For the first time in the world, a video phone has been successfully connected to a 3G video mobile phone in Hong Kong, "3 Hong Kong", the solo 3G operator in Hong Kong, announced Thursday.

The company, joining hands with two other companies CK Communications Limited and Hutchison Global Communications Limited, has been successful in connecting video communications between 3 and Vfone users in Hong Kong, marking a major technological breakthrough.

Agnes Nardi, managing director of "3 Hong Kong", noted that "The launch of this world-first video communications service between 3 video mobile phone and Vfone can further enhance the video communications frontier, enabling the mass public to video call "3" users in the most user-friendly way via a simple dial from the Vfone."

No IDD charges will be involved for "3" users to make video calls with overseas Vfone users. Plans are in place to extend the pioneering connection between "3" and Vfone to other countries, further establishing a global network and community extensively using video-based communications. "3" users can conduct remote surveillance through Vfone anytime and anywhere.

To promote the benefits brought by the novel video connection, attractive special offers have been launched exclusively for "3" and Vfone customers.

"3" is the first and the only 3G operator in Hong Kong to provide video mobile communications services, while Vfone is the market leader in the provision of broadband video communications services.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2004)