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Vodafone's 3G services can only be accessed by 60% of Britons
Which? has recommended that people do not buy third generation (3G) mobiles, which can be used for video calls.
The consumer group says UK network coverage for 3G is too limited to make the cost of the phones worthwhile.
Phone users should stick to existing handsets until 3G coverage improves outside big cities, says Which?.
But 3G operator Hutchison said it covered 80% of the UK population and accused Which? of "a lack of understanding".
'Bulky phones'
Four years ago, mobile phone networks invested £22bn in the 3G licences.
Hutchison launched its 3 service in Britain last year, while Vodafone followed suit last month.
Competitors Orange and T-Mobile are expected to launch by the end of the year.
Firms were hoping to claw back some of their investment in the technology in the run-up to Christmas.
We'll be keeping an eye over the coming months to see if they, and the networks, live up to their hype
Malcolm Coles
Which?
Dreaming of a 3G Christmas
Vodafone's 3G services can only be accessed by 60% of the British population at the moment, although it has pledged to increase this to 80% by 2007.
Meanwhile, Hutchison says its 3 network covers 80% of the population.
"There are teething problems with 3G phones and coverage so we recommend sticking with a 2G phone for the time being," Malcolm Coles of Which? said.
"We'll be keeping an eye over the coming months to see if they, and the networks, live up to their hype."
Which? also describes some of the 3G handsets as "bulky".
But Edward Brewster, head of external relations at 3 Mobile, accused Which? of a "lack of understanding" of the market.
He said: "On 3 Mobile, 80% of the British public can access our 3G video mobile services, that's 48 million - around 12 million more than our nearest competitor.
"And 99% can access our voice services and in ever increasing numbers."
Which? was also "mistaken" on the issue of quality and size of 3G handsets with the lightest weighing in at 114g and offering increased functionality, he added.
Which? has recommended that people do not buy third generation (3G) mobiles, which can be used for video calls.
The consumer group says UK network coverage for 3G is too limited to make the cost of the phones worthwhile.
Phone users should stick to existing handsets until 3G coverage improves outside big cities, says Which?.
But 3G operator Hutchison said it covered 80% of the UK population and accused Which? of "a lack of understanding".
'Bulky phones'
Four years ago, mobile phone networks invested £22bn in the 3G licences.
Hutchison launched its 3 service in Britain last year, while Vodafone followed suit last month.
Competitors Orange and T-Mobile are expected to launch by the end of the year.
Firms were hoping to claw back some of their investment in the technology in the run-up to Christmas.
We'll be keeping an eye over the coming months to see if they, and the networks, live up to their hype
Malcolm Coles
Which?
Dreaming of a 3G Christmas
Vodafone's 3G services can only be accessed by 60% of the British population at the moment, although it has pledged to increase this to 80% by 2007.
Meanwhile, Hutchison says its 3 network covers 80% of the population.
"There are teething problems with 3G phones and coverage so we recommend sticking with a 2G phone for the time being," Malcolm Coles of Which? said.
"We'll be keeping an eye over the coming months to see if they, and the networks, live up to their hype."
Which? also describes some of the 3G handsets as "bulky".
But Edward Brewster, head of external relations at 3 Mobile, accused Which? of a "lack of understanding" of the market.
He said: "On 3 Mobile, 80% of the British public can access our 3G video mobile services, that's 48 million - around 12 million more than our nearest competitor.
"And 99% can access our voice services and in ever increasing numbers."
Which? was also "mistaken" on the issue of quality and size of 3G handsets with the lightest weighing in at 114g and offering increased functionality, he added.
