Europe UK : m-spatial, the market leader in mobile local search, today announces that its MapWay Local Search, Maps and Directions services are now live on O2 i-mode(tm) in the UK.

Specifically optimised for mobile handsets and featuring a unique 'assisted browsing' capability that eliminates unnecessary keypad strokes, the MapWay services enable i-mode users to rapidly access information about almost 2.2 million businesses and amenities in the UK. The MapWay 'What's Nearby' local search service presents the user with a map of the local area, and allows them to rapidly 'discover' the business they need via a location-sensitive menu of relevant businesses and amenities.

Hugh Griffiths, Head of Data Products for O2 UK said; "There is proven demand for i-mode users to be able to search for information about businesses and amenities in both familiar and unfamiliar areas. We believe m-spatial's 'made for mobile' approach to local search and maps and directions provides one of the best experiences available today and we are delighted to make the MapWay services available to our UK i-mode customers."

Andy Walker, m-spatial CEO said "i-mode users are consumers highly motivated to use their mobile phones for new tasks such as mobile local search. However, this need cannot be satisfied by the traditional internet 'text box based' approach to local search, or traditional static menu based 'find my nearest' services. MapWay services encompass the proven i-mode principles of quick and simple access to compelling information which is critical for the success of consumer facing services."

Placed in the 'travel and information' sections of the i-mode menu, the MapWay services offer 'made for mobile' maps and directions showing the location of any address in the UK, in addition to the 'what's nearby' local search functionality. Users pay GBP1.99 per month to subscribe.

MapWay Local Search is a standalone application and content package underpinned by m-spatial's powerful new Local Search and Discovery Engine (LSDE)

About m-spatial

Based in Cambridge, UK, m-spatial is the market leader in mobile local search - connecting consumers to 'local' businesses and information via mass market mobile phones. m-spatial provides its products via an ASP delivery model to mobile network operators, directory providers and search engines. Its international customers include Orange, Vodafone and O2. m-spatial's innovative and unique approach to mobile local search delivers a 'made for mobile' user experience which offers consumers quick and simple access to both a breadth and depth of 'local' information including businesses, amenities, events and traffic conditions and is compatible with the majority of mass market mobile phones.

www.m-spatial.com

About i-mode

i-mode provides a simple, fast one-button access to email and the mobile Internet portal. Users simply push the i button on the handset to navigate straight to O2's i-mode browser, giving instant 'always-on' access. Additionally, because i-mode sites are inherently designed for mobile, customers will enjoy the fastest possible browsing experience. For example, there are dedicated buttons that enable users to quickly navigate back and forth between i-mode pages without delays.

'i-mode' and the i-mode logo are trade marks or registered trade marks of NTT DoCoMo Inc. in Japan and other countries

About O2

O2 is a leading provider of mobile services to consumers and businesses in the UK. It is the leader in non-voice services, including text, media messaging, games, music and video, as well as always on data connections via GPRS, 3G and WLAN. Each month O2's 15 million customers send more than three quarters of a billion text messages. O2 (UK) Limited is a subsidiary of O2 plc which also owns O2 branded mobile operators in Ireland and Germany as well as the Airwave O2 emergency services network in the UK.