Halifax Share Dealing is developing a mobile phone application that will allow investors to trade UK and international OEICS, unit trusts and equities on the move.

The news is an about-turn from the Lloyds Banking Group division that had previously ruled out doing just that because of concerns it had about hardware availability.

Speaking exclusively to What Invetment.co.uk, Rick Girling, head of business development and marketing at Halifax Share Dealing, said the software is likely to be offered to customers of and sister brands and affinity partners, including Bank of Scotland, iWeb and iii.co.uk.

He explained, ‘It is in the early stages.  As a bank we have worked on a proof of concept.  Our aim is to provide a generic mobile application that will allow customers to trade real time on a range of handsets.

‘It is something that we have looked at previously but the handsets were not available [to support the software]. We would expect to have that available this year.’

Girling said that the dealing models for international equities, UK equities and funds are different but it is unlikely, although not final, that there will be a charge for the service.

He said, ‘All the charging has to be determined but it is unlikely. We may buy a bit of advice and consultancy, but we would like to develop and own it ourselves.’

Readers can see a comprehensive survey of online share dealing and spread betting in the March edition of What Investment, available in newsagents at the end of February.