March 28, 2008
China to launch trial service of homegrown 3G mobile phones next week
China will launch trial service of its homegrown next-generation mobile phone standard next week, news reports said Friday, possibly moving its giant market closer to the long-anticipated rollout of new services, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
"Companies expect a multibillion-dollar wave of spending on equipment once China awards licenses for third-generation, or 3G, service. But Beijing has delayed a decision while it tries to develop its own system to compete with global standards.
China Mobile will test the standard, known as TD-SCDMA, by issuing 20,000 phones and 5,000 data cards on Tuesday in Beijing and seven other cities, state television and other media said.
The reports gave no indication how long the test would last, whether it would be expanded to other areas or when licenses might be awarded."
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