Isle of Man rivals Japan in introducing new mobile phone

LONDON - The Isle of Man, more noted for its annual motorcycle race, is about to make digital history by introducing the first new-generation mobile phone.

The island is the first place in Europe to take delivery of a single 3G handset and is taking on the technological might of Japan's DoCoMo to become the first to "go live" with broadband technology.

The third-generation mobile phone is considered revolutionary because it will make the internet mobile by delivering high-speed data to phones, thanks to large capacity.

Manx Telecom chose the island as a testing ground for the new network because its 75,000 residents offered a "controlled testing environment." The local authorities waived the broadband licence.

Engineers are adapting telephone masts in a bid to meet next month's deadline to make the world's first 3G telephone call.

Data services - including video clips and online games - will not be available for some months.

Manx Telecom chief executive Chris Hall said: "To have the opportunity to hold the first handset to arrive in Europe is exciting. We see this as important to the industry."

- INDEPENDENT