In September O2 customers sent 451 million messages an increase of 65 million on the previous month while the number of texts generated by Popstars – The Rivals currently totals 1.5 million.

On Saturday November 16 alone more than 200000 votes were cast through premium text in the one-hour voting slot. The show uses O2 technology to allow users of all four networks to cast their votes.

The success of Popstars follows the popularity of other reality TV show such as Big Brother 3.

In Ireland a similar O2-backed talent show Youre A Star received 68 per cent of its votes through SMS.

MmO2 announced that the group had handled a record 2.6 billion SMS messages in the three months ending September 30.

There was more good news with WAP services showing strong growth as well.

In the UK O2 recorded more than 200 million WAP page impressions during September.

The accreditation means Intec will repair Sharps O2-exclusive GX1 handset and Vodafone lives GX10 unit.

Intec business development director Charlo Carabott said:

We welcome the accreditation because it reinforces the fact that we are able to offer a complete service. Most retailers now want a one-stop repair service.

Verizon has around 30.3 million mobile phone customers in the US a significant number of whom travel internationally and so need to have a mobile that will work abroad.

Rent-A-Phone will supply hardware and airtime services to all Verizon customers travelling to the 120 countries using the European standard GSM system plus Japan.

Rent-A-Phone will now provide a 24 hour service for all Verizon Wireless customers travelling outside the US including customer support billing and phone purchase options.

This contract builds on the long-standing relationship we have with Verizon Wireless. We take great pride in the fact that we have a track record and history of providing quality service to Verizon Wireless customers. It was this level of service that earned us the Verizon Wireless business said Rent-A-Phone managing director Clive Drake.

Phones are supplied to Verizon Wireless customers in the US with a flat airtime rent no long-distance toll charges a low equipment rental and no activation fee.

Rent-A-Phones core market is the US. The company was set up 10 years ago.

According to managing director Paul Crossman the money which will be paid over the next six months will be used to strengthen our core activities in the dealer customer service and logistics areas.

Crossman rejects the suggestion that the injection was required because of financial problems the company was rumoured to have had.

It was a matter of the investors seeing potential in the company and acting upon this. There was no financial problem he said.

As to where the money will go Crossman says the companys nationwide field installation team and repair and refurbishment operations are particularly targeted for expansion. Sales and marketing is another branch of the business earmarked for improvement.

At present the company handles 10000 to 15000 handsets a month. Vanguard is also looking to increase the number of dealers it looks after. Currently it specialises in Vodafone and looks after around 100 dealers.

As part of the cash injection the company appointed new chief executive Paolo Fidanza. Fidanza has extensive experience in the automotive and telecommunications sectors and worked with Lotus Cars in both Europe and the US.

The investment will allow us to implement our market strategy at a faster rate. It is great news for the company added Crossman.

It allows us to develop products and services that we can offer to both the UK and mainland Europe.

Current chairman John Sutherland retains the major shareholding in Vanguard.

However Mobileshop.com passed the winding up petition to another creditor Cavendish Communications after successfully receiving payment from Fonekit.

Cavendish which is owed 12 742 by Fonekit took over the winding up petition. It was supported by Customs & Excise which is pursuing Fonekit for 247186. Alpha Packaging is owed 21000.

Fonekit was due to appear in court at the end of November to answer the winding up order. The hearing was adjourned due to a technicality and is due to take place this Wednesday.

Fonekits demise comes only months after its financial controller Peter Scheldt claimed that the company was simply restructuring (Mobile News July 8).

Several companies including Elite Mobile are suing it for non-payment.

In September Mobileshop.com successfully took legal action to recover an outstanding debt of 7000 after receiving a bounced cheque from Fonekit (Mobile News September 16).

Mobileshop.com had to take legal action twice after mistakenly serving a winding up order against Fonekit Ltd instead of Sell-line corporation trading as Fonekit.

At the time Scheldt said that the reason for the bounced cheque was due to the company changing its bankers.

The Philips Fisio 825 is a GPRS and Bluetooth-enabled handset with a 4096-colour TFT display. Philips has added Enhanced Messaging Services (EMS) a new WAP browser and improved user interface for connecting the phone via Bluetooth to laptops or PDAs.

The Fisio 825 screen also has a new Contrast + screen said to be brighter and easier to read in daylight. A new feature called FotoCall allows names in the phonebook to be linked with a specific picture and melody. The inclusion of the Infusio ExEn(R) v.2 colour games engine can says Philips transform the handset into a portable games console with a huge choice of downloadable colour games.

Vodafone stated it supported the proposal but had concerns with the scope of the legislation.

A Vodafone spokesperson said:

The definition of hands-free is unnecessarily restrictive and inconsistent. As it is currently framed the legislation will prevent both the use of current and development of future technologies that are equivalent to a fully installed car kit.

Vodafone urges the Government to focus on the offence of using a hand-held mobile while driving. Such legislation will be simple to communicate and enforce will enjoy widespread public support and is likely to be effective in reducing the incidence of hand-held mobile phone usage by drivers.

(see Comment P 12)

The launch of Orange 3G services in the rest of the world has been put back to an unspecified date likely to be 2005 or later. The move will save Orange 2 billion on capital equipment over the next two years. Oranges share price rose by seven per cent to 477p following the news.

Also 1200 Orange jobs are to be cut across the globe. The cuts are highly unlikely to affect the UK which has already been streamlined with 300 jobs going earlier this year said an Orange spokesperson.

Meanwhile Orange chief executive Jean-Francois Pontal is to retire in the spring. No successor has been announced but deputy chief executive and chief operating officer Graham Howe is being tipped for the role.

Branded Mobile Entertainment the games will be launched on Motorolas own label and will come in 9.99 on-the-shelf boxes.

The boxes contain access to a selection of downloadable Java games and work across all networks.

Access to the games is through a scratchcard with a unique pass-code. The packs also contain CD-ROM support information Atari graphics and a choice of PC screensavers and wallpaper.

The first games available are classic Atari arcade games such as Asteroids Pong and Centipede.