And launches internet phone
Mobile phone group 02 today raised its growth forecasts and launched a mobile phone internet service.

O2 announced that UK revenue growth is now expected to be between 6 per cent and 9 per cent. The business traded strongly in the first half, with further growth in the second quarter, taking O2's total active base to more than 15 million customers.

Also, in the latest attempt to make mobile phones internet savvy, O2 is using technology pioneered by NTT DoCoMo - Japan's largest telecoms operator - to create an exclusive internet service.

The service, i-mode, aims to make internet access via mobile phones more sophisticated and PC like and is the latest addition to O2's growth strategy.

O2 has benefited from its joint mobile phone ventures with Tesco and Tchibo, increasing customer numbers and a growing presence in Germany.

About 100 international and local mobile Internet sites, such as Egg and lastminute.com, will be accessible via the i-mode service and specifically designed i-mode handsets.