BT has signed a deal with Yahoo! to take the content provider's WAP content and services over BT's Genie portal (market-leading, one million customers apparently). The two have also said they will co-market the alliance both on the Internet and in traditional advertising. It's not known if any money is changing hands, if the agreement is exclusive or what its timespan is.

The deal will see BT WAP customers gain access to Yahoo!'s range of goods such as Mail, Calendar, Address Book, Finance, Weather, News etc etc by clicking onto the "Web portals" directory on the main WAP screen.

It should also be expanded to include BT's other European mobile companies, Viag (Germany), Telfort (Netherlands) and Esat Digifone (Ireland).

This is a good move for both parties. Yahoo! was looking a little scared as mobile phone companies decided they were going to run info portals for themselves rather than simply pay for access to others'. BT on the other hand was simply looking out of touch and slow. It also helps BT in its closed-portal policy - at least there's something worth looking at now (on a tiny, irritating screen - clicky clicky click). ®

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