Optus launches 3G

Number two telecommunications provider Optus today unveiled its third-generation mobile service offerings, following bitter rivals Hutchison, Telstra and Vodafone into the high-speed arena.

Optus today officially launched services in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, the Brisbane central business district and airport, Adelaide airport and Perth airport. They are expected to be progressively offered to customers over the next two weeks.

The company said it would offer a mobile instant messaging service in partnership with the Microsoft/Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd venture ninemsn and a notebook datacard that allows roaming across GSM, 3G and Wi-Fi networks.

The messaging service is being offered free of charge until 1 February 2006, from when it will be charged at 95 cents unlimited use per day or AU$5.95 unlimited for a month.

The service is being launched with four capped plans ranging from AU$49 to AU$89 and five subsidised handsets, the Nokia N70, Nokia 6680, Samsung Z140, Samsung Z500 and Sony Ericsson K600i.

Optus' consumer managing director, Allen Lew, said the company would also offer a portal called MyZooNow whereby information would be updated and pushed to mobile handsets.

Optus and Vodafone finalised an agreement to build and operate a national 3G network on 19 November 2004. The initial build-out of more than 2,000 base stations covering the six major capital cities is scheduled for completion by March 2007, the companies said.

Vodafone unveiled its service on 31 October, following Telstra in September and Hutchison in April 2003.