FIDELITY (LOGO) FMR Corp. 82 Devonshire
INVESTMENTS(registered Street Boston MA 02109-3614
trademark) 617 563 7000
May 3, 1999
Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
Attention: File Room
RE: Variable Insurance Products
Fund III (the trust)
Balanced Portfolio, Growth &
Income Portfolio,
Growth Opportunities Portfolio,
and Mid Cap Portfolio (the
funds)
File Nos. 33-54837 and 811-7205
______________________________________________________________________
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Transmitted herewith pursuant to Rule 497(j) under the Securities Act
of 1933 is certification that the Prospectuses and Statement of
Additional Information with respect to the above referenced funds does
not differ from that filed in the most recent post-effective
amendment, which was filed electronically.
Very truly yours,
/s/Eric D. Roiter
Eric D. Roiter
Secretary
