O2 is on the verge of flicking the switch on its latest super-fast mobile service. The Isle of Man will see the first commercial launch of an HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) network service in Europe when it goes live on November 1, say those behind the scheme.

Once up and running, customers will be able to use their mobile phones to watch DVD-quality streaming video and download whopping great big files including music tracks. Oh, and they'll be able to make phone call too.

Said Chris Hall, MD of O2 subsidiary Manx Telecom: "[Our] vision is to provide services that enrich people's lives - wherever they are and whenever they want them.

"Our advanced network on the Isle of Man serves as a showcase of the tremendous opportunity offered by the latest technology to our customers." ®

Related stories

Vodafone readies HSDPA 3G card for notebooks (24 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/24/vodafone_mobile_connect_card_broadband/
O2 ups revs and punters (14 November 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/14/o2_interims/
O2 to offer UK 'super 3G' data network by Q3 06 (9 November 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/09/o2_3g_hsdpa/
Deutsche Telekom backs away from O2 counterbid (2 November 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/02/deutsche_o2/
Union demands assurances over O2 jobs (1 November 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/01/o2_cwu/
Spain's Telefonica to buy O2 (31 October 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/31/o2_telefonica/
T-Mobile goes large on mobile net access (6 October 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/06/t_mobile_internet/
4m people dial-up Voda's 3G service (19 September 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/19/vodafone_3g/
HSDPA in Germany next year (22 July 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/22/hsdpa_gernany/
HSDPA is faster 3G - in theory (but where are the phones?) (2 May 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/05/02/hspda_market_forecasts/
Intel pledges to fix WiMAX mode muddle (14 April 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/14/802-16_wimax_muddle/
Using 3G wireless for domestic broadband (28 March 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/28/using_3g_for_domestic_broadband/
WiMAX hype peaks (24 March 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/24/wimax_gartner_outlook/