For months, a little futuristic device dubbed Pogo has been generating a lot of hype among tech-savvy Brits and, perhaps, a quiet anxiety among wireless operators holding 3G licenses.

Creators of this mobile device, which enables users to browse the Web, make mobile calls, send e-mails and play games, Pogo Technology, claims it will make 3G networks obsolete before they are switched on.

In addition to a Web browser and standard mobile phone, the Pogo, which is roughly the same size and weight as a Palm handheld, has a slot for a memory card that can hold MP3 files. Users can input text using either a stylus or an on-screen keyboard.

But what sets the Pogo apart from other wireless gadgets is how it connects to the Internet. Rather than connect to GPRS networks to access the Web, Pogo uses traditional GSM networks and still manages to access data at speeds that are comparable to those achieved by most PC dial-up connections. It works by compressing HTML pages to approximately a sixth of their normal size and delivers them over a GSM network ready to be decoded by the Pogo at the other end. Pogo uses Lightweight IP technology to compress the data and then transmits only the information that is needed at any one time, dramatically reducing the bandwidth needed.

Pogo Technology is hoping its funky device will prove popular with teenagers who have a voracious appetite for wireless high-tech gadgetry and services.