Press Release

January 30, 2002

Digifone First to Launch Full GPRS Service Offering to Corporates, Business (SMEs) and Consumers

• 1st to offer pricing targeted at Corporate, Business & Consumer customers
• 1st to offer roaming facilities in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands
• 1st to offer corporate 'always on' wireless email services through RIM's BlackBerry™ wireless email solution
• 1st to offer full Internet access over GPRS
• 1st to launch end to end optimisation solutions for corporate, business and consumer customers

Digifone is the first Irish mobile operator to offer GPRS services to its corporate, business (SME) and contract consumer customers. The company unveiled details of all its GPRS services, which are available immediately, and tariffs, at a launch in the Point Depot, Dublin, today.

Digifone also announced today the launch, for the first time in Ireland, of 'BlackBerry from Digifone'. BlackBerry, developed and manufactured by Research In Motion (RIM), is the world's first end-to-end wireless email solution for mobile professionals. Integrating with the user's corporate email system so that he/she is always connected to their corporate inbox, BlackBerry allows them to send and receive emails while out of the office. Using a unique "push" technology, emails are forwarded directly to the BlackBerry wireless handheld over Digifone's GPRS network without the need to dial in. BlackBerry is available immediately to Digifone's corporate customers.

Digifone is also the first operator to provide GPRS roaming facilities to its Irish customers in the UK (via BT Cellnet), in Germany (via Viag Interkom) and in the Netherlands (via Telfort) as part of the O2 Group.

Digifone's pricing structure varies from its competitors on a number of fronts:

• Digifone's customers will have access to three separate tariff structures, corporate, business and consumer, devised following extensive research on customer usage patterns. Price plans will offer value based on volume and the range of applications and devices/handsets used.
• Digifone's tariffs factor in inclusive monthly megabyte allowances, which customers will receive, (similar to call credit when purchasing a mobile phone). Applications accessed over and above the monthly allowance will be charged per megabyte on a pay as you use pro rata basis.Unused megabyte allowances can be carried over each month for one month.
• Digifone will not impose recurring line rental charges on users of its basic GPRS package.

Corporate customers can take advantage of individually tailored billing on a competitive sliding scale, which results in the cost per capita decreasing in proportion to the number of users and the applications/devices used.

Business customers will have access to a range of tariff branded GPRS 10, GPRS 25 and GPRS 50. There will be a range of tariffs available to consumers, branded GPRS, GPRS 1 and GPRS 5.

Digifone is offering the largest range of applications, all immediately available, to all its customers. Corporate/business applications include sales automation services, dispatch tracking, image compression, CRM and corporate intranet access. Digifone has been successfully trialling these services since May 2001 with a number of corporate customers including Logica Mobile Networks, Dell, Musgraves, GE Capital, EMC, ITP, CK Business Systems, GTEC, Point Systems and WASP Technologies.

Services for consumers will include WAP, gaming, internet and email. Pre-paid customers will be able to benefit from these services in early summer 2002. Digifone also announced today a range of approved GPRS handsets, which are available immediately to corporate, business and consumer customers.

Digifone's Remote Access Service, developed by Brand Communications, will enhance usability and speed of connection for corporate customers connecting to their intranet or corporate based services. The Service will further increase the cost efficiencies inherent in GPRS for business and consumer customers accessing the net, by compressing all information sent and received over the GPRS network.

Digifone's dol optimisation software, also developed by Brand Communications, simplifies the installation process for business and consumer customers who wish to connect to the Internet. Digifone GPRS customers can call 1909 and request a copy of this free software, which will connect them seamlessly to the web for full access to Internet based services. The service compresses all information, further increasing speeds and reducing costs.

Digifone also announced details of the 'GPRS Ready Reckoner'. This facility, available on www.Digifone.com, is designed to ensure that Digifone consumers are on the correct tariff plan relative to their monthly usage levels. Consumers simply enter the type of applications they use on a regular basis and the Ready Reckoner, instantaneously calculates the most appropriate tariff option for that user.

Commenting on the launch, Danuta Gray, chief executive, Digifone said, "With data expected to account for over 25% of service revenue across the O2 Group by 2004, this launch, the result of a EUR45 million investment, is of immense importance to our business. We are confident that our service offers optimum performance, security and cost effectiveness for our customers. The commercial availability of a full range of GPRS services and applications for all our customers is the final validation of Digifone's commitment to the provision of 3G."

A number of Digifone's development partners including Alatto, WASP Technologies, Lizard Tech, Flying Spark, Point Systems and Research In Motion attended the launch to demonstrate the various business and consumer applications available immediately to Digifone customers. Three approved GPRS enabled handsets, the Motorola T280, V66 and the Accompli A008, were also showcased. Data cards, PDAs with in-built GPRS functionality, GPRS add-ons for existing PDAs and GPRS built into laptop PCs will become available later this year.