Mobile phone users in Ennis, Co Clare, are to take part in the world's first trial of a new system designed to make Internet information available on the screens of cellphones.

The handsets on the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) phones will have larger screens and an in-built miniature mouse to allow for the use of drop-down menus - similar to the Windows PC system - to access the Web. Introduced as part of the Eircom Ennis Information Age town initiative, the system is expected to be used to access travel, entertainment and weather information and news.

Phones with WAP technology will also be used in the trial to load value to the Visa Cash smart cards which can be used in the town as an alternative to cash to pay for small items.

Launching the trial, Eircell's chief executive, Mr Stephen Brewer, said: "WAP is the next stage in the evolution of the mobile phone."