisation. This was key to the success of GSM becoming a global technology standard. We aim to do the same with IMT2000 standards.

GSM Association chairman Michael Stocks said:

The GSM Association has already commenced preparation of inter-operational standards for 3G. Now we are looking beyond the technology to the wider picture of integrated service offerings commercial interoperability and more.

Nokia says the designers have been inspired by mobility and its new dimensions for modern lifestyle and individuality.

This strengthens Nokias presence in the fashion world. We look forward to sharing ideas with the Nokia Young Designers said Nokia marketing services manager for Europe and Africa Heikki Norta.

Herniman will be responsible for personal numbering and telemarketing products and services.

During his four years with Cable & Wireless Herniman was also general manager and operations director for Cable & Wireless Mobile.

Before this he was managing director of Mercury Communications Mobile Services previously known as The Carphone Group.

Colin brings a wealth of experience. It is a reflection of PNC Tele.coms growth that we are able to recruit someone of his calibre said PNC CEO Geremy Thomas.

Paramedics will now be able to speak directly to the Accident and Emergency Consultant on duty whilst at the scene of an incident.

Prior to being issued with mobile phones Ambulance staff would radio the hospital to inform them of a patients condition. Any message would normally pass between at least five people before reaching the consultant.

Under the new pricing structure customers calling from the 16 most frequently visited European countries will be charged one of two flat rates at whatever time of the day or night they call. Previously these customers could face up to 50 different rates in Europe alone.

In addition the network offers three tailored options which give significant cost savings to more frequent international callers.

One Rate targets those who make a significant number of calls when abroad offering a flat rate for all mobile phone calls across Europe. International Traveller Service targets all customers who call a range of international destinations on a regular basis from the UK whilst Country Calling Plan targets customers who need to call one particular country on a regular basis from the UK.

The first members of the scheme who will meet a stringent set of criteria are Cellhire plc The Hirefone Group and Mobell Communication.

They have all been audited by BTCellnet to verify that rental order processing despatching and customer service reach the required standards.

The networks international roaming service has experienced a ten-fold increase in users over the past 18 months due it says to growing numbers of holidaymakers finding that using their mobile phone is easier and better value than a hotel phone.

Third generation UMTS handsets will make it possible for anyone anywhere in the world to surf the net send and receive video material watch TV hold video conference calls and now listen to Chris Evans over their bowl of Cornflakes.

Ginger Media and Ericsson believe that these new third-generation networks could also open up a completely new distribution channel for entertainment services such as radio programmes.

Commenting on the tie up Virgins Lee Roberts said: We can foresee a day when more people will listen to our output via a mobile phone terminal than through a broadcast radio receiver.

As a first step Virgin Radios output has been added to the range of services being trialled over the UMTS network set up by Ericsson in and around Guildford Surrey.

Prices range from 99.99 up to 199.99 and include the Bosch 909S which is exclusive to One 2 One. A 30 million pre-Christmas marketing campaign is planned. More 2 Say has been launched says the network in response to research they conducted which demonstrated that the target market were prepared to pay more for a sexier handset.

The launch was planned long before recent controversy over changes in subsidy for pre-pay products. A One 2 One spokesperson told Mobile News It is up to individual concerns to set their own selling price. We set a recommended retail price; its up to them what cut they take. We are maintaining the value of our product by not reducing it to the level of some of our competitors. This policy will continue into the future.

Added the spokesperson We have no plans to move towards gross pricing at present.

One 2 Ones standard Up 2 You packages range from the Siemens C11 at 69.99 to the Ericsson PF768 at 149.99.

The number of subscribers to cellular services world-wide increased from 295 million at end 1998 to over 350 million by June 1999 whilst evidence from Finland Sweden Germany and the UK suggests that the use of short message services has exploded in popularity; figures released by the GSM MoU indicate that 1 billion SMSs were sent in April 1999.

Accordingly Romtec believe that the wireless data revolution has begun and that we-commerce will be at the forefront of the new generation of non-voice applications.

The company concludes from recent research that wireless subscriber growth will continue to outstrip the internet due to the ease of subscription and the lack of need for a PC to access services.

There are at least 100 operational services or trials of we-commerce applications world-wide covering ticketing reservation systems banking share dealing and vending machines amongst many other applications.

Romtec believe that the technology will be in place for the mass market to begin to develop by 2000 and that by 2005 there will be 42.55 million subscribers world-wide to wireless e-commerce.

It also believes that Europes leading product and services manufacturers and vendors in Europe are completely unprepared for the revolution that is about to transform our methods of buying and selling.

Microsoft Yahoo and AOL are all establishing wireless trading ventures as are many of the leading cellular operators world-wide say Romtec who forecast that new ventures between Internet SPs and mobile operators will lead to a new generation of Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs).