Vodafone live! will be enhanced by 3G technology in a series of phases. This will bring consumers improved quality, sound, pictures and videos, as well as increased speed when downloading games and ringtones. They will also be able to access a select range of new services such as video calling, video downloads (sport, news, music and general entertainment) and the streaming of live events to their handset, as well as existing services such as video messaging.

For the consumer market, initially this will be on two new handsets - the Samsung Z105 shortly followed by the Sony Ericsson Z1010.

Currently, Vodafone live! with 3G is available on the Samsung Z105 handset in selected retail outlets in Germany and Portugal. Other countries will follow in the coming months.

Vodafone live! with 3G will be enhanced later this year, when there will be a wider selection of handsets available, together with an even more extensive range of content.

Peter Bamford, Chief Marketing Officer, said: "Today's announcement is another important stage in Vodafone's 3G journey and follows the successful European launch of our 3G Vodafone Mobile Connect Card for business customers.

"Extensive consumer trials of Vodafone live! with 3G indicate that early adopters are keen to try this technology and so we are giving them a taste of it prior to the full launch of enhanced services later in the year."