The service, which is currently used by customers of the UK's leading banks, including HSBC, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, first direct, Alliance & Leicester and Ulster Bank, across all major network operators, allows consumers and business people to keep track of their money while on the move, using a combination of an intuitive, secure application on the handset and SMS alerts.

The extension of mobile banking and payment services to BlackBerry smartphones demonstrates the growing demand for mobile money management from the UK's businesspeople and the growing centrality of BlackBerry devices in the daily lives of both consumers and business leaders across the globe. In today's busy world, being able to manage your bank accounts alongside email and other essential business information is important for many people. For those that run their own businesses, it's absolutely business critical.

Ian Tandy, Director of eCommerce, Alliance & Leicester commented: "We are committed to providing the best possible service to our customers and this includes providing them with the widest choice of options when it comes to managing their money. Our customers already benefit from being able to use their mobile phones to keep track of their bank accounts and the extension of the service to BlackBerry devices will enable even more of our customers, especially those who bank with Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank, to monitor their cash flow whilst on the move anywhere in the world".

The announcement is another example of Monitise's commitment to bringing mobile banking and payments to the mass market of consumers at any time, from any location, using any device. Around half of all UK consumers have access to their bank accounts using its award winning range of services. In the coming months, Monitise expects to announce the availability of its services in other territories across the world, as well as the introduction of a range of new services, including inter-account ccount transfers, peer to peer payments, bill settlement, international remittances and contactless (Near Field Communication) payments.

The BlackBerry solution puts the convenience of email, phone, messaging (SMS, IM, MMS), web browsing, multimedia, organiser and other applications literally in the palm of your hand. Now with Monitise's technology, it can also add banking services such as balance inquiries, funds transfers, mini-statements and text message alerts to that roster. The MONILINK service, which is delivered in the UK by in partnership with VocaLink, the operator of the UK's ATM network, ensures that all information carried is highly secure through the use of existing banking security standards throughout its service.

"The BlackBerry smartphone is often cited as the handset of choice for the world's business people and busy consumers. Bringing mobile banking and payments to the device cements BlackBerry's position as a leader and creates a truly 'business critical' combination of services which will help improve the productivity and efficient working of many people," added Alastair Lukies, chief executive, Monitise plc.

* The service is available to personal BlackBerry customers and to Enterprise customers that have direct access to the internet from their handset and have the administrative rights to download and install applications from the internet.

** MONILINK is available on the BlackBerry 7100, 7130, 7210, 7220, 7230, 7250, 7280, 7290, 7510, 7520, 7730, 7750, 7780, 8100, 8300, 8320, 8700 and 8800.