The announcement demonstrates Aspectives commitment to an open, global specification empowering users of wireless devices easily to access and interact with Internet and intranet information and services.

Wireless Application Protocol is a global specification that enables the presentation and delivery of information and services to wireless subscribers. WAP defines user interface and infrastructure requirements to bring Internet content to handheld digital wireless devices such as mobile phones, pagers and personal digital assistants (PDAs).

"Aspective is Europes leading ASP, and we are the first ASP in the world to deliver integrated front-office eBusiness applications to wireless devices," said Javaid Aziz, CEO of Aspective. "We are already deploying WAP-accessible applications for organisations who want to get ahead - and our membership of the WAP Forum ensures that we can continue to provide them with the most reliable mobile application extensions. We look forward to participating in the development of next generation mobile Internet technology."

The WAP Forum is the industry association that has developed the de facto world standard for wireless information and telephony services on digital mobile phones and other wireless terminals. The primary goal of the WAP Forum is to bring together companies from all segments of the wireless industry to ensure product interoperability and growth of the wireless market.

"We are excited by the increasing deployment of WAP in the ASP market to enable wireless applications," said Scott Goldman, WAP Forums CEO. "Aspectives commitment to the WAP Forum demonstrates that it has recognised a market need and is responding to it. We are delighted to have Aspective join the WAP Forum."

Background on Aspective
Aspective is Europes first eBusiness Application Service Provider to specialise in the delivery of high-end, business critical front-office applications, and the worlds first wireless-enabled ASP (W.ASP) incorporating in its portfolio the expertise to access these applications from mobile devices.

Aspective designs, develops, hosts and runs applications on its clients behalf. Aspective takes full responsibility for installing, configuring, running, maintaining and upgrading the equipment and software, while its teams of experts are available to provide training, customisation and support services as clients require. Aspective contractually commits to providing these services for a fixed, pre-determined, pre-agreed monthly fee.

Aspective offers three product ranges: Arise; Aspire; and Assure. Each addresses the distinct needs of enterprises of differing size and complexity through solutions with different levels of capacity and sophistication. Within each product range are application modules for Customer Relationship Management, eCommerce and mobile business.

Aspective was launched in 1999 after acquiring two leading consultancies specialising in Lotus Notes and Siebel. Aspective is supported by Investcorp, Kennet Capital and 3i, and has strategic partnerships with BroadVision, Siebel, Exodus, Lotus, Storage Networks and EMC.

Background on the WAP Forum
The WAP Forum is the industry association that is responsible for developing and fostering the growth of the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) an open, global standard that allows mobile users of wireless hand-held devices to easily and instantly access and interact with the Internet. The WAP Forum is comprised of more than 500 members, representing 95 percent of the handsets sold worldwide and more than 200 million global subscribers. Members include worldwide handset manufacturers, carriers, infrastructure providers, software developers and other wireless solution providers. For more information about the WAP Forum, including a current listing of its members, visit http://www.wapforum.org.