OPTUS PUSH TO TALK - THE INNOVATIVE NEW MOBILE SERVICE FOR THE YOUNG GENERATION

Optus has announced the launch of its Push to Talk service for the consumer market. Push to Talk allows the user to chat with up to five other people at once – letting you use your phone like a walkie talkie. “First there were mobile voice calls. Then came SMS. Push to Talk is the latest way to stay intouch. We believe Optus Push to Talk is the first innovative personal communication service for young people in the last two years,” said Allen Lew, Managing Director, Optus Mobile. “Our 18-34 year old customers tell us they want more than voice calls and SMS – they want to beable to communicate with their group quickly, easily and interactively. Optus Push to Talk fills that gap – it is great for groups who regularly meet up and want more interactive group communication than is currently possible with SMS. “Imagine groups of friends who are trying to meet up at a concert or are planning where to catch upfor Friday night drinks – they want interactive banter so that they can make fast group decisions.This is a service that really fits the tribal way young people interact,” he said. Optus Push to Talk is widely available, working across the Optus GSM network that reaches 96 percent of the Australian population. Talk Groups of one to six people are simply set up using the PTT Add Group menu option in the phone. It is then just three easy steps to make a Push to Talk call:

1. Select the group you want to speak to
2. Push the button on the side of the phone
3. Speak

As there are times callers don't want their conversation to be heard, Optus is the first carrier in Australia to offer broadcast SMS sent to a Push to Talk group, to be available in May 2005. At launch, the Optus Push to Talk service will be available on the following Nokia handsets: 6020,6170, 5140 and 7270. These Push to Talk-capable handsets also operate as normal mobile phonesfor calling, SMS, MMS and Optus Zoo services. The Nokia 6020 and 6170 are available for $0 up front on the 24 month yes 35 plan. Optus Push to Talk is available on selected Business Edge,yesBusiness, PTTyes plans and Corporate Flat Chat plans. For casual users, the service is available on a daily rate of $0.95 (inc. GST)which is only charged on days the service is used. For more regular users, the service is available on a monthly plan rate which includes 30 free SMS. As a special introductory offer this monthly plan rate will be just $9.95 (inc. GST) available to customers who sign up before 30 June 2005.From then, the standard monthly plan rate will be $14.95 (inc. GST). For more information visit: www.optus.com.au/pushtotalk Images available on request Media contact: Claire Hosegood Optus Corporate Affairs Phone: +61 2 9342 5042