Hutchison needs more 3G phones

NEWS Hutchison 3G has shrugged off speculation that third-generation mobile phone services will be a flop and has placed an order for an extra one million 3G handsets from NEC to meet an expected demand when it launches in the coming months. The company - which will go by the name '3' in the UK - announced the deal yesterday, doubling the number of NEC 3G handsets that Hutchison has ordered. Several different types of handsets have been ordered. All are dual-mode, meaning they will work on existing 2G networks as well as Hutchison's 3G network, and have a built-in digital camera and colour screen. Customers cannot yet sign up to 3 and Hutchison has not yet publicly set a date for a commercial launch. About 1,000 "friendly users" are currently testing Hutchison's 3G networks in the UK and Italy, but the company has said that paying customers could start using 3 before the end of this year. Graeme Wearden writes for ZDNet.co.uk