11:30 AM -- Orange France plans to launch a 3G version of its successful Unik dualmode GSM/WiFi service next year as soon as dualmode 3G/WiFi handsets are available, Unstrung has learned. (See Orange Builds on FMC Base and Orange Doubles FMC Customers.)

The news is not surprising, considering that Orange has pushed the dualmode service most aggressively among European operators and has now sold more than 500,000 dualmode GSM/WiFi Unik handsets, according to an industry source.

The first dualmode 3G/WiFi handsets are expected in the third quarter of next year. (See UMA Nears 3GPP Approval.)

— Michelle Donegan, European Editor, Unstrung