So, Vodafone launched their new 3G phones it looks like. According to The Industry Standard, they in are offering them in 12 European countries in addition to Japan. Nine handsets in Europe with seven made available in Japan, it looks like things are going to be heating up.

This was a wise move by Vodafone, but why did Japan get stiffed with only seven phones to choose from? I was truly shocked by this since Japan always gets all of the cools stuff first anyway.

Vodafone Group PLC formally rolled out its 3G (third-generation) mobile communication products and services in 12 European countries and Japan on Wednesday. The company expects 3G to begin gaining mass market acceptance next year, and forecasts over 10 million customers will be using its Vodafone Live portal with 3G services by March 2006 in it subsidiaries. “Our rough estimate is that the 3G service will be used by 10 percent of our base within the next 15 months,” said Vodafone Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arun Sarin in a press conference that was also broadcast over the Web.

Vodafone is seeking to make back its massive investment in 3G, including the �16.6 billion (US$30.8 billion) it spent on spectrum licenses four years ago. Competitors like Orange SA and the mobile arm of Deutsche Telekom AG, T-Mobile International AG, are taking a slightly more cautious approach with the launch of their 3G services, which are expected by the end of the year. Overall, Europe’s major mobile phone operators have spent more than �100 billion (US$129 billion) on 3G licenses.