New HTC Touch 3G Immerse Yourself in Ultra-Fast Internet and Touch Screen Control So Effortless
The Taiwanese smartphone maker has launched a touch-screen HSDPA-enabled smartphone capable of downlink speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps. Following the recent release of the touch-screen BlackBerry Storm, the HTC Touch 3G is yet another touch-screen 3G device from a major smartphone maker that attempts to fire back at Apple’s iPhone. The HTC Touch 3G, which is initially exclusively available from Hong Kong’s PCCW Mobile, will face competition from other rival touch-screen smartphones, such as the BlackBerry Storm, Google’s Android G1, Nokia's 5800, Samsung's Omnia, and Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1.

MTS Launches 3G Networks in Chelyabinsk and Irkutsk
Russia’s leading mobile operator MTS expands coverage of its 3G HSPA-enabled network to Chelyabinsk and Irkutsk. The company, which had launched in Russia in May 2008, plans to reach 14 cities in total by the end of 2008 and 14 cities by the end of 2009. The company also holds UMTS licenses in Uzbekistan and Armenia, where it intends to deploy 3G services in 2009. 3G services have boosted MTS’s revenue from value-added services (VAS), with VAS share of average revenue per user (ARPU) reaching 14.8% in the third quarter of 2008 from 13.7% in the same period last year.

TRC announces issuing the statement on licensing the use of 3G cellular communications Technologies Radio Frequencies in Jordan
The Jordanian telecoms regulator reveals plans to issue four 15-year UMTS licences in a two-stage process scheduled to start in mid-December 2008. In the first phase, one 3G licence will be auctioned in a tender that will be open to all the incumbent operators and new entrants, with the winner to be announced at the end of January 2009. The minimum price for a paired block (2x5MHz) in the 2.1 GHz band has been set at JOD25 million (US$35.3 million), with bidders free to acquire one block of 10, 15 or 20 MHz of paired spectrum. After the subsequent 10-month separation period, the TRC will offer three UMTS licences (10MHz each) to the existing mobile operators, like Orange, Zain and Umniah, that have not won the tender, at the price established in the initial auction. The regulator will then open a new tender for the remaining 2G spectrum in the 900 and 1800 MHz band, priced at 130% of the cost of the 3G spectrum. It will be open to the 3G licence holders. According to the current 3G rollout requirements, Jordanians will have access to 3G services in major cities in 2010.

DNA Launches Even More Affordable Subscription Option DNA Mainio
Finland’s third largest mobile operator has launched a partially ad-funded mobile tariff plan branded Mainio, inspired by the European ad-sponsored MVNO Blyk. DNA expects that Mainio will boost the usage of MMS and video calls by its 3G customers. Mainio features marketing messages sent through SMS, MMS and e-mail. Mobile operators gradually turn to mobile advertising as a potentially lucrative new revenue stream. The example of Blyk has proven mobile advertising to be a successful advertising medium with the younger audiences.