According to Qualcomm Chief Executive, Dr. Irwin Jacobs, China has delayed the long-awaited decision on next-generation mobile phones until 2004 to conduct more tests and consider issues such as how to afford the networks.

This means that cellphone technology vendors will continue to have to wait to start building third generation networks offering high-speed data services.

"Originally I thought a decision would be made before the end of this year. I think it's clear now that that will go into next year," Jacobs told reporters during a visit to Beijing. The Ministry of Information Industries is holding new tests of different 3G technologies, and a final report on the results is now not expected until September 2004. "There's been a lot of testing, clearly a lot of discussion," Jacobs said.