Telecommunications in Hong Kong are set to enter a new era next month when Hutchison Whampoa launches its third generation (3G) mobile phone service.
The city's leading telecom provider is rolling out the service almost a year after it did so in Europe, where customer reaction has been lukewarm at best.
With handsets priced at $4,380 and monthly tariffs between $263 and $533, the company is hopeful that '3', as the service is known, will become a hit in Hong Kong.
The new service will allow users to make video calls and watch video clips for information and entertainment, as well as obtain real-time traffic information and monitor their homes by mobile video.
Hutchison had planned to launch 3G in Hong Kong in the summer, but a shortage of handsets forced a delay.
Despite an assurance yesterday that the shortage had been addressed, with manufacturer NEC set to ship 2.5 million handsets by early next year, customers keen to subscribe to the new technology will have to be content with just one choice of 3G phone for some time.
