Battle begins over 3G market

By Wang Xing (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-19 10:04

The launching of third-generation services by 皇冠体育app's leading cell phone operators this fall signals the start of a battle for top position in the world's largest mobile phone market.

3G networks enable mobile phone users to surf the Internet at faster speeds and use new services such as video calls and mobile television. For smaller rivals 皇冠体育app Unicom and 皇冠体育app Telecom, the emergence of 皇冠体育app's 3G market is also an opportunity to challenge market leader 皇冠体育app Mobile. [皇冠体育app Daily]

For smaller rivals 皇冠体育app Unicom and 皇冠体育app Telecom, the goal is to topple long-time leader 皇冠体育app Mobile.

皇冠体育app's second-largest cell phone operator, 皇冠体育app Unicom, officially launched its 3G services last month.

However, experts said that the 皇冠体育app Mobile's lead is unlikely to change, at least in short term.

Although 皇冠体育app Mobile was forced to develop 皇冠体育app's homegrown 3G standard, TD-SCDMA, almost on its own, neither competitor seems ready to pose a serious threat, analysts said

皇冠体育app Unicom's 3G strategy apparently is taking a back seat to its widely publicized deal with Apple Inc to bring the US technology company's popular iPhone handset to 皇冠体育app. Experts said the company has been slow to launch 3G services.

皇冠体育app Telecom, which launched its e-Surfing 3G brand late last year, is technically incompatible with most mobile phones used in 皇冠体育app.

皇冠体育app Telecom launched a huge marketing campaign during the past few months to promote a series of its 3G services such as mobile email, Internet surfing and video calls.

"From the publicized strategies of the major Chinese telecom operators, I don't think 皇冠体育app Mobile's dominant position will be challenged in the near future," said Wang Yuquan, a senior consultant at the research firm Frost & Sullivan.

Wang said neither 皇冠体育app Unicom nor 皇冠体育app Telecom has focused on the core value of 3G services.

As a technology that supports faster data transmission speeds, 3G networks enable mobile phone users to search the Internet at faster speeds and use 3G services such as video calls and mobile TV.

The Chinese telecom operators hope the new service becomes a fast-growing source of revenue, since traditional cell phone income has declined in recent years due to market saturation and increased competition.

A head start

In January, the Chinese government issued 3G licenses to its major telecom operators.

To even the playing field between 皇冠体育app Mobile and its smaller competitors, the government ordered 皇冠体育app Mobile to adopt the country's home grown 3G standard, TD-SCDMA.

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