ZTE prototype supports both GSM and China's homegrown3G standard Chinese telecommunication equipment maker ZTE has developed a prototype handset that supports both GSM and China’s homegrown 3G (third generation) standard.The slim clamshell-design U80 handset, which was on display at the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU’s) Telecom World 2006 conference and exhibition in Hong Kong. offers support for both TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) as well as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) networks.China has yet to issue 3G licenses or announce when 3G services will be available. The country is widely expected to issue at least one or more licenses for TD-SCDMA, a 3G technology largely developed in China. A dual-mode handset that supports TD-SCDMA and GSM would allow users to switch between future 3G services and GSM networks, currently the most widely deployed cellular technology in China. The U80’s main display is a 262,000-color TFT (thin film transistor) LCD (liquid crystal display) screen with a resolution of 176 pixels by 220 pixels. A secondary display on the outside of the clamshell is a CSTN (color super-twist nematic) LCD screen with a resolution of 96 pixels by 64 pixels.The phone’s other features include a 1.3-megapixel camera that can swivel 180 degrees, allowing users to use the camera for video calls or to take photos. The software included support for English and the simplified Chinese characters used in China, as well as a media player capable of playing MP3 and AAC+ audio files, as well as MPEG4 and H.263 video files.Telecom World runs through Friday. Technology Industry