Sunday Feb 20/2000 BBC 2 19.30

Sunday Feb 20/2000
BBC 2 19.30

Mobile Mania
A new global industry is about to be born. And some of the world's most powerful companies are ready to stake billions on its success. Mobile phones and the internet have emerged from nowhere to be the two fastest-growing business technologies of our time. Now, they are being brought together in a new generation of mobile devices handling speech, text, and pictures, all at high speed.
The Government is about to auction licences to operate these "internet mobiles". The biggest names in the telecoms and computer industries are busily manoeuvring to dominate this new industry. And they are ready to spend huge sums on buying licences and building the networks.
Is this a wise investment, or a bet on the unknown? Nils Blythe reports. More...

Winner takes all
Since its launch in 1994, the National Lottery has made hundreds of millionaires and has given billions of pounds to good causes around Britain. It's also made a fortune for the Camelot consortium that is licensed to run it. Now that licence is coming up for renewal, and the race is on to win the jackpot: the monopoly right to operate the biggest lottery in the world. Camelot has a record of success, but faces a formidable rival in Sir Richard Branson, who has formed a powerful alliance with Bill Gates. Lesley Curwen reports on the acrimonious battle ahead. More...