BTopenworld invest in Wcities

British Telecommunications PLC
21 November 2000





                            BTOPENWORLD INVESTS IN

                              WCITIES TO EXPAND

                        WIRELESS AND INTERNET OFFERING

BTopenworld, BT's international mass market Internet business, today announced
that it has invested $15 million for a 17 per cent stake in wcities -, the
leading global location-based information service provider.

Customers of BTopenworld's mobile Internet, narrowband and broadband services
will have access to the global and local information and services in more than
230 cities, from Auckland to Aberdeen. The service will be expanded to more
than 400 by Spring, 2001 and can already be viewed in the travel section of
BTinternet (www.btinternet.com).

Location-based services are expected to become one of the most popular
applications among mobile Internet users with the market in Western Europe for
local information alone projected to be worth more than $3 billion by 2005.
BTopenworld aims to build on this growth through Genie (www.genie.co.uk),
Europe's leading mobile Internet portal. It will also take advantage of future
high-speed, high capacity mobile data networks being developed by BT Wireless.

General Packet Radio System (GPRS) and third generation (3G) mobile data
networks will allow audio, text and video of hotels, tourist sites and maps
compiled by wcities to be directly sent to users mobile handsets whilst on the
move. In addition to mobile handsets, information and e-commerce services will
be made available to a range of devices, including, PDAs, PCs, public kiosks,
in-room hotel information systems and the TV. BTopenworld and BT Wireless also
have the option of commissioning additional towns and cities on an exclusive
basis.

Ben Andradi, president and chief operating officer, BTopenworld, said: 'This
deal presents BTopenworld with a huge opportunity. More than 60 per cent of
people online currently look for travel information and goods, and more than
70 per cent of mobile users want city guides delivered to their handsets.

'wcities has developed unique global travel and information services
accessible from a range of wireless and Internet communications devices - no
other provider can match its reach, depth and breadth.'

Tan Rasab, chief executive officer, wcities, said: 'BTopenworld is the ideal
partner for wcities. Our company is the only source of local information on a
truly global basis and in a multi-lingual format for multi-platforms.

'The combination of BTopenworld's multi-access Internet services and
international presence and wcities' detailed and relevant local information is
a very powerful proposition.'

BTopenworld

BTopenworld is BT's new international mass market Internet business which is
focused increasingly on broadband and mobile services. It brings together in a
single business all BT's existing UK and international Internet service
providers (ISPs), portals and Open, BT's digital interactive television joint
venture. The business is also responsible for Genie, Europe's leading mobile
portal and service provider.

BTopenworld today has 2.1 million equity ISP customers, making it one of the
largest Internet companies in Europe. Andy Green is chief executive of
BTopenworld and Ben Andradi is the chief operating officer.

BTopenworld joint venture businesses, investments and subsidiaries include:
LineOne; Open; Excite UK; Yucom (Belgium); Arrakis (Spain); Infinito (Italy);
Mantra Online (India) and BT Looksmart.

wcities

Founded in 1998, wcities is the world's leading location-based information
service provider with coverage that currently spans over 230 major world
cities (400 cities by end of Q1 2001) and has operations in over 75
countries). wcities is an international company that originates, publishes,
aggregates and distributes original and exclusive WAP and web content, which
is enabled for mapping and positioning systems in world cities. wcities is
developing a network of online city guides relevant not only to local but
national and international users. wcities headquarters are based in London, UK
and San Francisco, USA with offices in Milan, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Hong
Kong.

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   Inquiries about wcities should be directed to Sam Eaton, Kate Warwick or
               Richard Moss at Miller Shandwick Technologies on
  020 7240 8666 or via email seaton, kwarwick or [e-mail]