Vodafone is to offer several thousand individuals access to the 3G version of its Live! service in a bid to give the network's consumer 3G offering a shakedown before its full commercial launch later this year.

The network launched its first 3G service, pitched at businesspeople and centred on its Mobile Connect notebook data card, in April this year. Since then it has conducted trials of a consumer service, this time focused on handsets rather than PCs, and based on its Live! multimedia offering.

The first triallists for Live! 3D will be selected from among customers living in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. Vodafone didn't say how they will be selected, but triallists will be given either a Samsung Z105 or Sony Ericsson Z1010 handset. A wider selection of phones will be offered when the service is launched commercially.

Would-be triallists can register their interest here.

Live! 3G will offer faster games and ringtone downloads, along with video calls, messaging and streaming. ®

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