[Jon3G]

I was casting my mind back to last year, when I thought about how most of us were discussing the launch date of the Z1010 and Orange and Vodafone launch dates. Wow what a time that was, all of us coming with different dates. That was the time when 3G was a distant thing and we all wanted it

mmmmmmm :)

[Ben]

The handset improvements in just a year have been promising to say the least. Coverage is widening, though technically speaking I'm still having the same old problems with Orange that I had last September! Oh, and Three now offer a data add-on for laptops, who knew!

Last Christmas really wasn't the 3G Christmas a lot of us wanted it to be. This year, however, should be a different kettle of fish.

[Jon3G]

The networks have come so much (so of them) and like predicted the big networks joining the 3G arena has really given 3 UK the kick it needed to offer better services and to open up the network. Some of us was also saying that 3 would not survive once the big 4 came out with 3G services and 3 are still going strong. I agree the 3G christmas is going to be big (hopefully) this year and it will bring a better value for money service and phone offering

[Hands0n]

Early days to predict the ultimate future of 3 - although I reckon it'll be around for a long time in one form or another (anyone remember One2One?). They won't be going away soon, but may end up with a different parent organisation. All power to them to succeed - but they have one or two things to attend to in the non-technical arena to improve their customer retention.

3G a year ago was very unpredicatable - we all knew that the incumbents would follow, they did after all buy licences. So it was more a matter of when rather than if. Now they're all [but] launched and even available, massive rollouts of their transmitters are to be seen everywhere (I've just inherited a new pair from 3 and O2 in an area where I've never had less than 5 bars-worth!!).

What content these will provide over their new 3G networks and portals is anyone's guess, although the currint lie of the land seems to be in so-called Chav content and soft porn (ugh!). But I'm sure that is going to widen (it better had) to bring in the interest of those who have no desire for such content. I think they'll all target the kiddies big time this Christmas season - some writings about going for the under-14s in the media of late!

Handsets have been a thoroughly interesting area as usual. We've all be thoroughly spoiled with what we can get on 2G. But the same has not been true of 3G ..... until recently perhaps. The most recent raft of 3G handsets are looking really quite good - following on from the monstrocities that we've seen in the recent past. I personally like the high-end multifunction handsets such as the Motorola A1000 and the Nokia 6680. But I also have been quite pleased to see the likes of the Nokia Series 40 and Samsung Z500 meet the top end (and much more compact) 2G handsets head on. I could see myself with one of each style (big all-singing and tiny and functional).

4Q2005 and 1Q2006 are going to be an interesting six months for 3G networks, content and peripheral products, I reckon. The Christmas offers from the networks to win our custom over should be entertaining if nothing else.

I'd not be so bold, however, to even consider predicting what 3G is going to be like in 12 months hence.............