Dave Tansley, telecoms and technology partner at Deloitte comments: "Today's announcement by Vodafone that it plans to launch an instant messaging (IM) service (30/6/05) reflects a hive of activity by technology, media and telecoms players to extend their IM capabilities. This reflects an increasing demand for cheaper and integrated communication by consumers and businesses and a more general trend towards collaboration - applications, products and services that enable groups of users to interact in a more timely and effective manner.

"Whilst collaboration has been talked about as being the next big thing for some time, it is only now that all the ingredients appear to be in place for it to take off. For example, IP has become pervasive, SIP (session initiation protocol) is emerging as a preferred standard, IM and other capabilities are being embedded in operating systems, mobile devices are more capable and service providers are pushing hard to promote the new service.

"Companies investing in "next generation" IP-based networks and solutions are best positioned to take advantage of opportunities arising from IM. The potential rewards for success in this area include increased revenue through higher volumes of traffic, greater value-add to customers, and better "mindshare" by enabling / optimising people's lifestyles (e.g. knowledge workers, road-warriors).

"A number of corporate and technological forces are driving the need for better collaboration and integrated communications. Examples of this include dispersed workforces, productivity drives, government initiatives (e.g. Broadband Britain), technology refreshes, maturing technologies and standards.

"Next generation networks will be 'context aware' i.e. they will be able to monitor where a user is, what they are doing, what devices they have to and what the users personal preferences are. These capabilities will transform the way in which users are able to interact across networks - and IM will be a key enabler," concludes Tansley.

In this collaborative environment the 4 P's are crucial:

• Pervasiveness - the need for a critical mass of users with an ability to interconnect;
• Personalisation - users need to be able to choose how, where, when and with what to communicate;
• Presence - need to know where people and who's connected;
• Protection - adequate security and control.

Ends

About Deloitte
In this press release references to Deloitte are references to Deloitte & Touche LLP.

Deloitte & Touche LLP is the UK's fastest growing major professional services firm based in 21 UK locations, with over 10,000 staff nationwide and fee income of £1,246 million in 2003/2004. It is a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a leading professional services organisation, delivering world class audit, tax, consulting and corporate finance services, with around 120,000 people in over 140 countries. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is a Swiss Verein, and each of its national practices is a separate and independent legal entity.

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The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.