Freeserve launches own WAP portal

[July 11th 2000] Freeserve, the UK portal, has introduced its very own Pay As You Go Mobile Internet WAP phone in conjunction with BT Cellnet, supported by a new WAP portal of Freeserve content and services. Freeserve is the first Internet company to offer its own Mobile Internet phone, which is key to offering Freeserve services at anytime, from anywhere. With this move, approximately 2 million Freeserve members can now gain easy access to their email and other useful Internet services, including news, sports, entertainment and shopping information whilst away from their PC.

Recent Freeserve research reveals that many consumers are keen to experience new WAP technologies but are confused by the myriad 'technical' terms and phrases used (1). The Freeserve Mobile Internet package makes WAP easier to understand and simple to use. When you buy the phone it's ready to go and is pre-set with the Freeserve WAP content and services portal so there's no need for a Freeserve member to sign up again or change to another Internet service provider. For purchasers who are not already Freeserve members, the phone comes with instructions on how to register. The package incorporates the best-selling Mitsubishi Trium Geo Internet phone and Pay As You Go call tariff from BT Cellnet, all for UKP 69.95. Other benefits of signing up to the Freeserve Mobile Internet phone include receiving UKP 5 of free call time and a free chart-topping CD from Streets Online by taking part in the world's first online mobile-commerce promotion. Users just need to go to register with Streets Online and then go to Streets Online within the Shopping channel and choose any top 10 CD for free. The Freeserve Mobile Internet portal features information that is invaluable when you are on the move and can be accessed by any WAP phone on any network by entering wap.freeserve.com into the phone's web-browser. 

Users will be able to access: * Freeserve email - access to Freeserve account to send and receive email * Freeserve Search - a directory of 2 million businesses and organisations from iNeed * Freeserve Community - access to SmartGroups, the world's first WAP-enabled community group, which makes communication easy * Freeserve News - the latest news headlines from around the world * Freeserve Sports - the latest sports news and features * Freeserve Entertainment - the latest entertainment news from around the world * Freeserve Shopping - buy books, CDs and DVDs * Access to BT's Genie Internet information and services 

The Pay As You Go tariff offered by BT Cellnet is simple to understand - there are no monthly bills, no contracts to sign or hidden service charges. It is a flexible way of buying call time, which can be simply bought in advance and used as needed to call, text message and access the Internet. With BT Cellnet's Pay As You Go vouchers, there are no top-up restrictions or time limits on the call time purchased. Just make or receive at least one call in a six month period to keep your phone active. The call tariffs are very competitive and are charged per second. Freeserve will be building many other Mobile Internet services to ensure that members will be able to access their favourite Freeserve content using any platform, device or network. 

Freeserve Mobile Internet services will also be further enhanced when BT Cellnet rolls out its GPRS network (General Packet Radio Service) for consumers, which will eventually enable mobile Internet information to be sent at speeds up to 5 times faster than today. John Pluthero, Chief Executive Officer at Freeserve, said: "The Freeserve Mobile Internet phone gives our members a phone ready to use, removing the hassle of configuring your phone Our offer of immediate access to Freeserve Internet services is central to our strategy of providing Internet access anywhere. The ever expanding Freeserve WAP portal harnesses key content on Freeserve, offering our 1.9 million members the best of the Internet, wherever they are. "The Freeserve Mobile Internet phone Pay As You Go package is priced at UKP 69.95 (including VAT).

www.freeserve.net/mobileinternet

(1) BMRB/Freeserve Quarterly UK Internet Adoption Survey: June 2000