Press release

O2 is providing the technology, and sponsoring the trial, of a pioneering asthma monitoring system that aims to improve significantly management of the condition in the UK. The solution uses an electronic peak flow meter connected to the widely acclaimed xda from O2 to gather, record and submit accurate asthma data in real-time, thereby enabling GPs to monitor and manage the condition more effectively and detect early signs of an asthma attack¹. It is the first time that such mobile technology has been used in an asthma trial in the UK.

The xda from O2 combines a colour personal digital assistant (PDA) with mini PC capability and a mobile handset in one integrated device. It provides full colour Internet access, web-based email, extensive mobile phone capabilities, and personal organiser features such as 'contacts' and 'calendar'. It is ideally suited for the asthma monitoring system because of its broad functionality, 'always on' mobile data network connection, ease of use and small convenient size. The solution was developed by e-San Limited, in conjunction with the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford University.

Currently, asthma patients monitor and record their lung capacity on a daily basis and visit their GP or asthma clinic every three months for analysis. There is well-documented concern about the reliability and accuracy of the information provided by this method. In addition, the process means that symptoms can only be discussed retrospectively with the GP, which does not allow for immediate action to improve or better manage the condition.

By providing accurate asthma data in real-time, the e-San/xda solution allows the treatment of asthma to be more proactive. This provides benefits both to the patient (such as greater reassurance and ultimately improved quality of life) - and to GPs and the National Health Service, as fewer avoidable emergency hospitalisations and call-outs will result in time and cost efficiencies.

O2 is providing the equipment, mobile network and funding for the year-long trial in the Thames Valley, an area with the highest incidence of asthma in the UK. The trial, which began on February 1, will monitor 100 asthma sufferers aged 12 to 55.

Professor Lionel Tarassenko of Oxford University's Department of Engineering Science and co-founder of e-San said: "Research has shown that effective self or assisted management of asthma reduces the severity of symptoms and the risk of hospitalisation. As a result, emergency visits by GPs will also decrease. We believe that the e-San/xda solution will ensure better management of the condition, because of its ease-of-use, the automatic sending of readings to allow real time monitoring of the condition, and the filtering of information to ensure that the GP is alerted only to readings that need to be acted upon. The ability to generate automatic messages to patients (including text messages) will also save time and resources for hard-pressed GPs.

The intention is to improve the quality of life of asthma sufferers and enable GPs to use their time more effectively. Ultimately we hope our solution will result in improved management of the condition and a reduction in critical events. O2's generous support of this project allows us to test the solution robustly before rolling it out for general use and for the clinical trial of new asthma drugs. It is a pleasure to be working with a company that is prepared to provide its technology and support to develop solutions that will make a real impact on peoples' lives."

The trial is being funded by mmO2's 'Can Do in the Community' programme which seeks to support projects that deliver benefits to the community through the application of mobile technology.

Peter Erskine, CEO mmO2 said "This is an exciting application of mobile technology to a serious health issue that affects communities across Europe and particularly in the UK. We welcome the chance to prove that such technology can make a real difference to peoples' lives. We are especially pleased to offer support to the trial in the Thames Valley region as this is where many of our staff are based."

The British Thoracic Society supports the trial. Dr Nabil Jarad, Chairman of the BTS Research Committee and Consultant Respiratory Physician at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, commented: "This system could be applied to many respiratory conditions where continuous monitoring of lung function is of value. Asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease are two examples. The e-San/xda system could also help in recognising the relationship between symptoms and the workplace, when asthma is suspected to be work-related. It could be of help in understanding and supporting patients who have continuous symptoms at home, such as young patients with cystic fibrosis who tend to under-estimate their illness".

The results of the trial will be published in relevant Medical Journals and interim results will be published in GP publications.

Note to Editors

About 'Can Do In The Community'
'Can Do in the Community' is mmO2's programme to embed responsibility to the community into its business. Across the Group, in the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and the Isle of Man, the programme will support local communities and society through projects, sponsorships and the involvement of O2 people. Through the 'Can Do in the Community' programme, mmO2 will support projects that focus on delivering sustainable long-term benefits to the community, using its mobile and other advanced technologies wherever possible.

About O2 UK

• The business operations of mmO2 plc are branded O2.
• O2 (UK) Ltd has nearly 11.95 million customers (end Dec 2002), of which 33% are contract and the remainder pre-pay. The proportion of service revenues generated by data usage in the last quarter is 17.4%. The number of SMS messages handled by O2 UK over the year was 4.92 billion.
• O2 UK's GSM network, including GPRS capability, covers over 99% of the population and approximately 90% of the UK by land area, and comprises over 9,000 base stations.
• O2 UK was the first mobile network in the world to have launched and rolled-out commercial GPRS services. Work is underway to develop its future 3G network.
• The company has 200 O2 retail stores located across the UK, plus a 40% shareholding in The Link Stores Limited.
• International roaming agreements with 326 networks allow our customers to receive and make calls in 141 countries. Additionally, O2 customers are now able to roam with GPRS in 24 countries.
• O2 UK became the first UK mobile operator to achieve registration to BSEN: ISO 14001, the international environmental standard. The main theme of the standard is continual environmental improvement and endorses our commitment to the positive protection of the environment.

About e-San
e-San was formed to exploit the opportunities provided by the combination of the latest mobile telephone technology and the need for continuous home monitoring of chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or hypertension, taking the concept of tele-medicine to a new level. Utilising research carried out in Professor Tarassenko's laboratory in the Department of Engineering Science of Oxford University, e-San carried out a proof of concept for the monitoring of asthma using GPRS technology. Following the success of this programme, e-San has been working on setting up a patient trial based in 10 GP surgeries in the Thames Valley area. In addition to setting up the trial, e-San will be working in other areas of medicine requiring remote monitoring solutions. e-San is majority owned by Comvest Ltd, a venture capital company, with Oxford University another shareholder.

[1] For detailed information on how the e-San/xda solution works please refer to press information backgrounder.

mmO2 Contacts:

Please contact:
For information on Corporate Responsibility
Richard Brown
Head of Public Affairs
mmO2 plc
richard.brown@o2.com
t: +44(0)7736 169617

For information on 'Can Do in the Community'
Charlotte Hitchings
Community Investment Manager
mmO2 plc
charlotte.hitchings@o2.com
t: +44 (0)7710 009000

Editorial Contact:
Kate Mant
PR Manager, data products and services
mmO2 plc
kate.mant@o2.com
t: +44 (0)773 651 8790

e-San contact:
Clive Peggram
CEO
mmO2 plc
clive.peggram@e-san.co.uk
t: +44 (0)1865 784090
www.e-san.co.uk

mmO2 press office: +44 (0)1753 628402

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