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(Hong Kong, 15 Dec 2003) Hutchison Whampoa (HWL) today marked an important development of 3 in Hong Kong by unveiling a range of exciting and innovative video mobile services made possible by the company's ground breaking 3G technology.
3 will deliver to customers an integrated information, communication and entertainment service on its new generation of mobile phones, which also offer video calling and video messaging.
HWL Group Managing Director Canning Fok hailed the announcement as a breakthrough for the telecommunications industry in Hong Kong. He also welcomed it as a huge opportunity for people in Hong Kong to easily gather and share personal and professional information while on the move.
"What we are going to offer has not been seen here before, but it will become a part of your everyday life," Mr Fok said.
Mr Fok demonstrated the "3 Daily express" feature at a media conference. This feature is extremely easy-to-use, allowing customers to receive a host of information and entertainment services in video, delivered automatically throughout the day in the same way as they receive SMS. The services are so user-friendly that customers will have no difficulty in using them.
The services Mr Fok demonstrated include news, business information, weather details and traffic updates. He also displayed the "3 Home watch" service, which offers users with a high-quality and smooth live mobile video service showing what is happening at home via an installed web camera by calling in from anywhere in Hong Kong and overseas where there are 3 networks.
For the customers who are more interested in entertainment than business, 3 is offering them many more services such as the latest music videos, movie clips, football clips from the English Premier League and the Italian Serie A League, delivered through the video streaming capability of 3G technology.
Mr Fok demonstrated the "wow factor" of person-to-person video calling by linking up with Mr Kevin Russell, CEO of 3 Australia in Sydney.
Hong Kong's 3 customers will be able to make video calls to Australia, Austria, Italy, Japan, the UK, Sweden and Denmark, and the network of such countries is expanding rapidly.
Latest 3G video mobile phone from NEC
Hutchison and NEC also launched the latest NEC 616 video mobile phone, which will help revolutionize mobile telephony through 3G technology.
This is the new generation of 3G video mobile phones featuring a slim, cutting edge style, and is loaded with video and audio streaming, Global Positioning Satellite technology for enhanced location services, Bluetooth connectivity, memory card support, dual display and camera light.
"NEC is our supplier for both video mobile phones and the 3G radio network, and is also a shareholder in our 3 Hong Kong operations. Together with our joint venture partner NTT DoCoMo, we are very pleased to announce this important handset launch and most importantly to know that we share NEC's full support for the future," Mr Fok said.
NEC Corporation President Mr Akinobu Kanasugi said, "Hutchison and NEC have been sharing the same goals since we decided to pursue the 3G business together. NEC is pleased to introduce the new 3G video mobile phone. By the end of this month, we will be able to make available one million of the 616 video mobile phones to Hutchison, and by end of the first quarter of 2004, another 1.5 million, giving a total of 2.5 million. As a long-standing strategic partner, NEC will fully support and contribute to Hutchison's 3G operations with our competence and know-how in mobile internet, 3G video mobile phones and infrastructure technologies."
Details of 3 service offerings in Hong Kong
"We are very pleased that 3 Hong Kong can leverage on the resources of the global Hutchison 3G Group to be the first operator to bring these exciting mobile video services to Hong Kong. Deploying state-of-the-art technology, we will offer mobile video calling, video messaging, Webcall, real time high quality video service showing what is happening at home or showing the traffic condition, as well as a vast range of video infotainment services. All these services are provided in a very user-friendly manner and the content portfolio will continue to be enriched," said 3 Hong Kong Managing Director Mrs Agnes Nardi.
The NEC 616 video mobile phone will be available in Hong Kong at HK$3,980 each for a purchase of two sets or more. 3's tariffs will be simple and flexible. Tailored to meet the different usage patterns of customers, 3 is offering three basic plans. The monthly charges vary from HK$263 to HK$533. All tariff plans, which include video and voice minutes plus multimedia messaging and content, are designed to enable users to enjoy the entire range of 3 services. "3 Daily express" will be offered free of charge* and attractive offers for "3 Webcall" and "3 Home watch" will be provided to enhance user experience.
3 customers will also enjoy promotional offers including free** content consumption for the first two months including text and multimedia content download and streaming. In addition, free intra-network SMS will be offered for the first twelve months.
* Free scheduled alert services for selected information update. Normal usage charge will apply for the content download or streaming thus triggered.
** Surcharge for premium content is applicable.
Photo captions
 Download (453 KB) 1. Mr Canning Fok, Group Managing Director of Hutchison Whampoa Limited showing off the NEC 616 |
 Download (282 KB) 2. Mr Canning Fok, Group Managing Director of Hutchison Whampoa and Mr Akinobu Kanasugi, President of NEC Corp launching the latest video phone NEC 616. |
 Download (930 KB) 3. Mr Canning Fok, Group Managing Director of Hutchison Whampoa (2nd on the left); Mr Akinobu Kanasugi, President of NEC Corp (2nd on the right); Mrs Agnes Nardi, Managing Director of 3 HK; and Mr Tsutomu Nakamura, Senior Vice President of NEC Corp unveiling the services and the latest video phone NEC 616. |
 Download (118 KB) 4. Mr Canning Fok kicking off the unveiling ceremony of the NEC 616 and the introduction of 3 to Hong Kong |
 Download (167 KB) 5. Latest Generation of NEC 616 3G Video Mobile Phone |
For the webcast of today's press conference, please visit :
http://events8.broadcastone.net/0013/20031215/default.htm
About Hutchison Whampoa Limited
Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL), one of the largest companies listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, is the holding company of the Hutchison Whampoa Group of companies. As one of the earliest big "hongs", or trading companies, in Hong Kong, Hutchison's history dates back to the 1800s. Today, HWL is a multi-national conglomerate with businesses spanning 39 countries. With around 167,000 employees worldwide, Hutchison operates and invests in five core businesses: ports and related services; telecommunications; property and hotels; retail and manufacturing; and energy and infrastructure.
Its flagship companies include Hutchison Port Holdings, Hutchison Telecom, Hutchison Whampoa Properties, A. S. Watson, and Cheung Kong Infrastructure. In 2002, HWL's consolidated revenue was HK$111,129 million (US$14,247 million).
Hutchison 3G (H3G) is a division of HWL and is the leading global player in the 3G arena, holding licences in ten markets with total population coverage of approx. 175 million. These include Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Norway, the UK and Sweden.
In less than three years, H3G has built an entirely new network, achieving probably the world's fastest rollout of a radio network in the entire telecom industry. Marketed globally under the 3 brand, H3G is the first operator in the world to provide dual-mode 3G services. To date, 3 services have commenced in Italy, the UK, Australia, Austria, Sweden and Denmark.
For more information, please visit www.hutchison-whampoa.com
About NEC
NEC is one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. Ranked as one of the world's top patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of approximately US$40 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2003.
For additional information, please visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com.
About Hutchison 3G HK Limited
Hutchison 3G HK Limited ("Hutchison 3G HK"), a subsidiary of Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) Limited, is the holder of a 3G licence in Hong Kong. Hutchison 3G HK is jointly owned by Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL) (71%), NTT DoCoMo, Inc (24%) and NEC Corporation (5%).
Hutchison 3G HK will be the first operator in Hong Kong to roll out 3G service, forming an integral part of HWL's global 3G footprint. 3 offers a rich portfolio of ground-breaking video mobile communication services including video call, video messaging, news, financial updates, sports and football highlights, remote surveillance, traffic condition, weather report, movie preview, music and location-based services.
For more information, please visit www.three.com.hk
Media Contact
| Hutchison Whampoa Limited Laura Cheung Tel: (852) 2128 1289 Email: laurac@hwl.com.hk |
NEC Corporation Akiko Shikimori, Ken Fukuchi Tel: +81 90 22137807 (Only on the date of this press announcement) Tel: +81 3 3798-6511 Email: a-shikimori@ay.jp.nec.com |
| Hutchison 3G HK Limited Frances Ng Tel: (852) 2128 2104 Email: frances.ng@hthk.com |
NEC Europe Ltd Chris Shimizu Tel:+44 20 8752 2794 Email: chris.shimizu@uk.neceur.com |
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