(Hong Kong - October 15,1999). Cable & Wireless HKT Mobile Services announced today that it is adopting the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) to upgrade its i.Menu service, which will allow customers to access the Internet for information and conduct e-commerce using their WAP handsets.

The i.Menu services on the WAP platform can be divided into three main categories matching the business and daily needs of 1010 and One2Free customers. They are 1) Business to Business such as the parcel express tracking service for business customers; 2) Business to Consumer such as airline schedule enquiry and reservation of hotel accommodation; and 3) Consumer to Consumer such as exchange of personal e-mail or buying and selling of second hand merchandise. Customers can choose to view display in either English or Chinese.

Managing Director of Cable & Wireless HKT Mobile Services, William Cheung Kam-hung, said: "We will focus on integrating the mobile phone and the Internet and develop for our customers a true "mobile portal". We see the mobile communications industry evolving, firstly, with the mobile phone becoming a major e-commerce tool, supporting half of all e-commerce business by the year 2002 while the rest would be conducted over the fixed network. Secondly, when the third generation mobile communications services are launched and a more mature technological platform emerges, instead of supporting voice communication, mobile phones will be the prime tool for multimedia data transmission."

i.Menu, the first service application in the world to employ USSD technology, which was launched in August this year marked the Company first step in establishing itself as a "mobile portal". It enables customers to access different kinds of information and use value-added services using their mobile phone. The adoption of WAP technology today is the latest efforts of the Company to further enhance the i.Menu service platform. The WAP technology complemented with WAP handsets will allow customers to not only access information on the Internet but also use different e-commerce services in the near future.

On the development of the i.Menu service, Mr. Cheung said: "i.Menu will continue to be our service platform and, with the introduction of high speed data transmission technologies, namely the GPRS and HSCSD technologies, customers can expect i.Menu to cover an even more comprehensive scope of contents."

Mr. Cheung added that the Company is committed to fostering long-term partnership with its customers, hence, it has always striven to meet the different needs of customers and to help improve the quality of living of individual customers and the operation efficiency of businesses.

Starting from 1 November 1999, 1010 and One2Free customers can register on the respective web site to order the Nokia 7110 WAP handset. They will also be able enjoy (WAP-based) i.Menu service free of charge for three months.

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Cable & Wireless HKT has been providing mobile communications services in Hong Kong for more than fifteen years. Operating high-quality GSM Dual Band and TDMA systems, Cable & Wireless HKT mobile services serve everyone in Hong Kong through its three mobile brands, 1010, One2Free and "1+1" Communications. It has pioneered many mobile technology innovations, including the world first mobile service in an underground railway system, the MTR. It also led the industry in introducing China automatic roaming as well as full coverage in all Hong Kong major tunnels. Most recently, it launched a Dual Band network with the world first Intelligent Frequency Hopping capability. Quality, innovation and value are commitments that Cable & Wireless HKT mobile services delivers to customers.

Cable & Wireless HKT, a Cable & Wireless company, is Hong Kong major full-service communications provider, marketing a full array of quality voice and data telecommunication services backed by a state-of-the-art, fully digital fibre-optic network. Services include basic telephony, mobile telephony, international calls, specialized fax and data products, value-added services, Internet access, multimedia services, satellite links and telecommunications equipment and systems.

Apart from owning and operating Asia largest commercial teleport, Cable & Wireless HKT is a pioneer in a wide range of communications solutions, such as launching the world first fully digitized urban network, the world first fibre-optic cable linking China, and the world first interactive television services.

With customers in 70 countries, Cable & Wireless is a major global telecommunications business with revenue of around �8 billion in the year ended March 1999 and over 50,000 employees. Its businesses around the world offer a range of services spanning broadband data and Internet access, fixed and mobile voice, as well as interactive entertainment and information. Cable & Wireless' priority for expansion is the fast growing market of data and IP (Internet Protocol) services for business customers. Since November 1998, it has announced major investments in advanced networks in the US and Europe, the restructuring of Cable & Wireless Communications in the UK and has acquired full control of Cable & Wireless IDC in Japan to support this strategy. Cable & Wireless now holds a unique position in terms of global coverage and services to business customers.