SINGAPORE—The GSM Association said 12 operators joined its “3G for All” campaign, which aims to make third-generation wireless service available to the mass market.
Cingular Wireless L.L.C., Globe Telecom, Hutchison 3G, KTF, MTN, Orange, Smart, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, Telenor, T-Mobile and Vodafone Group plc are participating in the first phase of the project, which calls for the carriers to select a flagship 3G handset designed to appeal to the mass market. GSMA said it has asked handset vendors to submit proposals for a low-cost 3G mobile phone that can support services such as high-speed Internet, mobile TV and instant messaging.
Carriers will evaluate the handset proposals during the next several months, and the winning handset will be announced at the 3GSM World Congress next February in Barcelona. The GSMA endorsement of the handset will run from April 2007 through December 2007, said the group.
The program is essentially a bulk-buying effort, whereby the winning handset vendor can drive down manufacturing costs with a large purchase order from multiple carriers.
Last year, GSMA spearheaded a similar campaign that asked handset vendors to develop an ultra-low-cost GSM phone that could be marketed in developing countries. A sub-$40 handset designed by Motorola Inc. won the contest.
