Jane Chen/ Shanghai Daily news

Keeping a close eye on China's pending issuing of a license for third-generation telecommunications technology, mobile phone makers from home and abroad are stepping up 3G development and readying themselves for stiff competition.
China will probably issue the first 3G license in the middle of next year, today's Beijing Daily Messenger newspaper reported, citing an insider.
Once the license is issued and the 3G market opens, U.S.-based electronic giant Motorola Inc. will introduce its latest 3G phone terminals here, according to Patrick S. Kung, Motorola's Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Personal Communications Sector, North Asia.
Motorola displayed five new 3G handsets at the PT Expo Comm China 2004 in late October and attracted worldwide attention.
Motorola plans to hit the world market in the coming Christmas and New Year period; these new models are also being prepared for China's market, Kung said.
"They will strengthen our leading position in the global 3G sector", he added.
Having earmarked more than US$1 billion in 3G development, Motorola expects to add more investment in phone terminals if China starts commercial use of 3G technologies.
Home-grown phone makers are also supporting 3G development.
Amoi Electronics Co Ltd, one of China's most profitable mobile phone manufactures, has unveiled its timetable for 3G products after pouring more than 100 million yuan (US$12 million) into this sector.
Amoi has reached an application agreement for CDMA, or Code Division Multiple Access, with the technology's patent developer, Qualcomm Inc. As well as the quality of his products, Amoi's President Li Xiaozhong has confidence in their price advantage. An example of his price strategy is that Amoi has unveiled a promotion this week for its new low-priced phones with 1 mega-pixel digital cameras. Priced at 2,680 yuan, these phones are nearly 2,000 yuan cheaper than other products on the market.