The agreement includes the supply of an Ericsson WAP gateway and other mobile Internet solutions as well as the use of the WAP Hotel, Ericssons test and trial environment for WAP applications in the Netherlands. Through the Ericsson WAP 1.1 system, World Online will be able to offer WAP services to their clients throughout Europe and other areas.

WAP is a first step towards the mobile Internet and 3G (third generation) offerings, and is therefore a very important technology. Mobile Internet will not only make the current Internet available from mobile terminals, but also create a whole new set of location-based services that will be available anywhere, anytime for any users.

"World Online selected Ericsson because the company is one of the market leaders in mobile infrastructure and WAP application tools; they have a strong global presence and they have the ability to deliver results fast," commented Simon Duffy, Deputy Chairman and CEO of World Online International. "World Online looks forward to offering mobile Internet to both its business and consumer clients, who will be able to achieve greater freedom of movement with this added mobile Internet access capability."

"This agreement illustrates Ericssons capability in bringing together the Internet, mobility and telephony. WAP applications can be added to the service portfolio and portal of World Online, enabling their user maximal flexibility in using applications in the way they want. It can be done by their PC at home or at work, as well as via the WAP device at any time," says Eric van Soest, General Manager Global & New Operators/ISPs at
Ericsson in the Netherlands.

World Online will use Ericssons WAP gateway as one of the technical platforms for its mobile Internet services. In addition, the two companies intend to jointly develop business-to-business and
consumer-oriented WAP services that World Online will offer their clients.

World Online already offers WAP services to its customers in the Netherlands, where WAP e-mail via KPN was launched in December 1999, and in South Africa, where WAP commercial services have been available since
March 2000 through WOLs joint-venture partner Vodacom. Together with Ericsson, World Online intends to roll out a pan-European WAP service platform in the near future.

Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Johan Wiklund, Ericsson Corporate Communications
Phone: +46 70 560 0134; E-mail: [email protected]

Monique Mols, Press Manager, Ericsson Telecommmunicatie BV
Phone: +31 161 249 873, E-mail: [email protected]

Henk Hendrikx, World Online International, Public Relations
Phone: +31 6 55703547; E-mail: [email protected]

Company information

World Online International is headquartered in the Netherlands. As of February 29, 2000, the company had 1.5 million consumer subscribers and over 34,000 business clients (excluding 400,000 users of the Telinco
Network).

World Online provides Internet access and a wide spectrum of Internet content and has operations in 15 countries. The companys principal shareholders include the Swiss-based Sandoz family Foundation, Intel and
Reggeborgh Beheer. World Online has strategic alliances with companies which include Shell, Bouygues, Microsoft, Sun Bertelsmann, Reuters, Oracle, and Vodacom (South African affiliate of Vodafone).

Our website is: www.worldonline.com

Ericsson and WAP

Ericsson - a founder of WAP - is a main driver of the WAP technology. The company offers end-to-end WAP solutions, including turn-key systems, gateways, portals, consultants, applications, developers kit and mobile
devices.

No other manufacturer has announced such a broad range of WAP system solutions, services and devices as Ericsson. Ericsson has to date launched three WAP phones and one WAP-enabled Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

Already in June 1999, Ericsson delivered the worlds first end-to-end WAP 1.1 system - the first true WAP standard. Since then, Ericsson has already delivered more than 50 WAP 1.1 compliant systems to cdmaOne, GSM and TDMA network operators worldwide. Ericsson also scored another industry-first when it showed the first two WAP infrastructure products in October 1998, please see:
http://www.ericsson.com/pressroom/Archive/1998Q4/19981007-0012.html

About WAP

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is the main worldwide industry standard for providing Internet communications and advanced services on mobile phones, pagers, Personal Digital Assistants and other wireless
devices. WAP is compatible with all mobile standards, including cdmaOne, GSM, PDC and TDMA, as well as 3G systems.

Ericsson, together with Nokia and Motorola, has introduced an initiative to simplify recognition of mobile Internet applications. The Mobile Media Mode (WWW:MMM) will enable users, content providers and operators to recognize services, Internet sites and devices such as smart phones, which provide access to these services.

More information about WAP is available at http://www.wapforum.org