In the last two years more cellular phones were sold than personal computers and automobiles combined. By 2003 there will be more than a billion mobile users in the world and virtually anyone will be text message enabled through SMS said Christophe Dolique executive vice president of MobileWay.

Until now it has not been easy to access this large mobile customer base for business and technical reasons.

MobileWay is partnering with wireless operators and content providers for the development of wireless services particularly tailored to the mobile subscribers day-to-day needs.

Subscribers will not receive unwanted or unwarranted data as they only sign up to the specific message service they require.

Subscribers will be able to get the services and information specifically related to their day-to-day life he said.

The survey was carried out by Taylor Nelson Sofres between 26 and 30 November from a sample size of 1011 adults.

The challenge facing the mobile phone industry is to help educate all consumers that these services will become possible. Whether it is via the internet or other means consumers are sending a clear message that they are interested in new features and benefits not in the technology or medium which delivers them. And with mobile phone purchasing on the up and 15 per cent of people using their mobiles more than their home phones this is a challenge that needs to be met now says Philips.

Philips asked customers across all regions of the UK their opinions on current issues and developments for mobile phones and what their expectations and needs are for future.The survey covered everything from serious to anecdotal issues from why people buy a mobile phone to the most embarrassing place they have used it. The results have been analysed independently both demographically and geographically.

The most important qualities in a phone remain quality of reception and price. These were vital to nearly 40 per cent of the people surveyed. Almost half of all phones (44 per cent) are purchased for safety or use in an emergency situation like breaking down.

Females are not surprisingly. more likely to buy for security (61 per cent). Parents are also buying phones for their children for security reasons. Over 3000 phones are being purchased for the younger age group each week.

Use of the mobile phone is split two thirds social one third business. Six out of ten people spend less than one hour per week on their phone.

This figure rises to over eight out of 10 in Britains Central region. The survey showed 68 per cent of people surveyed are not embarrassed to use a mobile phone in public. But over six out of 10 people are in favour of mobile free zones in places like cinemas churches and public transport.

And the health issue may all be a bit of media hype with 54 per cent of the population not concerned about the supposed health risk of mobile phones. This figure rises to 71 per cent in Wales.

Most of the British population believes that it is getting good value from the mobile phone manufacturers. Apart from in the Central region where 68 per cent consider it to be too expensive.

While 60 per cent of those surveyed are not interested in connecting to the internet via their phone they are interested in receiving other services like e-mail messages and ticket booking facilities which are only available via the internet

Much of the 20 million has been earmarked for expansion including branding customer acquisition and mobility product development with the aim of establishing breathe as the leading independent mobile internet provider across Europe.

Martin Dawes CEO of breathe said:

We are delighted that Chase Capital Partners Flatiron Partners and 3i have decided to invest in breathe. The mobile internet marketplace is expanding every day and will be a huge growth market over the next couple of years. This investment puts us in a position to exploit the coming opportunities and to consolidate our early mover position in this burgeoning arena.

In November breathe announced its intention to develop and expand the mobility services category ahead of mainstream rivals ranging from network operators to content providers. Since then it has launching its unified messaging web based calendaring chat and instant messaging services on its UK portal.

Over the coming few weeks web based SMS and other additional services will be introduced. Breathe has already launched early stage services in both Holland and Germany as a first step in its strategy to be the leading independent mobile internet provider across Europe.

Jonathan Meggs of Chase Capital Partners said:

Over the last six months we have been looking carefully at opportunities in the emerging European mobile internet market as the obvious extension of our interests in mobile telecoms and the internet.

Breathe represents the perfect first investment for CCP in a market which we expect to grow phenomenally over the next three to five years.

The purchase will give Racal access to flat-panel antenna technology used in modern mobile comms networks.

The new service is called Virgin Extras and relies on Geoworks Corporations Premion+ Server technology.

The The Virgin Mobile service is being branded Diary Buddy. It loads Geoworks server technology into Virgins systems.

Virgin Mobile also plans to offer its subscribers other services through their mobile phones such as the ability to book Virgin holidays buy Virgin music and receive traffic updates flashed to their mobiles.

Geoworks has set a stellar example in the United States with its Mobile Attitude service and we are delighted to be using their experience and ingenuity to help us lead the way in Europe said Virgin Mobiles managing director Tom Alexander.

The GPRS phone used for the demonstrations was a fully working prototype.

Its exterior design is based on the Ericsson R320 GSM WAP-phone. Inside there is breakthrough technology which handles both GPRS and GSM.

Ericsson will launch pre-commercial GPRS phones toward the end of this year and expects commercial volumes during first quarter 2001.

Commercial products will not look like the prototype and will incorporate a range of sophisticated technologies.

Ericsson was demonstrating WAP over GPRS using its MC218 WAP-compatible terminal connected to the GPRS prototype phone.

New information partners include Build Online Easons ElectricNews.Net Trintech Irish Life & Permanent The Event Guide Top Study 6 Nations Rugby and Esearch.

In the four short months since we launched our WAP service our customers adapted to it very quickly and comfortably so we are delighted to open our gateway which allows full access to WAP enabled internet sites said Stephen Brewer chief executive of Eircell.

We are also very pleased to continue building partnerships with well-known and trusted localised Irish companies to provide quality information to our customers. These nine new information partners will complement and enhance our existing partners AA NCB Rondomondo RTE and Xtra-Vision stated Brewer.

More and more people are letting their fingers talk book enquire and trade thanks to new innovations like the Eircell WAP service proving that the mobile phone really can be your very own personal assistant he added.

Calls made to Eircell Information Services via WAP are charged at existing tariffs. Customers can use their inclusive Eirtime minutes and standard peak off-peak and weekend rates for any additional minutes.

Over 200000 top-selling CDs from Startles database will be available to Vodafone users.

Customers will be able to view and buy CDs on-line. Startle is promising next-day delivery.

We are delighted to be working with Vodafone to extend its entertainment offering for its Vodafone Interactive mobile and WAP customers said Startle CEO Barry Watts.

CDs on-line will be the first service. But as we move forward Startle aims to deliver music digitally to the mobile phone allowing people to listen to music before they buy it.

This is just the beginning for online CD sales with new technology opening up more and more channels and choice for consumers.

Vodafone commercial and marketing director Paul Donovan said:

Our new partnership with Startle will further enrich the content and applications available to our Vodafone interactive and WAP mobile customers.

Music plays an important part in most peoples lives and this new agreement will offer our customers both flexibility when ordering and buying music products as well as access to the largest music database and distribution network in the UK.

Vodafone and Sky are also exploring opportunities for delivering a package of sports news and entertainment content to Vodafone Interactive customers over both WAP and SMS. Voting and polls interviews shopping TV listings and games could be just some of the services on offer.

According to John Swingewood BSkyB s Director of New Media: This relationship is an ideal fit with our strategy to offer Sky on-line content to as wide an audience as possible. We want to make Skys sport news and entertainment content available on a non-exclusive basis to Vodafones eight million UK customers. Additionally our retailing relationships are ideal for the development of mobile e-commerce when this becomes available in the summer.

The alliance could mean WAP users getting previews of favourite TV programmes instant alert when a big news story breaks and game playing.

People will be able to select specific titles read reviews check orders and purchase goods via their WAP mobile and receive delivery within a promised 24 hours.

WH Smith is currently talking to Orange Vodafone and BTCellnet about supporting its new wireless service.

The company already sells products on-line over the BSkyB Open shopping channel.

WH Smiths move towards mobile e-commerce is part of its plan to achieve 30 per cent of the UK online book market over the next three years.

The company estimates around 20 per cent of e-commerce will be done over mobile phones within five years. It expects 2 billion worth of on-line sales for the entire UK mobile e-commerce market by 2003.

No other UK bookseller online or off can match our ability to allow customers to shop via the internet. We see the wireless world as a key element to fulfilling our e-commerce potential said Kate Kennedy managing director of WH Smith Online.

WAP users can access the service at www.whsmith.co.uk/w.asp.

Evan Newmark was responsible for Goldman Sachs global wireless advisory business developing wireless internet strategies.

He also worked closely with Vodafone on the merger with AirTouch Communications and the joint venture with Bell Atlantic.

Evan shares with us our vision for the future of the internet and the huge potential of our Multi Access Portal.

His credentials for leading this next step in our European development could not be more suitable said VodafoneAirtouch CEO Chris Gent.