Potential operators and equipment manufacturers for cordless phone technology have agreed to make their products compatible over a common air-interface. A total of seven companies will meet the Department of Trade and Industry within the next eight weeks to finalise the standard (CI No 921). Cordless technology has proceeded for the past two years without a standard and considerable modifications will have to be carried out by providers. A standard has been deemed essential if UK industry is to be successful in the export market where in particular, France and Spain offer attractive opportunities. There is still confusion over the type of licence required by operators. Ferranti Creditphone’s Telepoint is the only one to be sanctioned by Office of Telecommunications to date and that on an alpha trial only basis. But there is uncertainty over whether British Telecom and Mercury will be allowed to offer services under their current licences. Telecom has said that its mobile communications division intends to offer a service.