Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / BUSINESS
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Business Contents:  Your Money | Economy Companies

Thursday, 16 November 2006, 07:03 GMT

Mobile internet 'upgrade' launch

By Rory Cellan-Jones
Business correspondent, BBC News

Man watching TV on his mobile Mobile firm 3 has agreed a tie-up with top internet firms in a move it claims will make the mobile internet work properly for the first time.

Third generation (3G) mobiles have proved a financial disaster as companies have struggled to interest consumers in using the new technology.

Firms spent billions on technology making it possible to surf the web or watch television through handsets.

But they found customers were only using them for simple phone calls.

Service promise

3, the company which launched Britain's first 3G network, now says it is going to make the mobile internet more interesting.

It is launching a partnership with internet firms including Skype, Google and eBay.

The promise is that users will be able to make free internet phone calls, watch their home television on their phone and tap into their home computers on the move.

The price for all these services will be a flat-rate monthly fee.

Mobile phone companies often make big claims when launching new products - but analysts say 3's move could change the industry.


Have Your Say: What do you want from your 3G phone?



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Vodafone's losses fall to £3.3bn (14 Nov 06 |  Business )
High Street growth for 3 mobile (24 Oct 06 |  Business )
Mobile phone firms playing to win (07 Jul 06 |  Click )
3G industry optimistic for 2006 (25 Nov 05 |  Click )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
3 mobile
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Business Contents:  Your Money | Economy Companies

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©