Wapworld was the first commercial mobile internet service to launch in the UK.^[1] Conceived and developed by Jingo Communications founder Mark Gibbons, Wapworld provided the first mobile gateway for open internet access to users with WAP-enabled handsets in the UK in 1998.

In December 1999 Jingo took its gateway technology and content portal into a joint venture with The Carphone Warehouse and Bob Geldof to support the UK release of the Nokia 7110 handset.

Wapworld provided a wide range of content - from news, features and entertainment to online travel and the UK's first mobile shopping service in partnership with Waitrose.^[2]

Although immediately popular with early adopters, wider market expectations of WAP exceeded the capabilities of the technology and consumer uptake was slow. As a result of resistance from the network operators, and conflicts of interest in the distribution channel, Wapworld closed in 2001. Jingo went on to develop Connect, a pioneering intranet platform, for Bayer, Saatchi & Saatchi, Thomas Cook and BBDO Worldwide and the vote aggregation services behind early reality TV shows including Big Brother.