Oranges first videophone will be a palm-held device which will provide full video and audio communication capabilities e-mail access internet browsing organiser applications and handwriting recognition via a 10cm diagonal full-colour screen.

The product is a result of a collaboration with scientists at the University of Strathclyde who have developed a new way of compressing data.

This protocol says Orange will enable the network to offer unrivalled video compression and transmit high-quality full-colour moving images over Orange at speeds six times faster than current data speeds and matching those offered by the majority of fixed-line modems.

The videophone will weigh approximately 350g. Pricing for the device and associated video-based services will be announced later this year. First models are scheduled for completion by the end of this year with full scale production expected in 2000.

The screen will be touch sensitive featuring fully interactive icon desktop for ease of use. It will also offer the ability for touch screen dialling via numeric keys and in-built directory. Users will be able to initiate and receive both video and standard audio calls at rates of up to 12 frames-per-second. It will allow handsfree operation in video and audio mode with the loudspeaker doubling as an earpiece and the microphone as a mouthpiece.

For privacy the videophone will also support detachable earpiece headsets. The multimedia features are promised to be extensive. Users will be able to store video stills and clips and even send them as e-mail attachments says Orange.

The phone will run on the Windows CE 3.0 operating system and be dual-band.

VodafoneAirtouchs USA subsidiary Airtouch Cellular is buying the whole issued share capital of CommNet for $764 million in cash plus $600 million in debt at a rate of $31 a share.

The deal which is expected to take five months to complete will add vast new regions to AirTouchs coverage in the Western USA.

CommNet offers coverage in Colorado Montana North Dakota South Dakota Utah and Wyoming giving access to 3.6 million potential customers. CommNet currently has 360000 subscribers.

CommNet is owned by a private equity fund of the investment bank the Blackstone Group.

CommNet shareholders will get $31 a share in cash plus eight per cent interest until the deal closes.

CommNets markets are well managed and fit ours like a hand in glove said VodafoneAirTouch chief executive Chris Gent.

This deal will allow customers to enjoy the benefits of AirTouch over a much broader area. It will cut our roaming costs and offer significant marketing synergies.

Customers can log on to MPRCs website and access their own account using a special password.

Their phones repair progress is logged on the web site from the moment of collection. Customers can follow the repair progress from booking in to despatch.

We repair more than 85 per cent of phones within 24 hours. This new service will let customers know the exact status of their phones at any time of the day or night said Mobile Phone repair Company managing director Steve Cuthbert.

The Mobile Phone Repair Company was set up as a specialist repair company within the Caudwell Group in 1996 and now claims to repair more than 23000 phones a month. It is authorised to handle repairs for Ericsson Bosch Panasonic Alcatel and Nokia phones among others.

Weatherill was named Technology and Communication Entrepreneur of the Year (North Region).

Emanuel was presented with the trophy for Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Scotland).

The Entrepreneur Of The Year programme was created in 1986 by Ernst & Young in the USA where it is now established as the pre-eminent awards scheme of its type.

The awards now take place in 19 further countries including Canada Germany France the Netherlands Belgium Italy Ireland Spain South Africa Brazil and India.

So says a survey ordered by service provider RSL COM which quizzed telecoms managers in 200 businesses with four or more employees.

RSL COM is the American telecoms company which a year ago acquired Motorola Telco.

The survey indicates that only six per cent of businesses currently have a single supplier for fixed and mobile comms.

The research notes that many telecoms managers feel there is a need for specialist suppliers due to the increasing complexity of the industry. They recognise that a single telecoms source would be financially and strategically beneficial said RSL COMs director of indirect sales Matt Crabtree.

Package information is in Braille large print or on tape. Parts of the phone user guide and monthly phone bills are presented in the same way as is billing information.

The package includes a Nokia 5110 (at 9.99) chosen for large keys of varying shapes for easy identification and the Nokia Navikey for easy access of the phones functions.

JWE has asked the University to accredit the training and development of its employees and to possibly provide a Teaching Company Scheme for JWE whereby graduates spend two years at the company as consultants.

The accreditation scheme would mean JWE employees who complete internal training courses will be granted certificates from the University.

We are encouraging all our staff to register with training schemes because we are keen to promote their personal and professional development and provide customers with expert advice said JWE training manager Lorraine Willis.

The Teaching Scheme will focus on IT and e-commerce and be overseen by the Universitys Department of Computing.

4Us name will be branded on the players shirts for the next two seasons. The retail division now has a chain of more than 70 stores with a target of more than 200 stores nationwide by 2002.

We are extremely excited by the opportunities which the sponsorship affords to not only raise our national profile but to enhance our marketing and promotional activities through our new association with Watford said 4U chairman John Caudwell.

This year Phones 4U will spend more than 6 million on advertising and rebranding.

Watford is back in the Premiership following the First Division play-offs in May.

Only two years ago Watford were a Second Division club but in that time won the Division Two Championship reached the Division One Play-Off Final and then beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at Wembley to reach the top level.

More than 500 new jobs will be crated by the expansion programme. Flexible working hours are also being introduced to enable stores to be open for longer hours.

The market is growing at an unprecedented rate. Our sales are up 54 per cent compared to the same period last year said managing director Charles Dunstone.

Despite what the supermarkets say we will remain the number one retailer of mobile phones for volume and service.

The Carphone Warehouse has also become an internet service provider offering free access in partnership with BT Click. The launch is part of The Carphone Warehouses strategy to increase e-commerce transactions from its own site. rector Charles Dunstone.

Despite what the supermarkets say we will remain he number one retailer of mobile phones for volume and service.

The Carphone Warehouse has also become an internet service provider offering free access in partnership with BT Click. The launch is part of The Carphone Warehouses strategy to increase e-commerce transactions from its own site.

Reuters and Vodafone have started trials to deliver a personalised news service to phone users using the SMS service. Full commercial service is expected before the end of the year.