Vodafone Makes World's First 3G Roaming Call

date: December 19, 2001

Vodafone Group announces today its subsidiaries, Vodafone (Spain) and J-Phone, have successfully conducted the world's first third generation (3G) roaming call. The call was made this morning between John de Wit, Chief Executive, Vodafone (Spain), using a single mode 3G handset, and Darryl Green, President of J-Phone, using a Japanese single mode 3G mobile.

The call demonstrated both mobile originated and mobile terminated 3G roaming calls. The call was carried from and to Vodafone's Spanish and Japanese 3G networks using the signaling links and high capacity global network of Cable & Wireless, Vodafone's preferred international carrier.

Vodafone (Spain) was awarded its 3G license in March 2000 and a progressive roll-out of its 3G network to the 3GPP standard with its principal 3G infrastructure supplier, Nortel Networks, has been underway since August last year. Currently it has a network of 120 masts with UMTS coverage in 20 cities in Spain. Vodafone (Spain) is on target to launch its 3G network in the second half of 2002, subject to the availability of dual mode GPRS/3G handsets.

J-Phone was awarded one of three licenses to operate 3G mobile services in Japan in May 2000. J-Phone is currently well advanced in its development of a 3G W-CDMA mobile platform and expects to commence offering 3G services in Japan in June 2002, initially from the Metropolitan Tokyo area using an Ericsson W-CDMA network and subsequently in all major Japanese cities from October 2002.

Thomas Geitner, Chief Executive, Global Products and Services, Vodafone Group Plc said: "Today's roaming calls have brought the benefits of 3G mobile technology a step closer to reality. By operating as one company, we have demonstrated the new possibilities 3G's global standards bring. Vodafone will bring seamless multimedia services to increasing numbers of its customers across the world over the coming years."

Top Sellers at our online store

1.	NEC e606 on 3
2.	Orange Nokia 7250i
3.	O2 Samsung A800
4.	NEC e808 on 3
5.	Motorola A920 on 3

last updated: January 12, 2004

Visit our online store, click here

3 phones

3G Motorola A920
Available Now! Superb full colour touch- sensitive screen with a built-in digital camera for Video Calling.
Buy now from Free

M-Profits: Making Money from 3G Services
ISBN: 0470847751

This book discusses 3G services from the view of what is needed for the service to provide value to the user, what is the value proposition for the user, how will money be made out of delivering the service, and discussions on how revenue sharing propositions might work to benefit content providers and network operators. 3G operators should take note of this highly recommended book.

buy it UK | USA

3G Books to Read!

top