Hutchison has revealed detailed plans for the UK's first third-generation mobile phone service, which will enable users to send video messages, download music and watch football and film clips on their phones.
The delayed launch date for the service, called 3, has yet to be confirmed. However, Hutchison today gave details of two subscription plans for UK customers.
Analysts and rival mobile operators have been keeping a close eye on Hutchison's plans for 3 to see how the market takes to the new services.
The two subscription offers are aimed at heavy users - who are likely to drive the early adoption of 3G phones - and will come suitably heavy price tags.
A bundle of voice calls, video calls, picture messages and internet content such as instant goal highlights will be available for either £59.99 or £99.99 a month.
Only 20,000 of the packages will available initially. Hutchison is phasing in the launch of the network gradually in the hope of avoiding technical difficulties.
Those signing up to the service will also have to buy a new handset, costing from £399.99, although these are likely to come down in price as new packages become available.
Hutchison refused to confirm the number of call minutes that would be included in the offer.
However, subscribers to one of Hutchison's Italian 3G plans will pay £54 a month for 40 hours of voice calls, 40 hours of video calls and about 400 content downloads.
This is still far more than most contract customers now pay for conventional mobile services and analysts are sceptical as to whether Hutchison will be able to persuade users to switch networks.
The company planned to launch 3 before the end of the year but a series of delays have forced it to push back the date.
Hutchison, whose businesses span sports, property and retail, said it was only weeks away from launching 3 commercially in the UK and Italy but analysts believe it may wait until March to introduce the services.
Vodafone and Orange recently admitted they were unlikely to launch 3G services before the end of next year, despite spending £22.5bn on licences between them.
Hutchison has also revamped its three websites to offer examples of the services and handsets on offer.
