Fastmobile to start Push-to-talk services 1st May in U.S.

Chicago-based fastmobile today announced 1st May 2003 as the commercial launch date for its fastchat instant communications service into the United States market. fastchat brings the power of push-to-talk instant voice communications to the latest off-the-shelf mobile phones. Available by simply downloading the application to their handset, fastchat™ customers will be the first in North America to have a walkie-talkie like feature usable across different mobile networks, mobile handset makes as well as across cities, states, countries and continents.

The technology behind fastchat has been under development for nearly three years and is currently in pre-commercial trial in the US, Europe and Asia. And with its "anyone, anywhere" capability, fastchat is first push-to-talk service to offer a global reach.

Quicker, less expensive than a phone call and easier and more fun than a text message, fastchat turns the latest mobile phones into nationwide, in fact virtually worldwide, walkie-talkies. "But push-to-talk is just one feature that fastchat offers." reminds Harry Eschel, fastmobile co-founder and Vice President. "With fastchat™, subscribers can also send and receive instant text messages, picture messages, SMS messages, PC-based IM messages and email, both between mobile phones or between mobile phones and PCs." fastchat will allow users to chat/text/pix with their friends or colleagues either individually or among nearly any size group of their contacts.

Available nationwide initially on GSM networks, fastchat service will be extended to CDMA networks in the second half of 2003. fastchat will also give consumers a wide selection of handset styles and manufactures to choose from. First available on standard symbian handsets, fastchat will launch on the Nokia 3650 and SonyEricsson P800 and will be immediately available on the upcoming Symbian handsets announced by manufacturers including Siemens, Samsung and Sendo. In the second half of the year, fastchat will be extended to include suitable BREW and Java handsets, adding manufactures such as Motorola and LG to the line up of mobile phone choices that consumers will have.