Cable & Wireless Launches Mobile Internet Solutions for Internet Service Providers and Mobile Operators

Business Wire, Nov 8, 2000

Business Editors

Fall ISPCON 2000

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 8, 2000

Service Addresses Increasing Global Demand for Mobile Access

to Internet Content and Services

Cable & Wireless (NYSE:CWP), the global telecommunications group, today announced the availability of Mobile Internet Solutions, the company's new service that enables Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and mobile operators as well enterprises to offer customers access to Internet services and customized content from Internet-enabled devices. Mobile Internet Solutions is a core component of Cable & Wireless' strategy to deliver IP products globally and addresses the increasing demand for mobile Internet services.

Cable & Wireless' Mobile Internet Solutions gives ISPs and mobile operators the ability to provide mobile Internet applications and content to customers under their own brand and combined with existing services. Hosted in Cable & Wireless' data centers, the new service enables these businesses to rapidly enter the Mobile Internet access market and offer new value-added services without the need to build their own wireless hosting infrastructure. Cable & Wireless Mobile Internet Solutions is now available in the United States and will be introduced in other parts of the world in the near future.

"Within the next three years analysts predict that 350 million people globally will be accessing Internet content through mobile devices," said Rob Ayers, vice president of Marketing, Cable & Wireless North America. ""This service positions Cable & Wireless as a global 'enabler' of mobile content, allowing us to work with any number of partners to enable our customers to provide their end users with the ability to access services anywhere, anytime and through any device."

Rapid Entry into High Growth Mobile Internet Market for ISPs and Mobile Operators

ISPs will benefit by being able to strengthen customer relationships through enhanced service offerings that enable subscribers to access Internet services and specialized content using their existing data enabled phones or devices on any choice of mobile network operator. Mobile Internet Solutions allows mobile operators to quickly expand their mobile Internet offerings without investing in the infrastructure necessary to deliver Internet content and services. In addition, Mobile Internet Solutions enables mobile operators to target enterprise corporations with large workforces that require access to Internet services and information on the move.

Mobile Internet Solutions enables WAP (wireless application protocol)-enabled mobile handsets and PDA/html browsers to access Email, Personal Information Management (PIM) and other web-based information services. The service provides seamless integration of wireless Internet and mobile/fixed devices, thereby initially enabling a basic range of data applications. In the future, the service will enable a broader range of content and data applications.

Services and Content

Services now available include:

-- Email: allows subscribers to send, receive and manage their email from both their desktop PC and mobile phone

-- Address book: provides an address book to maintain contact names and numbers to be used for dialing and messaging

-- Calendar: allows subscribers to record appointments and events

-- To-do lists: provides the ability to record and manage important

tasks

-- PIM synchronisation: ensures address book, calendar and to-do list are consistent with other popular desktop personal organizers and handheld devices such as Microsoft Outlook and Palm Pilot

-- Access to predetermined content: provides flight information, news, stock updates, sports and weather reports from Worldspan, AccuWeather, TheStreet.com, SportsTicker and Reuters.

Cable & Wireless has established relationships several companies to deliver Mobile Internet services to business customers around the world. This and other such partnerships will support the delivery of global mobile Internet capability and future applications and content development in this space. In July of this year, Cable & Wireless and Nokia announced a strategic alliance to develop a wireless Internet platform that will deliver Mobile Internet applications and services to business customers.

Cable & Wireless Mobile Internet Solutions is compatible with equipment from mobile equipment suppliers supporting circuit-switched or packet-switched network configurations on GSM, CDMA and TDMA networks. For more information on Mobile Internet Solutions, go to http://www.cwusa.com/mobile_internet_solutions.> About Cable & Wireless

Cable & Wireless is a major global telecommunications business with revenue of over (pound)9 billion (US$14 billion) in the year to 31 March 2000 and customers in 70 countries. Its operations around the world offer a full range of telecommunications services. Cable & Wireless' focus for future growth is on IP (Internet Protocol) and data services and solutions for business customers. It is developing advanced IP networks and value-added services in the US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region in support of this strategy. With the capability of its global IP infrastructure and its strength in key markets, Cable & Wireless holds a unique position in terms of global coverage and services to business customers.