LONDON, July 1 /PRNewswire/ --     A leading group of mobile operators today unveiled a new
initiative to create a blueprint and roadmap for opening up mobile
functionality to encourage the development of exciting mobile applications
without compromising customer security. The new initiative will be known as
BONDI.

Supported by the OMTP members including 3 Group, AT&T,
T-Mobile, Telenor, Telefonica, Telecom Italia and Vodafone, BONDI will
provide a consistent and secure web services interface that can be used by
all web developers across multiple device platforms. This will provide the
opportunity for web developers to address a mass market of consumers and to
drive the use of data services on mobile.

BONDI will harmonise the various open and proprietary ongoing
initiatives and this cooperative work will minimise the potential for
technology fragmentation in this exciting area. BONDI, under the OMTP
umbrella, will contribute towards ongoing standardisation work to help create
a new rich web experience for mobile while also ensuring an appropriate
degree of protection that will maintain the current high level of trust by
mobile phone users.

BONDI will expose key handset features to web developers to
help them develop more function-rich, user friendly and relevant
applications. The new handset software will be engineered in such a way as to
prevent fraudulent and malicious activity through unauthorised access to
functions or sensitive personal information.

Tim Raby. MD OMTP commented, "Users have to be certain when
they use the mobile web that their privacy is paramount. The OMTP goal is to
'enable and protect' - to enable fantastic new services whilst at the same
time protecting the user."

Christian Salbaing, Managing Director, 3 Group said "High
speed mobile internet access has been a key component of 3's flat rate mobile
internet strategy. The development of smarter mobile devices and services is
an important step in that strategy and BONDI is key in enabling this to
operate across a wide variety of handsets. It also ensures we can provide the
necessary security to protect our customers."

Hank Kafka, vice president, Architecture for AT&T's wireless unit said,
"With a tradition of offering the most cutting-edge devices in the U.S., the
potential to deliver innovative new services to our customers is vast. AT&T
is committed to offering the newest and best services, while also protecting
our customers and the wireless experience."

Arnd Gallmann, Senior Vice President Terminal Technology at T-Mobile
International added: "Keeping a lid on fragmentation, whilst at the same time
enabling new functionality, will encourage more developers to create unique,
exciting applications for mobile web 2.0. In turn, this will improve the
mobile broadband proposition and greatly enhance the customer experience."

"Mobile Web 2.0 is an exciting opportunity; the potential for
advancement is huge." said Carlos Melendo, Senior Manager Handsets at
Telefonica. "We at Telefonica, are looking forward to seeing BONDI help bring
the mobile web close to the capabilities of the PC web."

Luca Tomassini, Executive Vice President Innovation & Business
Development for Telecom Italia's domestic mobile unit, said "With Industry
initiatives such as BONDI, Telecom Italia will be able to deliver innovative
services to customers and operators will offer web developers a new path to
develop innovative technologies for the mobile broadband experience"

Commenting on the latest initiative, Reinhard Kreft,
Vodafone's Head of Standardisation and Industry Engagements, said, "With so
many diverse mobile devices and operating systems available in today's
marketplace, it can be quite challenging to roll out consistent and
compelling new services across such a broad spread. BONDI addresses the need
to deliver great services across multiple platforms, whilst ensuring that
customers are protected from any risk associated with adopting a more open
approach to these systems."

"A really simple way for developers to create rich mobile
services & applications, combined with the required security and trust by the
parties in the provisioning of them, could really boost the mobile web 2.0",
concluded Stein Hansen, Vice President Group Strategy at Telenor. "BONDI is
an important step in that direction."

For further information regarding the OMTP, please contact:

    Sarah Bedwell
    MUSTARD PR
    Tel. +44-1628-502601
    E-mail: sarah@mustardpr.com