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To: sisuman who wrote (9854)	3/14/2001 11:42:14 AM
From: Eric L	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 34857

re: Vodafone - GPRS and UMTS << An optimistic view from Sisuman >> I like ... and share ... your optimistic view. I am hoping that both QUALCOMM & Nokia show off well this quarter, and I think they both are positioned to do so. I happen to have positions in both, but looking beyond selfish interests, the sector needs a shot in the arm. One of the two reporting strong would be good. Both reporting good would be great. Meantime ... handsets always late ... but eventually they always arrive: >> Handset Hindrance March 14, 2001 Electronics Weekly P15 The eagerly awaited launch of GPRS services and the 3rd generation (3G) mobile phone networks is being held back by a lack of the necessary handsets. Karl cushing reports Vodafone has admitted that a lack of handsets is hindering the launch of its full GPRS services and endangering the roll-out of its 3rd generation (3G) mobile phone network. The UK's largest mobile operator has identified a launch date for first commercial 3G services of the middle of next year. Defending the pace of the company's 3G roll-out, CEO Chris Gent says that the company was simply being realistic about how long it takes to build a new technology. "The physical speed with which you can create a 3G network means that these things take time," points out Gent. "That's why we're talking about next year as being the commercial launch. "We don't want to get roll-out too far advanced for the supply of phones," he adds, alluding to the lack of handsets. The operator's director of product management Fritz Joussen warns that the lesson of the Japanese market was that new mobile services would only take off when the quality of the handsets had improved and when they were more affordable. Joussen emphasises the need for a range of models at different prices and says that the company was working closely with manufacturers to create a range of new handsets. He claimed that the company already had an entry-level GPRS handset available for #150 and was working on a #100 model. Gent claims that all of the new services that Vodafone were proposing - such as m-commerce and location services - could start on the GPRS network. "But to get full capacity we need the faster rates of 3G," he concedes. But a recent video demonstration of a cumbersome browsing session on one of the company's GPRS phones drew sniggers from those present. Vodafone will launch 3G networks in Spain and Japan this year, with other countries scheduled to follow next year, says Gent. However, the timing of the launch of the 3G service in Spain is due to the fact that the country has a license requirement and Vodafone was forced into providing its service over a 3G network. And it remains to be seen whether the new services being touted by Vodafone will catch the imagination of its customers. Having asked its customers to invest in 2G (GSM) and then 2.5G (GPRS) the company is now asking them to switch to 3G (UMTS). But Gent is adamant that the market and demand is there. "There's a hunger out there for these services and they like what they see," he concludes. << - Eric -