The third-generation (3G) licence frenzy has left mobile operators with empty pockets and a head full of hype, wondering whether they can find a killer app to justify the billions spent on the licences.
With the stepping stone platform GPRS, or 2.5G, suffering from technical and commercial difficulties, it looks like the 3G rollout could be some way off.
vnunet.com looks beyond the hype to see whether the operators have wasted their money or whether end users will be paying through the nose for next-generation services.