MDA Chairman, Mike Short, commented: 'The fact that ringtone and games downloads regularly contribute to the rising number of WAP PI's viewed in the UK each month has been well documented by the MDA. Increasingly, mobile operators are partnering with companies in the news and sports arenas to provide more compelling content and improved ease of navigation around mobile internet sites. They are also focussing on a much wider audience, and users interested in services such as flight and train timetables can expect to see more content available to them on their mobile phones as these partnerships develop."

The MDA continues to publish a monthly 'Top 10 Chart' of the most popular ringtones downloaded across the four UK Network Operators, with January's chart as follows:

1. Shut Up – Black-Eyed Peas
2. Hey Ya! - Outkkast
3. Mad World – Gary Jules
4. Changes – Kelly and Ozzy Osborne
5. Milkshake - Kelis
6. Somebody to Love – Boogie Pimps
7. Where is the Love – Black-Eyed Peas feat. Justin Timberlake
8. I'm Still in Love – Sean Paul
9. Feeling Fine - Ultrabeat
10.Take Me to the Clouds Above - LMC

9.2 billion WAP pages were recorded during 2003 - for the year ahead the MDA forecasts continued growth with WAP page impressions expected to reach a total of 13 billion for 2004.  The MDA will monitor the situation with a monthly statistics review  - every month the MDA will post the numbers along with a reconsidered forecast for the 2003 figures on its website www.text.it.  

The MDA's WAP initiative is supported by a web site, www.text.it, which includes information on other forms of messaging.   WAP information currently available on the site allows new users to learn more about services available to them including how and where they can configure their phones.  The site will also provide users with regularly updated top ten mobile URL's and additional mobile services; and for those developing WAP services, there is a tips and style guide section. 

~ends~

 * WAP Page Impression definition as agreed by the four GSM Network operators

A WML file, or combination of WML files, sent to a valid USER as a result of that USER's request being received by the server.  In effect, one request by a valid USER should result in one WAP IMPRESSION being claimed.