T-Mobile Stoke-Up 3G

18th March , 2004

Europe : T-Mobile will launch sales of its UMTS networks in Germany, Great Britain and Austria in May. Offers for new mobile data communications will be submitted to T-Mobile’s business and residential customers. Maximum bandwidths of up to 384 kbit/s can be obtained via the new network. In future, the networks launch will give T-Mobile customers access to a full-service offer for mobile voice and data communications via UMTS, GPRS or W-LAN. This integrated approach forms the basis for TM3, T-Mobile multimedia. In addition to high-performance technology, customers can expect services that are easy to use, innovative devices, transparent rates and a round-the-clock service for questions and requests.

"The new network is yet another vital building block in our Multimedia Network," explained René Obermann, Chairman of the Board of Management of T-Mobile International AG & Co. KG. "We will help our customers choose the optimal technology to suit their individual needs by providing innovative terminal equipment and services. Our target is easy-to-use, seamless communications. This is why we offer our customers T-Mobile multimedia, or – in other words – TM3. TM3 is more than UMTS. TM3 stands for multimedia services based on GPRS, UMTS and W-LAN. It is our hallmark in the field of mobile multimedia."

One of T-Mobile’s first offers is the new Communication Center which will be launched in May. The solution is easy to operate and consists of the Multimedia Net Card, a plug-in card for laptops and communications software for simple access to applications like the internet or e-mail. The Communication Center offers more flexibility and efficiency for business customers and can be used anywhere. In combination with W-LAN-capable notebooks, the Communication Center automatically ensures that the quickest T-Mobile network is chosen. At T-Mobile HotSpots, this is W-LAN, at all other locations 3G or GPRS, depending on availability.

T-Mobile has also based its cell phone portfolio on efficient handsets that support the T-Mobile multimedia, TM3, experience effectively: All models presented at CeBIT 2004 enable quick, uncomplicated access to t-zones, T-Mobile’s mobile online portal. For example, the Sharp TM100 takes T-Mobile customers directly into the mobile multimedia world by one press of a special t-zones button. The UMTS-capable Nokia 7600 supports the Mobile Jukebox service and the viewing of video clips via t-zones.

Jorma Ollila, Chairman and CEO, Nokia, supports T-Mobile’s strategy: "The TM3 strategy introduced by T-Mobile is an excellent step forward in advancing user friendliness in the area of mobile multimedia. At Nokia, we are looking forward to continuing our excellent collaboration with T-Mobile with terminals like our 3G-handsets, N-Gage, imaging and business devices as well as in the infrastructure business. The combination of advanced devices, compelling services and varied content opens up great growth opportunities for the mobile industry."

At CeBIT, T-Mobile is showing examples of innovative, seamless mobile services with the Mobile Jukebox and Mobile Newspaper presentations. Both services can be used with both GPRS-capable and 3G-capable mobile phones. With the Mobile Jukebox, users choose a title in t-music via the quick t-zones access, select the song and then download it as they like onto a GPRS or 3G mobile phone. At CeBIT, the Mobile Jukebox will provide several hundred titles. The marketing launch is planned for April 2004. With Mobile Newspaper, T-Mobile presents an information service that provides compact news articles with full text and colour photographs. Subscribers to the service receive updates at least twice a day, on news, sport, business and weather. T-Mobile plans to launch this service in the summer of this year.

New, volume-based rates supplement the T-Mobile multimedia offering. The new tariff option Data Flat 500, for example, is ideally suited to mobile data communications via 3G and GPRS. Up to 500 megabytes are included in the monthly basic price of EUR 110 in this option, which can be added to all T-Mobile Business rates. From May, customers will also be able to choose a time-based offer. In this case, customers would receive, for example, a certain quota of minutes per month for the transfer of mobile data. A seamless tariff model is planned for the summer, i. e. T-Mobile multimedia will offer a uniform tariff, regardless of whether customers surf the internet or call up e-mails via GPRS, 3G or W-LAN.

T-Mobile multimedia, TM3, also includes a competent customer service which will be available anywhere at any time. "We will combine customer service, rates, services and technology in one single offer and in that way lace together service packages that provide the best possible mobile multimedia experience for the whole spectrum of customer groups", said René Obermann.

At the marketing launch of 3G in Germany, T-Mobile will cover more than 200 cities and have a network coverage of 40 percent of the population, a figure that will rise to 50 percent by the end of 2004. With this achievement, Germany’s market leader has significantly outperformed the targets specified by the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts in conjunction with the procurement of the 3G license.

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