Hutchison Telecom is to launch a service enabling its Orange mobile phone subscribers to pay for utility bills and perform interbank fund transfers via their handsets. The service, to be launched in July, will be accessible round the clock but available only to American Express Bank account holders. All of the SAR's utility companies and banks have agreed to participate in the service. Interbank fund transfers will allow funds from an Amex Bank account to be transferred to accounts at other SAR banks. Users will also be able to pay government bills such as tax, water and rates. Other functions will allow subscribers to download details of their bank accounts through mobile phones and send alert messages to the handset whenever a cheque bounces or a large amount of money has been withdrawn from the account. Hutchison director of sales and marketing (wireless), Stephen Ngan, said the service would be available on mobile phones using SIM Toolkit technology - such as Nokia and Motorola brands - which was secure. SIM Toolkit uses the Data Encryption Standard for which there are no known reports of fraud. However, its code has been cracked by computers during a security test. Mr Ngan said Hutchison's service wes different from the electronic commerce initiative announced yesterday by Visa International, Standard Chartered Bank and 13 other partners. 'It is actually a Visa Cash service that is different from our mobile phone banking service.' Users of that service will be able to insert smart cards into a reader on the handset, while Hutchison subscribers will only need to enter two PIN numbers to access its service. Mr Ngan said Hutchison was taking 'a more open approach' adding that the company was trying to attract more business partners so that expanded services could be offered.