Shenzhen Huawei debuts 3G mobile phone
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-03-23 16:03

Chinese technology company Shenzhen Huawei Technology Co Ltd has introduced a new model cell phone manufactured for third generation (3G) wireless protocol.

The phone, the first of its kind in the nation, is based on the WCDMA standard and also compatible to the current GSM network, said Xu Zhijun, Huawei's president of wireless products. With a 160X128 pixel screen, it has various functions including multimedia short message service, JAVA applications and WAP.

The new product will be used first in overseas nations since China has no 3G telecommunications network so far, analysts said.

The phone has enhanced capabilities featuring multimedia and data transmission. When applied in the 3G network, the phone has 384 kbps download speed and 64 kbps upload speed and it also supports MPEG4 as well as MP3 music files, said Xu.

The phone is also equipped with a highly efficient battery which can support 150 hours of standby and 150 minutes of talking, according to the company.

Huawei officials say the company has sole ownership of the technology rights for the phone.

Huawei began by cooperating with Japanese and American companies on 3G technology development and can now independently develop WCDMA 3G cell phones, said Xu.

"Huawei will still increase investment in terminal appliances for the 3G network. Huawei will not confine itself to the domestic market, instead it will target the world market for 3G mobile phones," said Xu.

Commercial production of the phone is scheduled for June.

Third-generation mobile communications networks offer faster delivery of data and pictures. The three standards for 3G, WCDMA, CDMA2000 and China-sponsored TD-SCDMA, are vying to take the dominant role in the vast Chinese telecommunications market, which has not issued a license for 3G services yet.

Analysts believe that the telecommunications authority will not issue a 3G license this year.

The Chinese government has endorsed a program on the research, development and commercial application of TD-SCDMA standards for the 3G network, in which the State Development and Reform Commission will commit a considerable amount of funds starting from this year.

The Chinese Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co. Ltd. is a major initiator of the TD-SCDMA standards. A number of leading domestic and foreign mobile phone producers have joined with Datang in developing TD-SCDMA standards and equipment, including Huawei, ZTE Corporation, Legend Group and Siemens.

Earlier reports indicated that the first commercial TD-SCDMA mobile phones will emerge this May. There would be no less than 10 models of such phones by the end of this year.

If China's TD-SCDMA standard is adopted, Chinese telecommunications operators would be spared payment for foreign standards and technology.

China had 269 million mobile phone users by the end of 2003 and the number is expected to approach 500 million by the end of 2007, of which 30 percent would be 3G users, according to a forecast of CCID Consulting Co., a think tank for China's Ministry of Information Industry.

The 3G communications technology would make mobile office and mobile commerce possible in China. The volume of China' s mobile commerce could reach 100 billion yuan (US$12.05 billion) by 2007, said the forecast.

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