The application entered the market this month after several months of development and testing.

The software application brings Internet based peer-to-peer technology to the mobile phone. This is the first commercially successful application of file sharing software in the wireless market, says Jaysen du Plessis, MD of Pogo.

Pogo aims to allow users to share ringtones, music, games, videos and themes. The application also allows users to send messages at 1c per SMS, as well as access to classifieds, body weight calculator and car performance facilities.

Pogo is downloadable to all GPRS and 3G mobile phones that are Java and wireless application protocol (WAP)-enabled. The application is compatible with all phone types.

Pogo carries a once-off download fee, and is accessed by sending the Pogo keyword to the shortcode 4 20 30. This premium rate service is charged at R30.

Pogo does not bill for any further use of the file sharing facility, and users pay only for the airtime to access the Internet.

We have signed up a 1 000 users in the three weeks since the launch of Pogo. We are seeing significant usage of the application.

"Some 6 800 items, mostly music or games, have already been downloaded. Music downloads are the most popular content requests, states Jaysen du Plessis.

The application provides users with access to a community sharing its content. 5 000 mobile games and over a million different MP3s and thousands of ring tones (including the current top hits) are already accessible via the file sharing application.