today announced 3’s intention to launch handsets based on QUALCOMM’s BREW® solution.  Always seeking to push the boundaries of mobile content and improve the quality and performance of the data services it offers its subscribers, 3 plans to leverage the BREW solution to offer highly-integrated, feature-rich applications.  3’s success with its X-Series open mobile Internet proposition will be further enhanced by deploying services and applications that fully capitalize on the low level API access, and over-the-air downloading capabilities, that BREW inherently provides.
 
3, recognized as one of the most innovative mobile operators in the world, with high data penetration and multimedia-content usage, intends to tap into the global community of BREW developers that provide thousands of innovative applications and services to the ecosystem.  The worldwide community of publishers and developers has earned more than $1 billion from the sale of BREW applications and services since the first commercial deployment of BREW services in November 2001.
 
“3 has again proven itself as an innovative operator with its decision to launch BREW handsets, which will extend an integrated mobile Internet experience,” said Bob Briggs, senior vice president and general manager, BREW for QUALCOMM Internet Services.  “The rapid growth of BREW applications and services is further proof of the value that leading operators, such as 3, are finding in our offerings and solutions.”

Andrew Gilbert, President QUALCOMM Europe added, “We are very excited to have 3 as a BREW customer in Europe and is yet another sign that QUALCOMM's efforts in the region are reaping rewards. QUALCOMM has long been working and partnering with European operators to provide consumers with more choice, more feature-rich handsets and lower prices for 3G devices and applications and this agreement with 3 will continue this trend. The BREW portfolio in Western Europe now includes 3, O2 and Telecom Italia and the momentum created by these operators is benefiting developers in Europe and beyond. BREW publisher/developer earnings topped $1bn in March 2007 and the addition of 3 will contribute more revenues from Europe to this community.
 
QUALCOMM supports the efforts of 3 in their success in delivering true differentiation for 3G users, not just in the speed of data delivery but as importantly the ease of using multiple services on a mobile device.”
 
“3 has always been dedicated to offering customers the best possible mobile Internet experience, and we believe this launch will allow us to extend this philosophy even further,” said Frank Meehan, director and general manager, global 3G handset and application group, Hutchison Whampoa Limited.  “Using BREW, we can embed applications on the handset to deliver a single integrated user experience, which in turn will encourage take-up of our services.” 
 
The 3 Group is a division of Hutchison Whampoa and holds licenses in 11 markets with total population coverage of approximately 175 million. Marketed globally under the 3 brand, the group was the first operator in the world to provide dual-mode 3G services. To date, 3 has launched commercial 3G services in Italy, the United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Hong Kong, Israel and Ireland.  Hutchison announced more than 13.5 million customers in August 2006.  For more information about 3, please visit: www.three.com
 
BREW creates opportunities for the wireless industry to enhance consumers’ mobile data experience.  QUALCOMM’s comprehensive and targeted BREW Signature Solutions offer reduced time to market and lower capital investment for companies providing mobile products and services.