Breathe offers unmetered free Wap access

Internet service provider Breathe is hoping to boost its mobile internet subscriber base by offering free unmetered Wap calls until the end of November.

Breathe, which already provides an unmetered internet service to nearly 50,000 PC users, has said an unlimited number of mobile phone customers can register for 24x7 freephone Wap access. The service will only be available to Orange and One 2 One users, because the other UK operators charge for 0800 calls.

Wap has been criticised for being expensive, because surfing is often slow and most content cannot be read offline. Wap calls can cost up to 35p per minute on some networks.

For customers who do not have a Wap-enabled phone, Breathe is also offering a free Wap-enabled Nokia 7110 mobile phone to users who take out a 12-month contract through its website with Vodafone or Orange. Vodafone users still would not be able to use the free Wap calls.

Sean Gardner, chief operating officer at Breathe, said the free calls offer has been signing up 30 to 40 people every 15 minutes since it began yesterday.