New CDMA units boast 3G features
Mongkol Jullayothin
Hutchison CAT Wireless Multimedia Co has introduced the first CDMA 1X handsets in the local mobile phone market, hoping to become the first to provide high-speed multimedia wireless services in the country.
Operating under the brand name Hutch, the company said the third-generation (3G) technology would debut next year with a full range of multimedia services.
Chief executive officer Stephen Sun said the first phase would target Greater Bangkok, with services to the eastern and western regions launched shortly afterward.
Unlike existing wireless services that focussed mainly on messaging, Hutch would focus mainly on multimedia services, for which special handsets were required.
The handsets, produced by Sanyo of Japan, enable users to send and receive photographs and mail with a built-in camera and Thai input for SMS.
The services would be provided within the company's network initially, and would later be integrated with those of other players, said Stephen Ngan, the company's chief operating officer.
Mr Sun said the company had been in talks with handset producers in Japan and Korea about new products since the CDMA service was widely used in those countries.
At the same time, he said, handset and service prices were being reviewed in order to ensure good value for money.
Mr Sun said that while handset prices were falling, Hutchison's price strategy would be to provide a range of affordable services to users.
The company is a joint venture between the Communications Authority of Thailand and Hong Kong-based Hutchison Wireless MultiMedia Holding. |
