Vodafone live! with 3G launched in 13 countries — MobileMonday Global: Industry News

^{Tailored handsets} Vodafone live! with 3G launched in 13 countries

14 Nov 2004 at 05:15 GMT Timo Poropudas

Vodafone last week launched its Vodafone live! with 3G across 13 countries. It will be available in Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

The world’s largest mobile operator has 10 new 3G handsets with seven tailored exclusively for Vodafone. The handset include Europe's first 2 mega pixel camera phone - Sharp 902.

Also available are new services including video calling, full track music downloads and 3D games and broader range of new and improved content, including an extensive music catalogue from world's greatest artists; new made-for-mobile drama inspired by the TV series "24"; exclusive videos, pictures, animated greetings and wallpaper; launch of "Movie of the Month" starting with "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason"; UEFA Champions League and Barclays Premiership video clips; exclusive Manchester United and Ferrari mobile video content and new, exclusive games from world's leading games publishers.

Bundled with mobile phones

Launched in October 2002, Vodafone live! was the first mobile service to integrate handsets, networks, content and services to produce an end to end, easy to use customer proposition. With 3G is the customer experience is transformed by faster download speeds and improved quality of sound and images.

Vodafone has also created a new, easy to understand pricing model. This model is designed to ensure customers receive simpler bills and to encourage usage through increased cost transparency.

Content purchases will be charged on an event basis and browsing will be free or included in a highly attractive bundle of services. Customers will also be offered promotional bundles to promote the uptake of new Vodafone services.

"Vodafone live! with 3G will dramatically change the way our customers experience their Vodafone services and we are confident that Vodafone live! with 3G will be a success," Arun Sarin, chief executive, Vodafone, said.

“Vodafone live! with 3G will become increasingly mass market next year and we expect over 10 million customers to be using Vodafone live! with 3G by March 2006 in our subsidiaries.”

"Vodafone live! with 3G provides Vodafone with a new platform for profitable growth. We are leaders in the evolution of mobile communications and we will continue to be at the forefront of innovation to the benefit of our customers and shareholders," Sarin said.

9 handsets in Europe

Vodafone will offer an initial, extensive range of 10 new 3G handsets for the Christmas period from Sharp, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, NEC, Nokia and Samsung. Seven of the handsets are exclusive to Vodafone and the range has been designed to offer a wide customer choice of high, mid and low tier priced 3G devices. Seven handsets from this range will be available in Japan, with nine available in Europe.

Individual Vodafone operating companies have selected the most appropriate handsets for their local customer needs from this range.

The handsets have been designed in close collaboration with Vodafone's manufacturing partners to ensure easy to use service delivery with the now improved Vodafone live! portal.

Enhanced handset features now include:

Better imaging capabilities: Europe's first 2 mega pixel camera phone
Improved audio: stereo speakers, full track music download
Expandable memory storage: 32MB provided as standard.

Based on extensive customer feedback, the Vodafone live! with 3G portal has been significantly improved. Vodafone has made it even easier for customers to access services, enabling Vodafone live! with 3G to meet their needs quickly and intuitively. Customers can access the services that are important to them with fewer clicks and faster navigation.

The portal now offers faster downloads of services and topical content which is updated at least on a daily basis. Promotions will sit at the top of the page to provide customers with the latest offers and most up to date information.

An initial number of Vodafone markets will also offer a dynamic portal, which automatically configures customers' favorite content to the top of their home page, meaning they can get to the services they want faster. This function will be deployed across an increasing number of Vodafone markets in due course.