TD-SCDMA 3G handset sales lackluster

Only about 3,000 handsets operating on TD-SCDMA, China’s homegrown third generation mobile technology (3G) standard, have been sold since the launch of commercial trials in April, the South China Morning Post reported. Industry insiders told the paper that TD-SCDMA sales had been hurt by poor signal strength on TD-SCDMA trial networks and low numbers of handset models. China Mobile launched TD-SCDMA trial services in April to 20,000 users and the firm plans to invite up to 60,000 of its subscribers to join the TD-SCDMA service. China Mobile is expected to receive a TD-SCDMA 3G license following the completion of a restructuring of China’s telecom industry in the third quarter.