Europe : No 3G " pay as you go " this Christmas in the UK.

For the past few weeks it had been touch and go if 3 would get the 50K or so "pay as you go" 3G handsets in the shops before Xmas.

It now looks as if Santa 3 has let this window of opportunity drift away. Inset left is the Motorola A920 - one of the 3G handsets Santa could be bringing to 3 customers this Xmas.

Next year, 3 will have 3 or so other operators in the UK to battle for the Xmas sales, as other operators launch 3G in the UK in 2004.

A real shame as 3 definately had a huge opportunity this Xmas.

This also probably means that 3 have no phones to sell other than the current contract ones. Admittedly, the Motorola A920 and A835 are on sale but they are unlikely to cause a storm this Xmas as many potential 3G mobile phone buyers wait for the Sony Ericcson Z1010 and the new NEC e616.

The e616 is reported to have suffered a minor set-back in Japan where manufacture ( NEC ) is taking place. NEC is now gearing up for shipping to the UK. The first batches of the phone could well be in the UK prior to Xmas but it is unknown if there be enough to claim that the handset is launched.

There is also rumour of 3 offering handset upgrades to existing 3 customers, early in the New Year. This is desperately needed to keep happy and retain existing customers who are becoming increasingly unhappy with the early 3 handsets.