A LINK-UP between mobile phone giants Orange and the Abbey National will allow customers to do their banking on the move.

The launch of e-banking on wireless application protocol WAP-enabled mobile phones will give Abbey customers a range of services to tap into directly from their mobile phone.

Abbey National's director of retail e-commerce and strategic development Ambrose McGinn said: "Mobile phones have become an integral and important part of our everyday lives.

"We are committed to offering our customers as much choice on how and where they manage their finances as possible, so offering WAP mobile phone banking is a natural step."

Customers will be able to check balances, pay bills, transfer cash between accounts, locate their nearest Abbey cash machine and even apply for an overdraft facility.

The launch of WAP banking service means Abbey now offers customers more choice on how and where to do their banking with the option of the Internet, digital television, WAPs as well as the more traditional branch banking.

Abbey customers can register for the e-banking service at www.abbeynational.co.uk or at any Abbey National cash machine.

The announcement comes at the same time as Orange revealed it was floating 15 per cent of its business on the stock exchange later this month.

The firm, which used to be listed in London before it was bought by France Telecom last year, will see 15 per cent of its business spun off.

The proceeds from the flotation will be used by France Telecom to refinance its acquisition of Orange from Vodafone, which was completed last August.

France Telecom paid £21bn for Orange, and estimates put its losses on the purchase at around £6bn.

Orange employs 5,500 staff at its call centres in the region at Darlington, Peterlee and North Tyneside.