X-Series from 3 launched

Hutchison Whampoa Limited announced the global launch of the X-Series from 3. The X-Series from 3 marks the beginning of the Internet via mobile broadband, and heralds a new way of doing business for mobile network operators. It will extend several of the core applications and uses of the broadband Internet to the mobile handset, with a new pricing model. The X-Series from 3 will be supported by the leading Internet companies, cutting-edge handsets from the world’s leading mobile manufacturers and premium customer service.

Customers will be able to make unlimited calls from their mobile using Skype
, watch their home television via their mobile using Sling, access their home PC remotely using Orb and have access to the best of Internet and messaging services from Yahoo!, Windows Live Messenger and Google (NSDQ: GOOG).

The X-Series from 3 will be priced like fixed line broadband. It will offer use of mobile Internet services free at the time of use, for a flat fee. The X-Series from 3 will be available in the UK from the 1st December 2006 and in 3’s other markets around the world in early 2007. Each 3 company will provide further details as they launch X-Series in their markets.

With X-Series, the 3 Group is sharing the power of mobile broadband with its Internet partners and above all, with its customers who will get more of what they want, when they want it, how they want it, and without fear of hidden charges every step of the way at the point of use. At the launch presentation the 3 Group announced global partnerships with major Internet brands Sling Media, Orb and Google. These partnerships build on global agreements announced earlier this year with Skype, Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) and Yahoo!

New Charging Structure
X-Series customers will be charged flat access fees for X-Series mobile broadband services on top of their basic subscription. The access fees will include all you can Skype, all you can chat by instant text message and all you can search and browse. There will initially be an additional access fee for customers who also take higher-bandwidth services like Sling and Orb. Just like the fixed line Internet, all X-Series services will be free at the point of use, subject only to fair usage limits.

Voice
An X-Series customer will be able to make and receive unlimited Skype calls with Skype PC users anywhere in the world, and to any other Skype 3 mobile customer. Skype to Skype calls on a 3 mobile will be free.

Your TV where you are
An X-Series customer who purchases a Slingbox will be able to watch anything they are able to watch on their own TV, including their terrestrial TV, Freeview, cable, and satellite TV, at the same time, on their mobile. Slingbox will also let X-Series customers control their home personal video recorder (PVR) to watch shows they have recorded, pause and rewind live TV, or even queue a recording when away from home using their mobile.

Your PC where you are
Using Orb means people can access the digital content that they have stored on their PC at home, including music files, playlists, digital photos and videos, on their X-Series handset. Orb has specifically designed a user interface for X-Series handsets, which will ensure the X-Series customers taking Orb will receive the best user experience.

Messaging
X-Series from 3 will offer customers text instant messages, to or from Windows Live Messenger or Yahoo! Messenger, to another X-Series handset, or a PC. Sending and receiving text instant messages with an X-Series mobile will be free.

Open Internet Access and Search
Customers will be able to search the Internet without limitation from their mobile using a Google or Yahoo search engine, depending on their choice and the search services available in their country. Searching and browsing the Internet on mobile will be free.

The best Internet shopping with eBay
X-Series customers will be able to shop on eBay real-time. Searching and browsing and bidding will be free. This will give eBay users with access to 3 the ability to enjoy enhanced opportunities to buy and sell on the go and not just in front of their PCs. With 3 and X-Series, eBay sellers and buyers will be able to stay connected to one another when and where they want.

Cutting edge handsets
The global launch of the X-Series from 3 is being made possible by the first two handsets that will support this full range of services: the Nokia N73 and the Sony Ericsson W950i.