The first phase of M1's trials, held from Nov. 25 to Jan. 3, will involve 100 corporate customers. Users will be given Novatel Wireless PC cards for 3G data access via laptops.
A handset trial has also been planned next month for 200 of M1's consumers and corporate customers.
According to M1 CEO Neil Montefiore, the carrier expects to commercially launch the high-speed mobile data service between March and June next year. It is currently evaluating 3G pricing models, and may introduce both bundled offerings and specific service charges, he added.
"We see 3G as very much an evolutionary upgrade rather than a big-bang revolution," said Montefiore.
When contacted, Singapore's third operator StarHub revealed that it will be conducting 3G customer trials next month, with the commercial launch following in the first half of 2005.
"Clearly, sports, music, news, information, and entertainment are initial areas of focus, and are areas of strengths for StarHub due to its CableTV business," said Chan Kin Hung, head of StarHub's Mobile Services.
The moves follow SingTel's announcement of trials in September. 3G, which provides higher mobile data rates, allows users to access applications such as full-motion video, video-conferencing, and multimedia Internet access.
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