This cellular phone - which will be a first kind in Asia - is being developed jointly by 4 companies.

People here will be able to top up their CashCards using specially developed cellular phones, when these are put on the market in the middle of next year.

The Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore), MobileOne (Asia), Motorola Electronics (Singapore) & Gemplus Technologies signed a MOU yesterday to introduce the new service. The user will need a PIN number & a Smart ATM card, which can be obtained from DBS, Keppel, Overseas Union, Tat Lee & United Overseas banks & OCBC Bank Group.

To use the service, the user inserts his ATM card into the phone & keys in his PIN. He then follows the instructions that appear on the handset screen after he is logged onto the system.

A spokesman for MobileOne told the Straits Times that the new handset would look just like the Motorola StarTAC 90. She said the service would be the first of its kind in Asia, although similar services were already available in Europe.

MobileOne CEO Neil Montefiore said in a statement that the service would provide CashCard holders with convenience & save them the time & energy needed to top up the cards.

A spokesman for Nets said that the cellular phone top-up service was the first in a range of electronic banking & fund transfer services to be introduced by Nets using Singapore's cellular communications networks. Other services being planned included cellular phone banking, ticket reservations & bill payment, she said.