Nokia Slams Motorola on Euro 3G

This column was originally published on RealMoney on Oct. 7 at 2:11 p.m. EDT. It's being republished as a bonus for TheStreet.com readers.

Last winter, a strong market share in the nascent 3G phone market was one of Motorola's (MOT Quote) key advantages. Well, over the past two weeks, Nokia's(NOK Quote) new high-end phones have captured the lead in the European 3G race, and now the clock is ticking for Motorola, which must get the long-anticipated V3x and A1010 out within weeks to avoid a 3G market-share tumble.

This Christmas is widely expected to be a turning point for leading European mobile operators. This is the juncture where these companies begin to push 3G services seriously, trying to shift their customers from the second-generation GSM services to third-generation W-CDMA technology.

Last winter, W-CDMA phones were 160-200 gram abominations that were widely shunned by most consumers. This winter's new models are expected to have a better shot at mainstream success. The new wave of 120-130 gram models boast key novelties such as 2-megapixel camera phones and 250-K color displays. ...