Vodafone completes first 3G phone call

Vodafone has successfully made the first phone call over its third generation (3G) mobile phone network, it claimed today.

The "live voice" call, claimed by Vodafone to be the first in the UK, was made yesterday using the company's 3G network in the Thames Valley.

The group hailed the move as a major "landmark" on the way to making 3G mobiles available to the public next year.

Vodafone paid £5.9 billion last year to obtain 3G licences for the UK. It believes the phones will be a huge hit with the public, as 3G technology will provide users with high-speed access to the internet, the ability to view film and TV clips and videoconferencing facilities.

Vodafone has already launched a service to provide mobile phone users with faster access to the internet, its General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), available commercially later this year.

Vodafone shares fell 10 pence to 206 pence in early deals, hit by a Deutsche Bank price downgrade and a more general sell-off in tech and telecom issues in the wake of poor results from both Philips and Cisco.

The shares remain below the price (£2.20 sterling) at which Eircom can withdraw from the sale of its mobile phone subsidiary Eircell to Vodafone without financial penalty.

Eircom’s shareholders will this week receive the Vodafone offer document setting out voting resolutions on the sale of Eircell ahead of its extraordinary general meeting on May 11th.

(Additional reporting PA