Staff Reporter

This extra allocation supplements the networks existing 900MHz capacity.

It enables more customers to use their Vodafones at any one time especially in busy areas such as cities and large towns where they will benefit most from increased network capacity said Vodafone Ltd managing director Alan Harper.

The growth in mobile phone ownership and level of usage has increased at a greater rate than even the most optimistic forecasts

By using our 1800MHz allocation to increase capacity in the busiest areas we can ensure that our customers experience optimum network quality by being able to successfully connect a call first time wherever they are said Harper.

Roll-out of the 1800Mhz section of the network has already begun in Reading and will be followed by central London and Manchester before Christmas. The roll-out will continue during 2000 concentrating on towns and cities throughout the UK where a need for increased capacity has been identified.

To take advantage of Vodafones 1800 capacity customers need to have a dual-band handset.

The Vodafone network has been configured to automatically switch extra capacity to the 1800Mhz bandwidth used by the handset .

The expectation is that at busy times quality of service is improved further.

Services will be offered to Guernseys 15000 GSM mobile subscribers from February 2000. Services through UK-based Digital Mobility will be locally-tailored content to businesses and consumers on the island.

Digital Mobility takes content from third-party providers to mobile phone users

While the rest of the world is still talking about the potential of WAP Digital Mobility and Guernsey Telecom have spent the last year creating a real platform for mobile commerce and information solutions says Digital Mobility director of products and services Marcus Taylor.

WAP represents an ideal delivery channel for financial and information services. But the skill lies in delivering an end-user experience thats easy to use fun and highly personal.

Zinc-Air disposable batteries are said to be able to give three to five times more talktime and standby than conventional rechargeable batteries.

Banner Telecom has been given sole distribution rights to the batteries which are made by Electric Fuel.

It will be Portillos first major speaking engagement since becoming Conservative candidate for the Kensington and Chelsea by election. Other speakers at the 32nd telecommunication Managers Conference include BT chairman Sir Iain Vallance and ITN chief executive Stewart Purvis.

Fryatt reports to Charles Dunstone and will be responsible for week-to-week operations of the UK business and managing the integration of Tandy Tecno and The Carphone Warehouse into one group whilst retaining their individual strengths.

Fryatt spent five years with Woolworths before joining Tandy as buying and marketing director in 1986.

I am looking forward to the challenge of overseeing the ambitious UK expansion plans and helping to strengthen The Carphone Warehouses Group presence in the High Street said Fryatt.

Our reputation for giving simple impartial advice will place the company in a strong position in the complex photographic equipment and hi-tech markets.

Added Charles Dunstone:

We are delighted to have Andrew on board to oversee the UK operations. His previous experience with Tecno and Tandy and general retail background will be invaluable in this role.

Security guard Joseph Lawson (20) and unemployed Leroy Semper (23) had been charged with forcefully robbing Fuzum Tewende of his phone and wallet at the Flames Burger Bar in Victoria Station in August.

The prosecutor said both men would be re-charged.

Vodafone is trying to appeal to young independent thinkers with the ads which parody the style magazines they will appear in such as Loaded Cosmo and Arena.

One ad shows models holding and wearing a house brick.

At first glance the ads appear to be stylish fashion photography. But the use of bricks in the place of a mobile phone adds an amusing twist to their visual impact says Vodafone UK brand and advertising director Helen Keays.

The ads were produced by agency BMP DDB.

Until the end of the year London buses black cabs and Underground stations will carry advertising for the SGH-2400.

Samsung is targeting the ABC1 sector of the population with the campaign which starts on November 22. The TV campaign will run on Carlton Channel 4 LWT and Meridian until Christmas Eve.

McCaw and a group of existing ICO investors will provide $225 million in debtor-in-possession financing as well as $275 million in a second financing round expected to be completed by the end of January 2000.

Debtor-in-possession financing is emergency financing that is converted into equity when ICO emerges from bankruptcy.

McCaw and his affiliates have also agreed to underwrite the remaining $700 million exit financing expected to be completed by second quarter 2000 upon consummation of the reorganisation plan.

He will invite existing and additional strategic and financial investors in ICO to participate in this remaining portion of financing.

McCaw chairman of Teledesic and Eagle River said:

It is our hope that by working with ICOs team and international partners we can bring the company back to good health and make a contribution to global communications particularly in the developing world. We recognise that this is a big job and that theres a lot of work ahead of us. Our investment in ICO marks the first step in our strategy to widen the technological tools at our disposal and serve a broader group of customers.

The McCaw-led investment will enable ICO to raise the $1.2 billion it needs to complete the build-out of its system and to provide working capital to the company up to the launch of its global mobile satellite services in the second quarter of 2001.

Richard Greco ICOs chief executive officer said:

ICOs future just got brighter. This financing agreement provides us with a clear path to exit from Chapter 11. Now we can move forward aggressively with our plans to complete our system and launch our global mobile voice and data services. We are particularly pleased to be partnering with Craig McCaws team and benefiting from their broad experience in wireless communications?

McCaws investment is subject to approval of the USA Bankruptcy Court the Bermuda and Cayman Island courts as well as certain other conditions.

The new company which will focus on infrastructure will be called Mobisphere and will be headquartered in Reading. It will be 51 per cent owned by Siemens.

NEC and Siemens expect to start selling UMTS products in 2001 to reach 1.5 billion units in 2004 capturing 20 p