Vodafone launches live! 3G network across Europe

Vodafone today plugged in its global Vodafone live! 3G network, timed to attract consumers in the lucrative pre-Christmas market.

The infrastructure will offer 3G services across Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

Vodafone promised that the network would deliver "exciting new services" including video calling, full-track music downloads and 3D games. It also introduced an enhanced web portal designed to offer easier access to 3G services.

The enhanced 3G content includes a downloadable music catalogue, made-for-mobile drama inspired by the TV series 24, together with exclusive videos, pictures, animated greetings and wallpaper including the launch of Movie of the Month starting with Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

Sports fans are promised access to Uefa Champions League and Barclays Premiership video clips, together with exclusive Manchester United and Ferrari mobile video content.

Vodafone said that this 3G content will be charged on an "event-based" pricing model.

The mobile operator also lifted the lid on 10 new 3G handsets, including seven exclusively available on its service. It also claimed that it was the first European mobile network to offer a 2megapixel cameraphone, the Sharp 902.

Arun Sarin, chief executive at Vodafone, said: "Vodafone live! with 3G will dramatically change the way our customers experience their Vodafone services and we are confident that Vodafone live! with 3G will be a success.

"Customers want communication, organisation, entertainment and information on the move and they will increasingly turn to one device to deliver these needs: their mobile phone.

"Vodafone live! with 3G will become increasingly mass market next year and we expect over 10 million customers to be using Vodafone live! with 3G by March 2006 in our subsidiaries."