3G is top of the telecoms timetable

3G soft launch this week, plus GPRS from T-Mobile

This week sees two major mobile telecoms announcements: the UK's first third generation (3G) service was launched by 3, and T-Mobile kicked off its full GPRS service.

From Monday prospective customers were able to pre-register for 3G. Neither handsets nor services are available as yet but the move was made in advance of the full launch later this month to coincide with the date 03/03/03.

The UK's five network operators paid £22.5bn for 3G licences in the government auction in 2000. Technology problems and the downturn in the telecoms industry have delayed the launch of much-vaunted multi-media services including live video-messaging and Premier League goals streamed direct to the handset.

T-Mobile is the last of the four UK networks to launch a GPRS service, though it has offered picture messaging, which runs over GPRS for some time.

Rene Obermann, T-Mobile's chief executive outlined plans for a Europe-wide launch of GPRS during April and May, backed up by the launch of a mobile portal called T-Zones. The portal will offer text, video and audio material.

'We see GPRS services such as T Zones and email as a significantopportunities to increase revenues as there is strong demand from ourcustomer base' he said.

However pricing for the service remains vague. Obermann would only confirm that the final charge will be no higher than Euro10 per MB.