Today (03/03/03), was “G” day for “3″. Hutchison launched “3G” phone service in the UK and 5 other European countries today.

But 3, the first of the mobile telecoms operators to bring third generation services to the UK, “launches” its service without handsets.

“In a deeply embarrassing start for the company, formerly known as Hutchison, customers will be able to order handsets but will be forced to wait for four or even six weeks for delivery”.

Problems are not new for 3G operators in Europe who spent $100 billion on licenses and now must deliver a return on investment. Critics of 3G say the coverage is limited, the service is too expensive and handsets use too much power to be practical. 3G can deliver about 100kbps to mobile handsets for 2-way video telephony and other data intensive work.

Handsets will sell for 399 pounds to 449 pounds ($630-$708), though early buyers will get a discount. Three (3) is aiming to attract “the 5-10% of the UK mobile phone market spending more than 50 per month“.

Hutchinson, like the artist previously known as Prince, is now known only by the number “3″. It will battle established cellular rivals Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile and mmo2. Orange and mmo2 are not expected to launch 3G services in the UK until the second half of next year. While Vodafone will enter the market earlier, it is also unlikely to launch until 2004.”

3 is not technically the first 3G network in the British Isles. 02 is already operating its network on the Isle of Man (see Daily Wireless story on the Wi-Fi bus).

3G cellular service is also available in Japan. NTT DoCoMo rolled out their FOMA service to an underwhelmed public about a year and a half ago. NTT’s initial subscriber projections were about 90% off. Late last year, Vodaphone/J-Phone rolled out a competitive 3G service in Toyko using CDMA. Popularity of 3G services in Japan is being closely watched world-wide. Perhaps with some trepidation.

Wireless Watch Japan has the latest news (and video reports), direct from the communications capital of the world.

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Posted by Sam Churchill on Monday, March 3rd, 2003 at 1:50 pm.