This is up 6 million from 2001s 10 million TV brand advertising budget. Caudwell Group says Phones 4U is now the UKs fastest-growing mobile phone retailer and operates from 260 stores. This is an increase on its 100 stores in 2000.

Certain sections of the populations were hardest hit. Londoners were over twice as likely to have had their phones stolen than mobile users in the rest of the UK.

Most likely victims are teenagers while 11 per cent of the 15-24 age group had their phones stolen.

In addition to having thieves relieve them of their handsets 600000 people dropped their mobiles down the loo 400000 dropped it in a drink and 200000 found they had accidentally put it through the washing machine says the Continental report.

Also 2.9 million people broke their phones 1.6 million simply lost them and 1.3 million dialled 999 by mistake.

Continental Research agreed that mobile usage has almost reached saturation point among younger age groups.

Among 15-24 year olds 82 per cent are now using a mobile phone. Among the over-65s only 33 per cent use a mobile phone.

The limited growth in overall mobile ownership and lack of change in the profile of mobile users indicates that the market is rapidly maturing.

Replacement purchases will now be of greater importance than first-time purchases said James Myring senior research executive at

Continental Research.

We achieved exceptional results in 2001 with sales peaking at 2 million said mobileshop.com managing director Ian McCall.

Mobileshop.com started trading in 1999 and says it recorded 400 per cent growth in its first year. The companys results also show a 51 per cent increase in visitors to the site during October to December.

Vodafones UK chief operating officer Gavin Darby tastefully arranges Sim cards into a British kite mark symbol in a noble attempt to inject some excitement into the stunning news that Vodafone is the first UK mobile operator to have had its ISO 9001 registration upgraded from the 1994 to 2000 version.

An unemployed Moroccan man has been charged with two counts of dishonestly handling a stolen mobile phone.

Younes Akoub (24) is also charged with conspiracy to defraud London Underground out of more than 500000 between last August and January.

He is further charged with handling a stolen credit card last year at a branch of Tesco.

He was ordered not to move from his home address in

Wembley North London.

The aim of the new business is to support well-known high street multiples with improved call revenue and increased customer loyalty by managing all aspects of their mobile business from handsets and accessories to data products through Phones Internationals Sim-free distribution business its recently-formed airtime service provider business Generation

Telecom and repair division

Phone Fix.

The newly-formed Data Select Retail Solutions is being headed by ex-Vodafone man Kevin Treanor who developed Vodafones Pay As You Talk for the retail channel.

Mobile products and services are unlike other categories in that they require management and implementation from a position of acute understanding and market awareness Treanor said.

The aim is to operate along the lines of a consultancy to maximise the retailer opportunities from mobile products and related services said Treanor who is in talks with a number of major retail chains.

Treanor was previously with

North London-based service provider Peoples Phone prior to its acquisition by Vodafone where he became head of sales responsible for sales management retail development product procurement and support.

Unique Distributions customers can look forward to some fantastic products and exciting incentives from SonyEricsson within the coming months said Unique Distribution MD Angus Dawe.

We are very excited by the prospect of working with a manufacturer that is dedicated to building a world-leading brand Dawe added.

SonyEricsson product and technology training has been scheduled to bring Unique Distribution up to speed on the range of

SonyEricsson products.

Unique is also a Nokia distributor.

A statement issued by the company said:

We are actively pursuing acquisition opportunities.

An acquisition coinciding with the listing of the company would have required the withdrawal of the application.

We will review the opportunity to join the Ofex or AIM markets in the future.

Baker Tilly the advisors who handled the aborted flotation said it was theoretically possible that a company applying for a flotation and making an acquisition could have its flotation attempt delayed.

Investors will be looking at the management track record growth prospects and whether the company is adequately financed.

The market for telecom stocks is not ideal now. The flotation would have raised the profile of TAP and given it some status. However it is not the ideal time to do it given the state of the market said Baker Tilly partner Chiltern Taylor.

Acquisition plans notwithstanding The Accessory People was considering going to the market at a very difficult time.

Investor sentiment in the accessories market is at rock-bottom following the collapse of Ora and the slowdown in mobile phone sales.

Potential investors in TAP would also have noted that the company lacks blue-chip contracts with the networks and top retailers such as The Carphone Warehouse and relies on sales to independent retailers a sector of the market that has been hit particularly hard.

The company was also a supplier to The Phone People which went into liquidation on January 8.

Around 125 independent retailers and all the members of Mainlines m-viron network will participate in the promotion.

Customers who buy a promotional Nokia handset will be entered into a draw to win a Volkswagen Beetle. Participating stores will giving away prizes such as mountain bikes CD players and electronic personal organisers.

Dealers will have weekly connection targets based on their 2002 volumes plus a percentage increase. Points are allocated based on achieving and exceeding the target. Weekly league tables will show dealers how close they are to winning one of the top prizes.

The leading dealer from each of the three league tables (m-viron B2B and retail) will win a luxury week for two to Hong Kong.

There will also be runners-up prizes of either a home cinema package personal computer or holiday vouchers each valued at up to 1000.

Martin Pennell (18) and a 17-year-old who cannot be named were freed on strict bail conditions which include an order for them to stay indoors between 10pm and 7am daily reporting to police and a prohibition on them travelling on any Tube or mainland train.

Both are charged with violent disorder on a train between London Bridge and New Cross on November 22 in which they robbed two passengers of their mobile phones.