Richard Branson wants to take Virgin Mobile to 30 carriers around the world following its launch in Britain last November.

Under the agreement Virgin Mobile Australia will invest more than $5 million over five years with Telemedia Networks International supplying pre and post-paid mobile switching infrastructure.

Telemedia CEO Chris Jones said a successful partnership with Virgin Mobile in Australia could be the first step to a global supplier link between his company and Bransons.

The launch of the first WAP recruitment site for permanent and contract telecoms positions has been launched by telecoms recruitment consultancy Close Communications whose clients include Orange Vodafone TIW and BT.

The site gives details of positions available and allows users to apply on-line. Candidates simply fill in their name telephone number and the job reference number and are promised a call from Close Communications within two hours.

The WAP site is aimed at finding and placing the right people for their clients in the shortest possible time as potential recruits will be able to monitor opportunities even while on the move.|

TIW CEO Wim Verbeek said:

The global telecom market shows no sign of slowing down and the pressures faced by operators to find the right people for the job are very real. The issuing of UMTS licenses and other technology launches will put even more pressure on an already immensely strained workforce.

Project success is now as dep-endent on recruiting people with the appropriate skill base as it is on the technology but finding the amount of quality people needed to complete key projects is increasingly difficult.

Added Close Communications director Steve Rose:

Telecom professionals are a not-oriously mobile group. WAP provides us with a flexible and interactive link that has long been needed in telecom recruitment. The WAP site will enable us to further improve our offer in quickly finding the right people.

The deal allows Interactives users to obtain a Nokia 7110 for free on a special tariff through Vodafone or BTCellnet.

Interactives WAP service currently provides investors with 15-minute delayed stock exchange prices graphsand news.

For CMC this means that the partnership will offer a direct route to the consumer who will be able to order their WAP phone for free to enjoy instant information benefits said CMC boss Geoff Walters.

Added CMC sales director Paul Walters:

We are specialists in supplying telecoms products to retailers and now we want to position ourselves as specialists to website retailers.

With our close relationships with the four networks we are able to offer bespoke tariffs and launch similar programmes with other companies as WAP technology continues to expand.

We were very impressed by the effort that TBWA put in to understanding our brand values before coming up with any creative work said Carphone Warehouse chief executive Charles Dunstone.

The new TBWA commercials for The Carphone Warehouse started airing last week and coincides with the run-up to its flotation.

The lab has worldwide responsibility for ensuring compatibility between Nokias 3G network equipment and other operators network equipment and terminals.

3G interoperability tests will be carried out for the core network and IP backbone network as well as for 3G radio access 3G compatible base stations and terminals.

The activity will give operators access to Nokia technology before it is fully commercially available.

Motorola has been licensed to integrated the application into its Mobile Internet Exchange communications platform. Ultimately people will be able to listen and respond to e-mail messages using a voice browser

Access to email is one of the most desired features identified by subscriber surveys. Collaborating with VoxSurf allows Motorola to bring a world class offering to its customers said Tony Kobrinetz general manager of Motorola Personal Networks Group.

As well as a WAP browser the Mars has T9 predictive text input and 10 ring tones including vibrate.

The Trium Mars is perfect to launch WAP on Pay As You Talk. It is one of the most impressive pre-pay WAP phones for value and functionality. This introduction ensures that WAP is even more accessible said Paul Donovan commercial MD of Vodafone UK.

He is American David McGlade who succeeds Peter Erskine who was recently appointed as head of BT Wireless in charge of all BTs mobile operations worldwide including BTCellnet in the UK.

McGlade (39) has worked at USA mobile operator Sprint PCS before being a co-founder of Colorado software company Pure Matrix providing platforms for mobile internet services. He was also the President and CEO of Catch TV a Silicon Valley web and interactive TV service provider to the cable industry and has worked for TCI (now part of AT&T) a leader in the US cable market.

David is ideally qualified to take over operational responsibility for BTCellnet in the UK said Erskine.

He has a strong pedigree in the cellular industry and more recently has worked in the heart of mobile Internet developments.

It is the perfect combination for us – an excellent manager of a leading edge mobile business and someone with the vision and experience to develop BTCellnets clear lead in mobile internet services in the UK Erskine added.

He told Mobile News:

The Group is absolutely not for sale not at any price. In 1999 profits were up 71 per cent to 14.3 million turnover was up 80 per cent to 596.1 million and sales this year are heading for 1 billion. Were fuelling growth from cash in hand with enormous and exciting plans on the cards.

Mobile Week the publication which carried the report printed an apology after being threatened with legal action over the story.