Staff Reporter

The NCH recommends that filtering and screening software comes as standard on every handset being used by children.

The NCH has asked that all Internet content is classified 18 in the absence of such a move by the networks thereby barring children from the Internet altogether.

The announcement comes on the back of a NOP poll that finds 73 per cent of parents are worried by the implications of 3G technology.

If the mobile phone operators want these phones to take off in the youth market they are going to convince a lot of parents that they are safe or can be made safe said NCH Internet adviser John Carr.

Significant numbers of parents say their child knows more about mobile phones than they do. This is particularly worrying as most parents say its their job to educate their children about mobiles.

The network operators who worked closely with Carr on a code of conduct that addresses issues such as mobile phone content aim to have restrictions in place by the end of the year.

We will launch a service by the summer that ensures every customer will be automatically opted out of content of an adult nature including gambling and chat rooms said a Vodafone spokesperson.

If a customer wants access to adult content and can prove their age or has a credit card that proves their age they can opt in. But not otherwise.

This is our interpretation of the code of practice that was drawn up by all the operators in January.

Orange has taken a different approach to the issue of content. Orange customers aged 18 years old and over will automatically have access to adult content.

This will include all customers on Orange contracts and those on pre-pay agreements where it has evidence of previous use of credit cards.

Orange will ensure that customers irrespective of age who wish to opt into the content filter will be able to do so easily.

3 the only network to offer commercial 3G services at present does not apply an open-access policy. to content.

We have PIN code protection in place for over-18 adult content services and manage what people look at otherwise said a 3 spokesperson. This approach has been endorsed by the NCH and other childrens charities.

The surveys quite rightly highlight the concerns of parents but the reality is that access to adult content is already available on the other networks with 2.5G technology.

The networks monitor the content on their WAP portals but adult content can be accessed on 2.5G phones by bypassing the branded WAP gateway. None of the networks promote adult material.

Its been in the T-Mobile catalogue for two months but theres still no sign of it said Adrian Foot of The Phone Shop in Kent.

We have the Nokia 6230 in stock on the other networks but not on T-Mobile said Chris Derbyshire of A1 Communications in Ilkeston.

Because we dont have it on T-Mobile customers move to the networks that have it.

T-Mobile is always an absolute nightmare with stock said Ellis Dunning of TalkSense in Borehamwood. The 6230 has been advertised since March and we havent got it yet. Its on O2 and Vodafone but none is available from T Mobile.

T-Mobile has denied that there are any problems with the supply of the Nokia 6230.

We are not aware of any supply problems with the Nokia 6230 said T-Mobile in a statement. We continue to work closely with our retail partners to ensure that supply levels are maintained to meet the demand levels of all handsets.

Phones International founder Peter Jones is to step back into the role of managing director of main subsidiary Data Select.

Data Select managing director George McPherson becomes head of another Phones International subsidiary Wireless Logic.

McPherson has also been made a board director in the Phones International Group.

The announcement was timed to coincide with Data Selects year-end results. Jones denied industry speculation that he was back in the hot seat because trading conditions for Data Select had become tougher.

Market conditions arent tough for Data Select he said. It has had 100 per cent growth in profits and income over the past year.

George has done a magnificent job and this is a promotion for him. Wireless Logic is a key part of the business.

Data Select is likely to be a key distribution partner for Wireless Logic so George is the best person to take it forward.

Jones said he would consolidate McPhersons work at Data Select and pursue new business opportunities.

Ill look at the overall strategy of the business and build on what George has done. I will build key relationships with networks and manufacturers.

Weve identified three to four new channels that havent been tapped yet. They will be entirely new propositions that will bridge the gap between wireless telephony and e-commerce but utilise existing business models.

Meanwhile Jones has regained full control of Phones International after buying back the minority stake he sold to Lloyds Development Capital (LDC) in June 2002.

I wanted to take back a 100 per cent stake in the business so I have full control over the direction it takes said Jones. Its not greed. I want to steer the company in the right direction.

LDC originally bought into Phones International to enable the growth of our subsidiary group Generation Telecom.

Generation Telecom performed very well over the past 18 months. But Generation Telecom took up time and group resources.

We sold it to Vodafone and LDC got a good return on its investment.

LDC director Anthony Bull said of the sale: We are pleased with the way the exit has gone and are delighted that we received a 20 per cent internal rate of return.

GSM network operators last month show an increase of almost 25 per cent on the UK total during the same period in 2003.

Marchs figure shows a daily average of 69 million compared with 56 million a day in the same month last year and 43 million in March 2002.

He joins NEC from global communications specialist Avaya where he held the post of marketing director channels EMEA.

Prior to that he held positions in Cable & Wireless EDS and Lucent Technologies.

I am currently looking for a further six dealers to figure prominently in my plans to double our share of the business market he said.

T-Mobile has structured its business sales into three channels. The first Business Partners is a group of 19 dealers that have been hand-picked for their performance.

The second is Solution Partners. This is made up of technical data specialists offering a value-added retail service integrating and supporting data solutions into larger corporate customers.

This is a new channel for us and one thats growing very quickly and very well said Ainslie. By working with the big manufacturers like Microsoft and IBM we can create products that really work for our customers. That programme is well on the way and well-developed.

T-Mobiles third channel Multiple Business is concerned with retailers such as The Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4U.

T-Mobile had been perceived as not being interested in business. But we have made significant changes and now have the structure to provide the best possible service for business customers said Ainslie. To be a serious player in the business market we need to focus on customer needs and deliver real solutions. Historically we have had a number of false starts trying to deliver that. Weve learned lessons and have the right formula.

Three months in we are ahead of target to double our business customers every year for the next two years. We are going for an aggressive approach with strong growth targets. The credibility of our brand name is growing every day. This gives us a real opportunity to do what is needed to get businesses on board.

A recent NOP survey gave us the number-one spot in terms of customer satisfaction. So weve got a remit to tell businesses they would be better off with us than with other networks. Our direct sales force is going after corporate accounts.

3 is bringing out a handset-recycling scheme with recycling organisation Fonebak.

Fonebak recycling boxes are being installed in all 160 3 stores around the UK including its flagship shops and 3 concessions within the Superdrug chain.

Each handset is sent to the Fonebak recycling centre for reuse or recycling.

3 UK COO Gareth Jones said: By joining the Fonebak scheme we can take your old phone and recycle it with the proceeds going to help 3s chosen charities.

The 20 Turbosound brand of headset fits phones by all manufacturers and comes with three different moulded earpieces which exclude background noise and enable the user to listen to audio at a lower level.

They were designed by audio specialist Andrew Shiach who has worked with musicians such as Radiohead Pink Floyd and AC/DC and have been developed in association with the deaf charity RNIDwhich represents the interests of nine million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK.

Music is becoming quite an issue in the mobile space as more phones come equipped with MP3 players so it is a good time to enter the market said Shiach.

The noise problem is a big issue and this product is a serious attempt to try to educate people about the potential damage done by earphones.

Shiach is looking for his contacts in the music industry to endorse his range of audio accessories and raise the profile of both the product and the problem.

The Carphone Warehouse will have stock of the new headsets in its shops in October.

Advanced Communications Solutions which is distributing the product to retailers is also in talks with Dixons and Orange.

Caudwell Group accessories division Dextra will distribute the headsets to the independent dealer channel.

Dixons is offering the phone for 49.99 as a web exclusive. Shoppers at Dixons high street stores will pay 64.99. The best price The Carphone Warehouse website can offer is 74.99.

Scott Allison of Glasgow-based Freedom Mobiles said: Its an incredible deal. This has got to be about numbers. Either 3 has to get enough customers to reach a critical mass by a certain date or it is taking part in a contest to see who can lose the most money in the least time. The logical conclusion is that soon 3 will be offering pre-pay handsets for nothing.

Amazon.com and Dixons are making little profit on the handsets. The E313 listed by 3 at 212.00. The network offers 180 in commission so the handset costs 30 to buy in.

A 3 spokesman told Mobile News Pricing is up to individual dealers. There are some very good offers out there especially on-line which has historically been more competitive than the High Street.

The E313 on ThreePay is just part of an offering that is currently delivering an extremely healthy ARPU of 44 per month. Our top-end phones are comparable in price to top end GPRS handsets from other operators he said.

This follows Customs and Excises withholding of a 2.4 million VAT refund from its bulk handset division Phone Direct (Mobile News June 1)

The funding must be sanctioned by shareholders at an AGM on July 13. The funds will enable the group to resume bulk-trading activities and help finance other parts of the business.

The refinancing satisfies the working capital requirements and continues our original strategy which was to use the wholesale trading in mobile phones to get cash to grow other areas of the business. said TTG Group financial director Julian Synett.

We see this as a significant achievement in what is a difficult market to raise capital. The current climate and uncertainty about the economy has made it quite difficult for small-capital businesses like ours.

He added: It is an indication of the confidence of the institution investors in our ability to go forward.

TTG Europe has been chasing the 2.4 million VAT refund for nearly a year and the issue is to go to a VAT tribunal in October.

The bulk business remains part of our plan for the next 12 to 18 months as there will always be bulk trade in mobile phones but after that were not sure yet said Synett.

Anglia Telecom a subsidiary of TTG Group said it has remained profitable throughout despite Phone Directs situation.