This follows an agreement with Cambridge Silicon Radio to use the Cambridge BlueCore Bluetooth chip for use with cordless headsets and data transmissions between the phone and notebook and desktop PCs.

A low-cost small single chip solution is essential if Bluetooth is to be adapted an a mass scale said Alcatel marketing director Laurent

Guyot.

Bluetooth is the code-name for the technology that uses short-range radio links between mobile PCs mobile phones and other portable devices (see Alcatel story P34).

The new service uses SMS to flash members messages about how their bids are progressing.

Users will be sent messages throughout an online auction. The SMS will tell them if they have met the reserve price when they have been outbid and if they win. All without them having to log on using their PC.

This is the first step towards a true mobile auctioneer. For the first time members can track the status of their bids or hear about the latest auction bargains independent of their PCs said QXL.com chief executive Jim Rose.

QXL.com runs business and consumer auctions 24 hours a day in nine languages and currencies.

Iobox was launched two years ago in Finland and now has 500000 users who access its WAP and SMS content. Services include e-mail mobile chat instant messaging news weather and stock quotes.

Gaming machine management company Leisuredata will be beaming to WAP phones financial statistics about the performance of a pubs fruit machine or any other type of coin-operated game.

Leisure data provides a gaming machine management service over the internet to more than 10000 games machines.

The system monitors records and audits the takings of each machine in real time. So pub landlords will be able to use a WAP phone to know when to empty the machines and use the money as change.

The system can also send out an automatic e-mail or SMS to the pub landlord if a machine is tampered with or needs servicing.

The company says that on average a gaming or quiz machine can contribute up to 30 per cent of a pubs profits. The countrys 10000 pub game machines contribute overall 35 million a year to the pub sector.

Our network suppliers currently present collection data to us using the web But thanks to WAP technology they can now also send it instantly from any location through their mobile phone said Leisuredata managing director Brian Herrick.

By using the latest mobile internet and phone capability WAP will access vital information from the heart of each machine and put it directly into the hands of brewery or pub chain managers around the UK Pub managers can see the coins gong in and out of the gaming machines live via internet browsers and through their WAP phones he added.

Using the web they can now operate on a level playing field with the larger companies.

It claims it is the lightest slimmest WAP phone so far available. It is 15mm thick and comes in blue red and purple colours. The R230 will be available from next month.

The company said it had also reached agreement with Torch Telecom and Cable & Wireless Communications for the provision of residential telecommunications services.

The integrated fixed line and mobile service will also include competitive internet access.

Vodafone will provide the provision of the wireless services to consumers and expertise and technical assistance for billing systems facilities management and marketing to enable Centrica to offer the fully integrated telephone service.

Centrica has around three million electricity customers and more than a million people signed to its Goldfish credit card the company says it has an impressive track record in marketing new products and services to consumers.

Vodafones UK boss Peter Bamford said:

We are delighted to be working with Centrica. This is a powerful partnership combining our expertise with Centricas marketing skills and extensive customer base to deliver new consumer telecommunications services.

Centrica has said it expects to invest a total of 150 million in its telecommunications business by the end of 2002 of which 75 million will be spent this year.

It plans to launch the service in September and aims to attract one million customers by the end of next year.

The 22.4 billion they paid equates to around 400 per head of population. Before the auction started analysts were predicting the whole affair would cost a relatively paltry 5 billion in total.

The auction ended last Thursday after 150 rounds which attracted 13 bidders from around the world. The auction ended when NTL was the last to throw in the towel leaving just five players left for the five licences which last for 20 years.

Newcomer TIW (Telesystem International Wireless) paid 4.3 billion for Licence A.

TIW has announced it is to establish a joint venture with ex-Orange owner Hutchison Whampoa to set up a national UK UMTS network as a mobile virtual operator.

TIW will build the network and make its capacity available to another operator.

Vodafone bid an astonishing 5.96 billion for the prize Licence B. BT3G landed Licence C for 4.03 billion One 2 One won Licence D for 4 billion and Orange picked up Licence E also for 4 billion.

These means Vodafone is paying almost 2 billion more than its competitors. It has to find half the money now and has the option to pay the rest off over 10 years (with interest).

Vodafone intends to offer customers commercial service on its new 3G network in 2002.

Commented chief executive Chris Gent:.

We have secured the amount of spectrum that we need in order to deliver the highest capacity of any UK cellular operator and to maintain our market leadership by offering premium value added services to more customers than any other operator. The additional capacity will enable Vodafone Limited to play a full part in the new technology delivering customers a new generation of services including full internet video-conferencing and many other mobile multimedia services throughout the world.

Sir Peter Bonfield BTs chief executive said:

This was a high stakes game. We executed a well thought out and gutsy strategy which ended with us achieving the best value possible for BTs customers and shareholders. The only benefit of Licences A and B over Licences C D or E is that there may be some cost savings in building a network.

These savings are way below the premium Licence B attracted. Moreover it is unlikely there is any cost difference at all until several years after the launch of 3G by which time more spectrum may well be available. BTs main auction objective was to secure the best value licence available at a price that represented a good investment for its shareholderssaid Sir Peter.

In addition its strategy was to maximise its forward competitive position. BT believes that ensuring a large differential between Licence B and Licence C achieves this.

Commented Orange CEO Hans Snook:

It has been a hotly-contested auction at the end of which the prices paid have fulfilled our expectations.

The immediate winners are the Government and the successful bidders. The ultimate winners however will be customers and investors. We will be delivering a range of advanced multimedia which include: high speed internet access; e-commerce services such as interactive home shopping online booking and location-based information and entertainment services. In addition mobile videoconferencing and the ability to download movie clips the latest soundtracks and sports highlights will be available direct to the consumer all on the move.

At One 2 One strategic development director Craig Tillotson who was responsible for One 2 Ones strategy in the auction said:

This is an important development for both One 2 One and for T-Mobile International. The growth in advanced mobile multimedia services will be remarkable. The investment we are making in UMTS here in the UK will allow us to be at the forefront of developing what will become a global phenomenon.

Hanson is an investor and non-executive director of the company.

Several of the networks and at least one major retail store are veryinterested in using the technology in their WAP applications he said.

The product is free to end-users who can download it from the BigThing web site.

Vodafone is using different systems developed by Barclays Merchant Services De La Rue E.Commercell e-pay e-Vita Omega Logic and PayPoint Network.

In January Vodafone carried out live trials with e-TopUp swipe cards enabling 17500 prepay mobile customers to automatically credit their Pay As You Talk accounts through 18 of its Vodafone Retail stores. To use the service registered customers will be issued with personalised e-TopUp swipe cards containing their mobile number stored in it.

When they need to top up customers simply take the e-TopUp card to the nearest retailer offering the e-TopUp service select the value they require credited to their account and pay.

The retailer swipes the e-TopUp card through the on-line counter terminal linked to the Vodafone network and credit is automatically applied to their mobile phone account.

Distributors will be informed which system comes into operation in which phase with estimated dates.

The Korean electronics giant has completed development of a thin-film-transistor LCD and says it is in a strong position to lead the market for 3G phones as soon as commercial services start in Europe and the USA.

Companies are trying out TFT-LCDs in sizes ranging from 1.5 to four inches but the two-inch models are merging as the standard because of portability and battery capacity considerations says Samsung.

The display uses external light instead of a power-hungry backlit devices found on portable PCs. The display can be adjusted to the amount of data being shown while the handset is in standby or talk mode. This reduces power consumption by two-thirds. A front-light is also installed to illuminate the screen even in the dark alleviating a problem found with reflection TFT-LCDs.

The devices will be supplied to both domestic and foreign phone makers. Samsung says it has maintained the top share of the world TFT-LCD market since 1998. The company has been focusing technical and marketing expertise on the high-growth market for TFT-LCDs of 10 inches or smaller.

The 94-strong chains 1 million cinema screen ad debut kicked off at Easter with a commercial showing people being offered bad advice or making wrong decisions.

The commercial uses the strap line We Help You Decide. This slogan will feature on all printed material and promotional literature.

Advertising on the big screen is a first not just for MPC but for the mobile phone retail sector said MPC head of marketing Mark Bond.

Its the perfect way to target our key customers. Cinema audiences are naturally attentive.

So the new advertising campaign allows us to communicate our key messages.

The cinema ad will be backed up by a regional press and radio campaign.

The commercial is directed by Steve Lowe who has also directed commercials for Kodak Toyota Barclays and Sega.