Europe : As Vodafone gear up to launch 3G wireless services it is becoming clear that a number of emerging stepping stones are currently sliding into place.

These provide a learning curve prior to Vodafone launching full 3G wireless, thereby eliminating as many technical and handset issues as humanly possible.

Further to a current design-proving trial in Ireland, the company said it would have "friendly user trials" in place starting December, 2003.

3G services would be available on a limited basis in selected areas in April 2004, with mainstream handsets and packages coming nationwide in the middle of 2004.

It is predicted that Vodafone will not allocate a particular "brand name " like Vodafone 3G but are likely to continue with Vodafone Live - possibly calling it Vodafone Live PLUS or Vodafone Live 3G or similar.

Of course, Vodafone Live has been a great success with over 2 million subscribers and will be further aided by what Vodafone KK ( was J-Phone ) is learning in front-line Japan.

What is happening in Japan at the current time is likely to be replicated in other countries by Vodafone.

And yes, it is possible that the Sanyo 3G V801SA phone ( inset ) could be on sale in Europe in some form or other. Take a close look at this phone - it is branded Vodafone Global Standard.

In Japan, Vodafone K.K. commenced nationwide sales of the V801SA by Sanyo this month, a new 3G handset compatible with Vodafone Global Standard (VGS) for use not only in Japan but abroad as well.

With the launch of the V801SA, Vodafone K.K. simultaneously offer new Vodafone live! mobile internet services exclusively for VGS.

The V801SA is a dual mode handset that operates on Vodafone K.K.'s 3GPP-based W-CDMA network in Japan (with 97.7% network population coverage at the end of October 2003) and is capable of voice roaming in 81 countries and regions on GSM, the de facto mobile communications standard for 2G. In addition, the V801SA is capable of packet data roaming via GPRS in 26 countries and regions including the USA and China, making it possible for customers to enjoy Vodafone live! contents like Sha-mail picture messaging, Movie Sha-mail video messaging and web browsing in the same way abroad as in Japan.

Furthermore, Vodafone live! for VGS will offer customers 3G-exclusive rich and high-speed content like Chaku-uta(tm) ringsongs, and downloads of high-resolution QVGA-size (320 x 240 pixel) wallpaper and 15 to 30 second video clip files. Contents convenient for overseas travelers will also be available.