EASYJET founder to launch a low-cost mobile service.

The entrepreneur expects the EasyMobile venture - allowing users to go online to order SIM cards and airtime for their existing handsets - to start in March. The involvement of T-Mobile owner Deutsche Telekom provides a major breakthrough for the Easy branded service, which will see Danish telecoms company TDC handle billing and the running of the network. The concept has already proved popular in Denmark, where it is said to have gained a ten per cent market share in four years. Announcing the airtime deal with T-Mobile, TDC said the absence of handset subsidies and subscription fees made the service attractive. The venture will offer voice and text services and will cover a different market to the rest of the sector, where operators are pushing internet and camera-based phones. Details on prices have yet to be announced. Telmore founder Frank Rasmussen has already been named chief executive of easyMobile in the UK, while TDC also has the opportunity to launch the service in 12 other European countries after agreeing a deal with easyGroup in August. T-Mobile said the wholesale deal would result in further growth for the business capitalising on its existing network investment.