United Kingdom ¡§C A growing number of manufacturers worldwide are launching new 3G/W-CDMA devices. The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) confirms that 272 W-CDMA user devices have been launched since the first week of January 2006, up 150 percent from last year's 108 products.

These W-CDMA devices include 14 products, which support HSDPA for high speed wireless broadband applications. W-CDMA/HSDPA operators are currently emphasizing the importance of GSM/EDGE for service continuity. GSA adds that the number of devices supporting W-CDMA and GSM/EDGE has risen to 31.

Since mid-2005, a total of 93 devices have been introduced to the market, confirming more than 50 percent growth in the last six months. The number of suppliers launching W-CDMA products has almost doubled in a year, from 20 to 37 at present.

Eighty percent of W-CDMA devices in the market today are targeted for the global 3G market, compared to 73 percent six months ago, with the remainder aimed at the FOMA market in Japan.

According to GSA, W-CDMA is fueling growth in 3G commercialization. About 100 3G/W-CDMA networks have launched commercial services in 42 countries, underlining W-CDMA as the leading 3G mobile communications system. In November 2005, W-CDMA subscriber base passed 40 million, up 140 percent since end-2004.