Local cellular phone company, Mobility, has confirmed claims that its GSM service does not yet work overseas.

One customer said that the introduction of GSM has significantly improved the Mobility service in Bermuda, with voice quality and signal both enhanced, but he had been unable to use his phone in either the UK or the US since acquiring it in November.

The company admitted yesterday that it had had to delay the launch of "roaming" services - that is the capacity to use a Bermuda cellular phone with a Bermuda number while travelling overseas.

When Mobility launched GSM technology last November it was claimed that customers with the correct kind of handset would have "roaming" services in the US and the UK by December 2002.

Company spokesperson, Sharon Leman, said that although Mobility had hoped to have roaming services in place last December for the UK and the US, due to circumstances outside its control, it had encountered delays with the international aspect of the service. She said that problems had arisen relating to the parties that connect Mobility to their host carriers.

Mobility apologised for these unforeseen delays and said it expected to be able to offer roaming by the end of March.

In order to provide service overseas, companies such as Mobility and Telecom Bermuda have to have agreements with other phone companies (host carriers) in each overseas country. Mobility are understood to be in the final stages of testing compatibility of their handsets with the overseas networks.

AT&T's local partner, Telecom Bermuda is currently the only local company offering GSM mobile phones that can be used overseas.

Ms Leman said that any customers with queries about overseas service for their Mobility phones could contact the company for further details.

As well as the launch of roaming capability by the end of March, Ms Leman said that Mobility was also very close to launching mobile internet service:

"We have successfully tested it but we are currently training our staff in preparation for the launch. One of the things that GPRS will provide is the capability to check e-mail," she added.