The launch of the Sky Text service, which features on-screen interactive betting and more than 1,200 pages of news, sport, entertainment and information at the touch of a button, marks the first time that the WAP standard has been used for something outside of the mobile Internet environment. The service is now available at no additional cost to more than 4 million Sky digital subscribers, and in doing so, instantly becomes the largest community of WAP application users today.

In a ground-breaking move, BSkyB has built the online functionality of its digital text service using WAP standards, meaning access to online services is provided through the integrated modem in the set-top-box and the WML (Wireless Mark-Up Language)-based browser software, downloaded on-demand by satellite.

The interactive capabilities of the digital set-top-box and the full integration of the service into the broadcasting environment allows subscribers to go online within Sky Text to bet on live sporting events whilst simultaneously watching them on TV.

David Klein, General Manager of Sky Text, said: Using WAP in order to enhance and extend our services was a logical progression for us and has enabled us to provide our customers with a more exciting, interactive viewing experience. It certainly proves the potential of screen-based WAP.
Commenting on BSkyBs decision to implement a WAP-based platform, David Townsend, managing director of Peramon said: WAP was originally designed to enable low bandwidth devices like mobile phones to access information reasonably quickly. This is a great application of WAP and could be a real sign of things to come.

Townsend added: When you apply that protocol to a device such as the Sky digibox with its modem linked to a telephone line, the speed and performance is greatly enhanced and allows for real time interaction. It is this that gives Sky Text and its TV betting service a tremendous advantage and demonstrates the true capabilities of WAP.

The WAP Gateway selected by BSkyB is just one of the components comprising theMOBILIZER suite of Mobile Internet products from Peramon Technology. This suite of software, based on open standards, is designed to quicken the adoption of mobile Internet computing with corporates and service providers.

BSkyB is the latest in a growing number of big brand names to choose Peramon as a provider of WAP technology and follows Freeserves recent decision to implement the UKs firms world-class technology. BSkyB now plans to add many other WML based online services to the Sky Text environment in the coming months.
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Notes to editors:

Peramon a history of ground-breaking firsts:
Jun 1999 Peramon demonstrates first ever fully functional email system on WAP mobile phone

Sep 2000 Launch of theMOBILIZER suite of products

Jan 2001 Introduction of first implementation of WAP outside of the mobile Internet environment

About Peramon
Peramon is a world-leading developer of mobile Internet software, based on open standards. Founded in 1999, Peramons aim is to provide access to information and applications, simply and quickly from anywhere and from any device.

The UK-based developer boasts a number of technology world firsts, the most recent of which is the launch of theMOBILIZER, the worlds most comprehensive set of mobile Internet applications and infrastructure available today. theMOBILIZER has a user interface available in 15 languages and includes a device independent secure WAP gateway and SMS server with OTA capability.

Motorola, Nokia, Sun, HP and Openwave are all alliance partners of Peramon. Recent customers include Freeserve, Gateway.net, NTL, Symbian, Critical Path, Talkcast and CellTalk.

For further details about Peramon, please visit http://www.peramon.com.

About BSkyB
British Sky Broadcasting is Britains broadband entertainer - delivering sports, movies, entertainment and news to more than nine million households throughout the UK and Eire. The launch of the UKs first digital television service, Sky digital, on 1 October 1998, signalled the start of a new era in British broadcasting. It remains the fastest, most successful roll-out of any digital TV service in Europe, attracting more than four million customers up to 20 September 2000.

Skys strategy is to make its compelling content available to consumers at all times - whether theyre at home or on the move. It has launched revolutionary interactive TV services: the portal Open, Sky Sports Active, Sky News Active and Sky Text, as well as providing sports, entertainment and breaking news online and via mobile phones and personal digital assistants.

Further information about Sky can be found on the internet at http://www.sky.com/corporate