October 2004 has seen an increase of 22.6% in its recorded number of WAP pages viewed compared with the same period in 2003, 1.1 billion WAP page impressions were viewed in the UK during October 2004, according to figures announced today by the Mobile Data Association (MDA).

As the final quarter of 2004 draws to a close, the MDA is forecasting that 2005 will bring further growth in WAP usage, with a total of 15 billion page impressions viewed by the end of next year.

Every month the MDA posts the monthly WAP figures on its website www.text.it.

Chart toppers of the MDA's Top 10 most popular ringtones downloaded across UK Network Operators in October were:-

 

1	Call on Me	Erik Prydz
2	My Neck My Back Lick It	Khia
3	Lose My Breath	Destiny’s Child
4	Radio	Robbie Williams
5	These Words	Natasha Bedingfield
6	Baby Cakes	3 of a Kind
7	Just Lose It	Eminem
8	Lean Back	Terror Squad
9	I See You Baby	Groove Armada
10	My Perogative	Britney Spears

 

A big hit for 2004's ringtone charts that really has stood the test of time is Survivor's 'The Eye of the Tiger', film theme from Rocky III. Originally released as a single in 1982, the ringtone reached number 10 in May this year and has continued to hover just outside the top 10 for the last 5 months.

 

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.

---

 

* WAP Page Impression definition as agreed by 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.

Notes to Editors -

• Allowing for seasonal differences, the MDA has forecast WAP's continued growth with page impressions expected to reach a total of 13 billion by the end of 2004.

• Quarterly figures for the total number of GPRS and MMS devices being used by customers in the UK as of 30th June 2004 were announced by the MDA on the 28th October 2004, a copy of this news release is available on request.