At the end of 2002 there were 787 million GSM subscribers across 190 countries worldwide. Since 1997 the number of GSM subscribers has increased a staggering 10-fold.

Late this year or early in 2004 it is predicted that global GSM subscribers will smash through the one billion mark.

The GSMA also confirmed that there are more than 140 GPRS networks commercially deployed with 40 more under construction.

This consistent growth demonstrates that GSM continues to be the most successful open standards model in the wireless world – and possibly the fastest-growing technology ever said GSM Association CEO Rob Conway.

GSM accounts for approximately 72 per cent of the total digital wireless market today said Conway.

The GSM Association consists of more than 660 second- and third-generation wireless network operators as well as main manufacturers and suppliers.

Orange has ordered 200000 SPVs and expects to sell 70000 in the UK before Christmas.

Orange and Microsoft have set aside 16 million to market the handset and much was made of the increased levels of support staffing for the SPV with 4000 customer service staff in place.

The SPV (Sound Pictures Video) is the worlds first handset to use a Microsoft Windows operating system. It claims to offer the world of the PC on a mobile phone and will change the world according to Juha Christensen VP for Microsofts mobile devices marketing group.

The handset is aggressively priced at 179.99 and will be available at Orange stores from this week and across the independent dealer channel from November 11.

The colour handset offers full web access wirefree e-mail instant messaging and picture messaging plus video clips a calendar and a version of Microsofts Powerpoint application. It is picture message-compatible with non-smartphone Orange handsets.

The SPV is made by Korean company High Tech Corporation which also makes the Compaq iPAQ.

Pricing for usage fits into the standard Orange Your Plan structure with a 6 inclusive charge that gives users unlimited web access. Other services will cost extra.

Orange world and brand vice-president Richard Brennan said:

The SPV finally allows us to grow our data revenue to the size we want. It is primarily about messaging. It can and will deliver the promise of mobile data.

Orange currently achieves 10 per cent of its revenue from data and that the company expected this strand to pull in 1.7 billion by the end of 2002. Orange wants 25 per cent of its revenue from data by 2005 he said.

3G is fundamentally about capacity. The abilities that people associate with 3G can be provided across 2.5G as the SPV shows.

The system has been designed so that people can have all their messages voice e-mail and MMS in one in-box. Users can reply to text messages by voice. The handset also give phone numbers and e-mail addresses that appear in message hyperlinks.

A home button and a back button are provided so if users get lost they can easily return to the home page. The SPVs video-streaming capacities are illustrated by several embedded movie trailers.

It is about giving a simple intuitive customer experience commented Christensen.

The joint project already has more than 200 partners on board and 50 of these had completed applications ready for the SPV launch. Examples include street-map downloads and real-time displays such as a Dow Jones feed for businesses.

Corporate concern about data security has also been taken into account.

Businesses want to be able to manage all their devices and they want to know what applications are running on them said Christensen. By backing the handsets up on the Orange network they can finally do this.

Brennan noted that the comparison between PC and handset was an appropriate one. We are offering an always-on machine. The SPV gives users the ability to carry personal information whenever wherever and however they want.

He added: There will be a lot of point of sale marketing a lot of demonstration shows and demonstrations in-store and out-of-store. A lot of money has been spent on training.

The company is also working with manufacturers Sendo and Samsung and expects to have further handsets available over the next six months.

Virgin Mobile corporate affairs head Steven Day said:

Were delighted to be one of the sponsors of next years Mobile News Awards. Its a great event a fun night out and one of the best networking opportunities of the year.

T-Mobile declined to continue One 2 Ones sponsorship of the Awards because it wanted to refocus on what initiatives we want to expand on and those we wish to pull back from.

Meanwhile all Platinum tables for the black-tie gala dinner dance at the Hilton on Park Lane on March 27 have completely sold out to companies such as:

Hutchison 3G Motorola Nokia Mitsubishi M-fusion Data Select Carphone Warehouse Unique Distribution 20:20 Logistics Siemens Elite Mobile Axxent and Samsung.

Other tables have gone to SonyEricsson Hugh Symons Sony Cellular Services Gemplus NEC Intec 4U MPRC and Aerofone.

Gold Silver and Bronze tables are still available (see table application form on Page 32 for full details).

The new products will be available from November exclusively at Virgin retail outlets direct from Virgin Mobile and at Virgins website. Hama already supplies a wide variety of other product accessories to the UK including audio-visual photographic and computer products.

The Samsung T100 has been named as the official player handset and will be used by the entire Arsenal squad until it is upgraded to the latest model.

An official Arsenal Samsung T100 will be released on O2 – Arsenals main sponsor – in both pre-pay and contract. It will be configured with Arsenal screensavers an animated welcome message three polyphonic ringtones and animated wallpapers plus the chance to enter into a free prize draw to win Arsenal merchandise.

Arsenal FC and Samsung are also currently running a number of joint marketing initiatives for fans on Arsenalmobile.com in match-day programmes the

They are: Airsys Communication Technology Arian Communication BRP ContactOne GB Communications London Communication Project Telecom and Relcom Communication.

The partnerships have been planned to improve the availability and support of the Dolphin UK TETRA network which currently provides nationwide coverage and mobile radio services to 42000 business subscribers.

We are placing significant focus on our distribution channel. We see it as a fundamental part of Dolphins market strategy and we aim to work with expert distributors in our market to significantly ramp up Dolphins return to market in the UK said Dolphin Telecom chief executive officer Tony Greaves.

Dolphin moved out of administration in June after specialist wireless operator Inquam bought its business and assets for 25 million. Dolphin had been in the hands of administrators since August 2001 after accumulating estimated debts of 800 million.

It had provided the TETRA radio services network in the UK since August 1999 and remained operational throughout the administration period.

The UK operation which Inquam has acquired includes a 45000 customer base; a number of offices including the headquarters in Basingstoke; the network itself covering 96 per cent of the UK population and more than 1000 base stations.

The eight countries yet to adopt GSM are Colombia Djibouti Ecuador Eritrea Haiti Iraq Uruguay and Zaire.

There are 57 wireless operators and companies within the GSM Associations global representation.

NEC was last year contracted to supply a million 3G phones to H3G. This order has now effectively been doubled.

Hutchison and NEC have been working together since April 2001. The value of the contract is not being disclosed.

All the devices ordered from NEC are dual-mode so capable of working on GSM as well as the 3G standard.

The additional million devices in this latest contract feature advanced messaging capabilities for both business and personal communication.

This month NEC began delivery of 1000 3G phones to Hutchisons 3G operations in the UK and Italy for use in Hutchisons friendly user trial. NEC is also supporting Hutchison 3Gs network infrastructure rollout in the UK.

The new devices in this contract are the first of their kind for NEC and feature computer-style keyboards built-in cameras and large colour screens.

These features will support new applications such as location-based services that will enable 3 customers to pinpoint their position on a digital map delivered to the 3G handset. Users will be able to follow directions to services such as hotels restaurants shops and businesses using a detailed real-time display.

Also included is 64Mb of memory and built-in Java functions for animated games.

The advent of 3G has produced many new business opportunities. As a result the mobile handset has evolved into a highly advanced device incorporating many new features and technologies said Susumu Otani general manager of NECs mobile terminal business.

NEC is providing comprehensive support for Hutchisons 3G service and the creation of innovative mobile Internet services.

Hutchison Whampoa group managing director Canning Fok added: We have just begun the first phase of our rollout of these exciting services. 3 will offer consumers full-motion video over a wide selection of high quality devices.(See full story P26)

This is a daily average of approximately 48 million and an hourly average of two million messages. The figures represent an increase of 12 million on the same period last year.

This takes the UK text messaging total for the year to more than 12 billion – on track for the MDAs forecast of 16 billion for 2002. The boost in text message numbers for September may be due to the return to college for many students.

Stringent demands from UK operators delayed the UK launch.

Sony Ericsson maintains that it is on course for its renewed first quarter 2003 release with the end of February being the likely date.

The release date has not been put back since we announced the addition of a memory stick said a Sony Ericsson spokesperson.

We are confident that the handsets will be ready for February.