The network will provide Internet video-conferencing and multimedia services.

Ericsson and Vodafone have together been trialing 3G multimedia services for practical experience in the deployment of 3G networks.

Vodafone is the first UK operator to select Ericssons 3G WCDMA system. Ericsson has worked with Vodafone as a network infrastructure supplier since 1985.

Ericsson has been a strategic partner of Vodafone for many years and we are delighted to further strengthen this relationship by working together on the speedy rollout of our UK 3G network said Vodafone chief executive

Peter Bamford.

WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) is one of the third generation systems to support high-speed multimedia services. Multiple calls of diffeent types can be simultaneously made.

The service is called Vodafone Corporate Online. Future facilities are planned such as on-line bill analysis billing via email and electronic bill viewing will follow later in the year.

Vodafone Corporate Online users also get instant access to Vodafone Corporates back-office systems on entry.

Customers get a security pass which provides them with an ever-changing security code required to log-in.

Once in they can view the phones specific to their contract related discounted prices and availability status.

The phones are shown as pictures rather than part numbers with links to additional technical information.

To make a purchase the user selects a handset and follows prompts for accessories service requirements billing and delivery information.

Billing fields are completed with existing information from Vodafone Corporates systems where known and postcode search engines are provided to speed up the data entry process. Orders are acknowledged on screen and also via e-mail.

Other services include the facility to order car kit installations handset upgrades or replacements track of orders and access to a fault recovery service that provides technical information to help diagnose a fault with a handset and arrange recovery.

The idea is to be able to let Tiny users access the internet direct from their free WAP handset. Also thrown in is free connection to the Vodafone network and off peak calls from just 1.7p per minute

We are delighted that we are able to offer Tiny Computers customers a useful and highly desirable package. WAP technology is the latest development in the mobile phone industry and this offer means that Tinys customers will be able to join this technological revolution enjoying the benefits of whats on offer now ultimately making their working and their social lives easier said Vodafone Connect managing director David Jones.

The first stage will be a $7 million agreement to develop a high-speed radio card and a dual-mode HSCSD/GPRS wireless modem for mobile data rates more than five times faster than existing mobile data speeds.

Other products planned include a range of clip-on modem devices for personal digital assistants and telemetry modules for applications from the automotive to the medical world.

The UbiNetics partnership will ensure that Orange customers do not have to concern themselves with the different available technologies but rather they will simply choose an application and the device will transparently select the best platform for that particular operation said Bob Fuller chief operating officer of Orange

UbiNetics was set up last year to produce 3G and 2G kit such as GSM PC cards test and measurement equipment and test reference designs.

Listeners will be able to respond to ads they hear on-air using their mobile phones and access information about songs being played on-air schedules and playlists as well as being able to play online interactive games that match their musical knowledge against the Virgin Radio computer.

There will be six months of on- air support plus advertorials outlining the benefits of the internet and WAP technology services as well as a mobile fun promotion during the popular early evening Pete and

Geoff show.

Weve been hearing a lot about WAP over the past six months and the size of this deal reflects the importance it is going to play in peoples lives said Steve Taylor group enterprises director at Virgin Radio owners Ginger Media part of Scottish Media Group.

We know our listeners are always on the move and need access to information and entertainment whilst they are out and about and iobox provide the most advanced suite of services which let them interact whilst on the go.

Virgin Radio offered a consumer WAP service in March. By registering on the iobox.com website for the Icon Maker or Tone Composer mobile users will be able design a picture or compose a song that can then be used to personalise their phone. iobox users can surf any WAP site even without a WAP-enabled phone by using the iobox Surfer to see all the WAP sites available.

The move is designed to capitalise on the growth of mobile internet by steering customers through products best suited to their needs.

Hampstead staff have been trained in mobile data WAP and other methods of keeping in touch with support services while on the move.

Manager Michael Feeney beat around 1000 DX employees to the job. He was chosen for his knowledge of WAP and its potential.

The Hampstead branch is like no other in the country. It is possible that what we do here will be copied in dozens more places around the country. So theres a real feeling here that weve started something special.

The store has been kitted out with a high-tech silver look.

Matt Day a member of the DX IT department said emphasis will be given to hands-on approach where customers will be shown the capabilities of products rather than merely being told about them.

We have found that describing the various facilities on a combination of phones and laptops can often come over as rather confusing.

What this new store will do is remove the mystique of new technology by walking people through each step until they are familiar with the process.

Our staff have been trained to the very highest level in WAP developments and they know how to get their knowledge over in an understandable way.

Opening hours are from 10am to 7pm to cater for people returning from a days work.

From August the old codes effected by the Big Number change will no longer be recognised. This will be frustrating for the large number of people who rely on their mobile address book said Carphone Warehouse boss Charles Dunstone.

We wanted to be able to offer anyone with a mobile phone a solution that would cost nothing and only take a couple of minutes. We have been able to achieve just that.

The Carphone Warehouse points out that all levels of security will have to be met for people to use the new SIM update service.

The IEE came to this conclusion after looking at more than 700 papers published in 1998 and 1999.

At low frequencies recent evidence from major epidemiological studies and the evidence from the large body of literature over the last 20 years suggests the existence of harmful effects is unlikely says the IEE. But the IEE does agree that further research is needed.

This view is based on public concern and the increasingly more common exposure of people to low level frequency electromagnetic fields.

The principle of the precautionary approach recommended is prudent until more research has been carried out because of the new and rapidly expanding nature of the technology the IEE adds.

The IEEs full report is published at www.iee.org.uk.

Without directly naming BTCellnet Breathe CEO Sean Gardner said at a press conference to announce new Breathe services:

The UK consumer is desperate for a clear straightforward and honest mobile Internet offer that does what it says and meets customer expectations. The industry is not delivering its promises today.

Mobile players have been making promises about WAP and mobile internet applications that the current technology simply cant keep.

The result is a confused consumer who perceives that current offerings lack sufficient intelligence to enable fast delivery of timely and relevant information with hardware such as mobile phones which by design are simply too clumsy to enable the surfing experience which the marketing suggests.

Research shows that consumers remain unconvinced about the long awaited and much hyped e-commerce via WAP.

Specifically concerns exist about transactional security and the complicated time consuming process involved in making purchases over the mobile internet.

Gardner was announcing plans for the Autumn launch of the first 5th Generation voice portal. Direct voice commands will access content quickly and accurately replacing the need for numerous key presses and complicated navigation of baffling menu structures currently being offered through WAP.

Gardner comments:

Phones were made for talking and listening and Breathe believes that voice-based services are the way forward. voice will be the killer application.

The smart technology will include a calendar product Virtual Wallet. Breathes 5th Generation mobile internet services will also integrate a Virtual Wallet offering secure fast and efficient web-based transactions that will truly release the potential of m-commerce. Users will simply have to enter a PIN authentication code to buy goods and services out the need to transmit credit card data.

Phones were made for talking and listening and breathe believes that voice based services are the way forward. Voice will be the killer application. The smart technology will include a calendar product which will operate as your very own virtual personal assistant quietly and constantly working in the background on your behalf. Your virtual PA will be able to offer travel directions transport timetables accommodation suggestions and find space in your diary for meetings. Virtual Wallet breathes 5th Generation Mobile Internet services will also integrate a Virtual Wallet offering secure fast and efficient web-based transactions that will truly release the potential of M-Commerce. Users will simply have to enter a PIN authentication code to buy goods and services via the Internet without the need to transmit credit card data.

Digifone announced it is also reducing the weekly Speakeasy peak tariff rate to 50p per minute (from 75p) and its off peak tariff rate to 15p per minute (from 20p).

The newly-reduced tariff rates will be available on the two pre-paid options (Early Bird and Night Owl). Digifone also plans to introduce Speakeasy WAP handsets to the market in the coming weeks.

Digifone has also introduced a new Timeshare tariff option for the small to medium sized business user.

A new umbrella pricing structure called Timeshare will allow individual businesses and companies to choose packages of 1000 2500 or 5000 bundled minutes per month which can be shared by all users within a company.

Digifone has introduced a mobile handset upgrade programme which is directly linked to customer spend and length of time connected to the network.

There are four tiers to the new loyalty scheme. Gold Platinum and Diamond.

They all relate to customer spend. But the Silver programme relates to the length of time a that a customer has been with the network.

Esat Digifone chief executive officer Barry Maloney said:

These are aggressive steps confirming our commitment to provide customers with the best value for money in the mobile market while also rewarding their loyalty to the Digifone network.

These announcements for pre-paid and small business mobile users follow the introduction of the Select tariffs last November which delivered significant savings for contract customers.

Todays announcement reaffirms Digifones commitment to delivering the best value proposition to the Irish marketplace and to further increase the better value gap between all our competitors and ourselves Maloney added.