Page 8 - Sphere No.12 (Aug 2004)

SPHERE 6
Newsbites
T E L E C O M S
3 Extends Handset Range
3 has introduced the latest
models in its growing
range of 3G video
mobile phones. The
stylish LG U8110
was launched in
Europe and
Australia
and the LG U8120 in Hong Kong. Both
boast an array of features to enable cus-
tomers to make the most of the unique
benefits of the 3 video mobile network.
Measuring 95.7mm x 49.5mm x 23.1mm
and weighing just 126g, the clamshell
handsets are the smallest phones in
the 3 range and have been designed
for the ultimate in portability and
comfort. The launch was the result
of a global agreement between LG
Electronics and
HutchisonWhampoa
under which three million
handsets will be delivered
in 2004 to the 3 group of
companies globally.
Doubling Up
Globally, 3 signed up 77,000 net
new subscribers on average each
week in Q2, 2004, more than
double the 37,800 average weekly
sign-up rate up it had maintained
for the first three months of
the year.
3 has joined forces with Lucent
Technologies and Novatel Wireless to
provide UMTS wireless PC cards to 3
customers in Australia, Denmark, Italy,
Sweden and Hong
Kong. The April
agreement is also
3Reload Launched
3 in April launched
3Reload pre-paid cards
on the Swedish market, making it possi-
ble for customers to
access 3’s large service
offering without a set fee
monthly subscription.
SWEDEN
3 Australia has
become a major
sponsor of Network Ten’s Big Brother,
bringing a new technological twist
that provides access to live footage
of the reality TV show via 3 video
mobile phones.
AUSTRALIA
DoCoMo Takes Stake in HTIL
Hutchison Whampoa
Limited (HWL) and
NTT DoCoMo in May agreed to
exchange DoCoMo’s 20% investment
in Hutchison 3G UK Holdings (H3G
UK) for a stake in Hutchison
Telecommunications International
(HTIL), a subsidiary company of
HWL. The total consideration of the
transaction was £120 million.
The consideration will be made
to DoCoMo in three instalments
in the form of HTIL shares, subject
to the listing of HTIL, which has
applied for a listing on the Stock
Exchange of Hong Kong, or, at HWL’s
discretion, in cash. The final instal-
ment is scheduled for Dec. 2006. Under
a separate agreement, the £200 million
shareholder loan provided in May
2003 by DoCoMo to H3G UK was
transferred at cost to Hutchison
3G Europe Investments a subsidiary
of HWL.
GLOBAL
available to other 3 markets worldwide.
The Merlin U530 PC cards operate
on 3’s 3G networks at speeds up to 384kb
per second, allowing customers all the
benefits of high-speed access to the
Internet and corporate intranet while
fully mobile.
Lucent and Novatel will also supply
system software and services.
Fast Cards
Big Brother; Small Screen