InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[nieves]

Hutchison 3G now set for March launch


Jan 17, 2003 (Datamonitor via COMTEX) -- The ambitious plans of Hutchison 3G UK
Ltd to be the first operator to launch a commercial 3G service in Europe,
received a further boost following the news it has 30,000 registrations for its
video mobile service in the United Kingdom.

The company is expected to spend tens of millions of pounds this year on
advertising the launch of its 3G service, which will be branded "3". It already
has in excess of 1,000 3G test handsets in operation across the UK, and expects
to launch the service before the end of March. It should be noted that this 3G
service will only cover 50% of the UK population (outside these areas, users
will roam the 2G network of mm02).

Hutchison had been expecting to launch its 3G service by December 2002, but
technical problems have pushed the project six months behind schedule. The delay
has meant that Hutchison Group is facing a massive increase in costs, and has
had to delay the March launch date of its 3G service in Australia, where it had
the chance to steal a march on bigger rivals Telstra and Optus, which are
currently in the 3G pilot stage.

Hutchison Group had a strict timetable for the roll-out of 3G services around
the world, with UK first, followed by Italy, Hong Kong, and then Australia. The
group is spending more than 7bn pounds ($11,2bn) on 3G in Europe, against 1bn
pounds ($1.6bn) in Australia.

For the first 20,000 customers in the UK, the 3G service will cost 59.99 pounds
($94) or 99.99 pounds ($159) per month, depending on the amounts of "free" voice
and video calls, as well as text and picture messaging. Handset prices will
start from 399 pounds ($640), although promotional discounts could drop this
down to the 200 pound ($321) mark.

The news follows the earlier announcements that Hutchison 3G has signed deals
with "The Link", a chain of mobile phone outlets, along with the 325 strong
chain of "Phones 4u" stores, to sell the "3"-branded 3G handsets and other
products and multimedia services.

Source: Computerwire


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KEYWORD: Hutchison 3G UK Ltd
SUBJECT CODE: Hutchison Whampoa Limited

(Wall Street)





Daniel Nieves