3G Mobile Phone Testing

Europe : Nine leading independent mobile operators announced the formation of a new mobile alliance to provide seamless, enhanced voice and data solutions for businesses and consumers across Europe.

Amena (Spain), O2 (Germany, UK and Ireland), One (Austria), Pannon GSM (Hungary), Sunrise (Switzerland), Telenor Mobil (Norway) and Wind (Italy) yesterday signed a formal agreement in Munich, Germany.

The new alliance will initially span the European territories of its members and address more than 40 million subscribers. It aims to be quick to market with new, innovative cross-border products and services as well as co-operate on initiatives, including technology, sourcing and sales. As the alliance develops, it will expand to cover other key regions to further enhance the reach and ' home-away-from-home' experience of its customers, backed by the same simplicity, convenience and service quality to which they are accustomed.

Customers will benefit from progressively introduced services such as seamless GPRS and MMS connectivity across the members' networks, and simple access to home services such as voice-mail and customer service using familiar short-codes. In addition, the alliance partners will introduce a pre-paid top-up service to allow customers to quickly and easily top-up their credit when travelling in member countries.

In a phased approach, corporate customers will be offered highly competitive, flat rate price plans for voice and data services. This will give them easy access to the Internet, email and corporate networks, or whilst on holiday, the ability to download music services, java games, graphics and ring-tones safe in the knowledge they are in charge of what they spend.

Rudi Groger, director of mmO2 plc, said: 'The creation of this alliance will be excellent news for our customers as we will be able to offer an outstanding range of pan-European services far greater than the members could alone.

'Key to the success of this alliance is an agreement to have only one representative per country, which eliminates the complexities that can arise with multiple in-country members. This, we believe, will enable us to be agile and far quicker to market with new and innovative services.'