This is expected to grow to 10 million subscribers by the end of the year 2000 says GSM Association chairman Michael Stocks.

In several countries GSM networks are the only point of communication for the community in remote areas says Andrew Mthembu chairman of GSM Africa the GSM Associations African Interest Group.

Rapid GSM customer growth is being experienced in South Africa Zimbabwe Botswana Namibia as well as the Seychelles Mauritius and the Reunion Islands. In South Africa Botswana and Zimbabwe there is wide acceptance of the pre-paid services with a number of operators providing a wide variety of GSM services to both business and domestic users

The campaign by agency Abbott Mead Vickers will appear in press and radio for six weeks and on posters sites until the end of December.

The campaign is designed to ensure businesses are aware of the very real benefits our products and services can bring them said BTCellnet head of business marketing Lorraine Stone.

In addition Digianswer claims to be one of the most advanced implementers of Bluetooth technology and will offer a comprehensive range of Bluetooth products to the OEM market in 1999.

Digianswer was founded in 1986 to manufacture and market a digital answering machine for use with mobile phones. The company has evolved into product development utilising the technology it has developed over the years in the area of DSP for voice processing applications. Major OEM customers using its technology include Bosch Ericsson Motorola Philips Siemens and Sony.

The takeover is part of Motorolas strategy for developing Bluetooth and other wireless products.

Like Bluetooth HomeRF are short-range wireless standards that allow quick easy-to-use data transfers between mobile and home electronics products. Motorola will use Digianswers Bluetooth technology in cellular phones two-way radios accessories broadband home networking products and in-car products.

Digianswer is an excellent choice to help Motorola rapidly provide personal connectivity to our customers across all of our product families said Janice Webb senior vice president and general manager of the Motorolas personal networking group.

They have strong knowledge of our products and were the first to publicly announce several Bluetooth solutions. Our collective experience will speed the efficient integration of their technologies into our personal area network offerings.

Bluetooth will eliminate the need for cabling between laptop PCs personal digital assistants and cellular phones. Wireless e-mail and internet access file transfer cordless telephony wireless cellular and two-way radio headsets are just the initial applications planned for Bluetooth. Digianswer has already supplied the market with several Bluetooth products.

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.