Japan's Vodafone K.K. says that it will shortly start selling the V801SA by Sanyo, a new 3G handset compatible with Vodafone Global Standard (VGS) for use not only in Japan but abroad as well.

With the launch of the V801SA, Vodafone K.K. will simultaneously offer new Vodafone live! mobile internet services exclusively for VGS.

The V801SA is a dual mode handset that operates on Vodafone K.K.’s 3GPP-based W-CDMA network in Japan (with 97.7% network population coverage at the end of October 2003) and is capable of voice roaming in 81 countries and regions on GSM (900/1800/1900MHz), the de facto mobile communications standard for 2G.

In addition, the V801SA is capable of packet data roaming via GPRS in 26 countries and regions including the USA and China, making it possible for customers to enjoy Vodafone live! contents like Sha-mail picture messaging, Movie Sha-mail video messaging and web browsing in the same way abroad as in Japan.

Furthermore, Vodafone live! for VGS will offer customers 3G-exclusive rich and high-speed content like Chaku-uta ringsongs, and downloads of high-resolution QVGA-size (320 x 240 pixel) wallpaper and 15 to 30 second video clip files.

Contents convenient for overseas travelers will also be available. In conjunction with the launch of Vodafone live! for VGS, Vodafone K.K. will offer “Vodafone Happy Packet”, a packet data communications discount service that offers savings of up to 80%.

With Vodafone Happy Packet, VGS customers will be able to send large-size mails and enjoy high-speed web browsing at even greater value.

Vodafone K.K. will also strive to expand network area coverage for greater convenience.