So say 60 per cent of members who responded to a membership survey. Over 80 per cent of them applauded FCS representation to the government and regulatory bodies lobbying on behalf of the industry and acting as the spokesbody on behalf of the industry.

Around 75 per cent of FCS members polled cited the Crime Prevention Scheme and the Federations lobbying campaign with regard to spectrum access and pricing.

Responses came from network operators in UK and Eire cellular dealers distributors handset manufacturers service providers installers paging companies PMR manufacturers and suppliers and mobile radio dealerships.

The move is part of MDTs strategy to become the leading provider of convergent telecoms communications combining the best of mobile fixed and internet access.

Partnership is the way forward. Martin Dawes Switched Services will stand shoulder to shoulder supporting fixed wire dealers and resellers MDT managing director David Goldie told a conference for more than 150 fixed and mobile dealers which was held in Hinckley recently.

We will have a full end-to-end support package for dealers including dedicated account managers marketing support installation and engineering backup as well as salary subsidies for dedicated dealership staff Goldie added.

Dawes has lined up special leasing and finance packages through a partnership with MTV Distribution and Systems Leasing and rental which will sell financial packages under the brand name Whisper to tie-in with Dawes Breathe branding.

Added MDTs sales and marketing director Sean Gardner:

Research has shown business customers and consumers are looking for convenience and simplicity in telecoms products. This desire for mobility will drive the convergence of fixed and mobile telecoms products.

Ironically Gardner used to be marketing director of Orange a network which believes the days of fixed telecommunications are numbered.

The new outlet at 127 Oxford Street is between Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Circus.

The existing store is opposite Bond Street Tube.

Vodafone Retail has 40 stores throughout London and 240 shops in total.

This latest Oxford Street store is opening for business at exactly the right time for the busy Christmas shopping period said Vodafone Retail marketing director Helen Keays.

However at a creditors meeting held earlier this month the proposal was firmly rejected.

Sony owed 115948 voted for the creditors voluntary arrangement (CVA). But Orange which faces a loss of 151299 decided to draw a line under its dealings with Scapegold and voted against the CVA.

Other creditors who voted against included Customs and Excise Clark White Publications and Clarion.

Most other creditors wanted to see the voluntary agreement put in place.

But under insolvency laws it requires the agreement of creditors owed 75 per cent of outstanding debts.

Scapegold director and co-founder Nadim Kobeissi had already resigned as a director.

Users get their 50 cheque once they have been on line for three months by sending a claim form and copies of their first three monthly bills to Cellnet.

The Christmas cash-back offer applies to connections to standard versions of digital tariffs Occasional Caller Plus Regular Caller Plus Frequent Caller Plus and Corporate Life tariffs.

Easylife U and all-in-one boxes are excluded from the cash back.

The shops will offer connections to Vodafone and One 2 One. They will all be located in prime sites with Phone People branding.

The significant investment we are making in our retail network is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the cellular industry and our customers said joint managing director Jason Pickthall.

The company was set up in 1988 and currently has 28 stores including two recently-opened flagship stores in Manchesters Arndale centre and Spindles shopping mall in Oldham.

Meanwhile the company has appointed a new sales and marketing head.

He is Paul Diffin who joins from Motorola TelCo where he was dealer sales manager for eight years.

Diffins job is to develop the Phone People brand and push up sales. He has already negotiated sponsorship of traffic and travel information on Century Radio 105 FM the new radio station covering the North West.

The network recently sent an e-mail out to its customer base offering two free SIMs each with 5 airtime. The mailout said: Dish them out to your mates and use them to enter our text competition. You or your mates could win 10000 or one of 100 iPod nanos. Just check out the free SIM packs to find out how.
The offer was meant to be exclusive to Virgin Mobile customers but one Virgin mobile subscriber who received the e-mail said he forwarded the mail out to all his friends who were subsequently able to successfully register for the free SIMs.
A Virgin Mobile spokeswoman denied that the promotion could lead to people selling the cards on.
As a safeguard we de-duplicate any numbers against our base she said. There are other safeguards in place but I can t disclose them. The early results are good and 96 per cent of applicants for SIMs are already customers.

On the TMA (Telecommuniations Managers Association) scale of one to 10 for quality of service Orange scored 7.08 followed by Vodafone (6.84) and Cellnet (6.72).

The survey indicated Orange had grown its percentage share of the business market more than the other networks.

Orange recently came top for customer satisfaction in the JD Power and Associates UK Mobile Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study.

The TMA survey took place in January and February among 450 TMA members in UK corporations and other organisations.

The clips together with other content such as ringtones and still images were made available to Orange World customers from Thursday (February 9).
Orange director of multimedia operations Mark Hird said: Delivering broadcast content on mobiles is central to our plans this year.
BBC Worldwide director of business development Jason Blain added: The BBC is looking to move toward non-traditional broadcasting vehicles.

The role is a new one created because of the potential of this category according to a spokeswoman.
We are looking for someone to help deliver the mobile entertainment and accessories proposition within our trading team she said.
Response to a Sunday Times job ad had been good she claimed. We are currently still interviewing applicants. v