Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) UK (and in fact other Vodafone OpCos internationally) have rolled out an initiative called ‘World of Difference’ – it’s a charitable programme which lets volunteers go and help out in places that need it:
Vodafone’s World of Difference programme gives people the opportunity to spend time working for charities without having to worry about making financial sacrifices.Through World of Difference people can get paid experience – for two months or a year – at a charity of their choice in the UK or overseas. The World of Difference programme, delivered by the local Vodafone Foundation in each country, currently operates in 14 countries, with many more countries launching in 2010. To date it has allowed over 700 individuals, around the world, to work for their dream charity – and be paid.
Vodafone has just announced a new phase of WoD, with 500 new people – if you’d like to read about them, and the great work that the Vodafone Foundation is doing, then click here.
The Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) X10 is coming soon to Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) UK, I’ve just been told. For those of you that aren’t familiar, check out some of our previous posts (here and here). The X10 is packing Android, and is literally riddled with Google (NSDQ: GOOG) services integration!
It’s a good-lookin’ device too, with a big old 4-inch touchscreen, and very polished finish. Nevermind that though, it could be here in April, which really isn’t very far away
For more information, check out the Vodafone UK website here – you can register for pricing updates and availability, and look at the rather nice gallery too. This is shaping up to be a real contender for ‘best Android device’!
The Sony Ericsson X10 is coming soon to Vodafone UK, I’ve just been told. For those of you that aren’t familiar, check out some of our previous posts (here and here). The X10 is packing Android, and is literally riddled with Google services integration!
It’s a good-lookin’ device too, with a big old 4-inch touchscreen, accelerometer, 8.1MP camera, and so on. Obviously apps are well-served with the Android market, and these days there’s some good stuff on there too, including the usual suspects like Facebook and Last.fm.
For more information, check out the Vodafone UK website here
Vodafone UK has launched a new online business centre, which brings information on its full range of mobile, fixed and unified communications offerings together in one place – as part of the business pages on vodafone (NYSE: VOD).co.uk. To make it even easier for business customers and partners, the new site has also been redesigned so that it is segmented according to three types of customer: small business, medium and large business and public sector.
Every section has the same consistent design, which should ensure quick and intuitive navigation for customers – however, the small business section has been the focus of the first phase of the business site’s development. Additional functionality and content will be added to the site over the next two months as the medium and large business and public sector areas are expanded further.
The first phase of the new online business centre is live today and can be viewed at here.
Vodafone UK has launched a new online business centre, which brings information on its full range of mobile, fixed and unified communications offerings together in one place – as part of the business pages on vodafone.co.uk.
To make it even easier for business customers and partners, the new site has also been redesigned so that it is segmented according to three types of customer: small business, medium and large business and public sector.
Every section has the same consistent design, which should ensure quick and intuitive navigation for customers – however, the small business section has been the focus of the first phase of the business site’s development. Additional functionality and content will be added to the site over the next two months as the medium and large business and public sector areas are expanded further.
The first phase of the new online business centre is live today and can be viewed at vodafone.co.uk/business
Vodafone UK has announced that its Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) Secure Remote Access solution has been awarded the CESG Claims Tested Mark (CCTM) certificate by CESG, which is the information assurance arm of GCHQ. For those of you that aren’t familiar with GCHQ, they are the boffins behind intelligence in the UK – so an OK from them is a BIG OK!
Vodafone UK has become the first UK mobile operator to receive the CCTM mark, which verifies the claims companies make for their security solutions for data confidentiality, integrity and availability in the modern government IT environment.
The CCTM certificate means that UK public sector organisations, including those in local authorities, the National Health Service, education, criminal justice, policing, Central Government and the Ministry of Defence, can now recognise Vodafone Secure Remote Access v2.8 as a solution that has had independent assurance testing, under CESG governance.
Vodafone Secure Remote Access helps organisations to protect their networks, devices and data – principally by ensuring staff comply with IT security policies when away from the office. In the tests the solution was tested for its functionality in Connectivity Control, Application Control and Security Policy. In line with the standard CCTM process, the claims made by Vodafone in these areas were reviewed by CESG to confirm they were unambiguous, relevant and representative of Vodafone’s marketing.
You have to wonder whether this is going to help Vodafone win more deals in the business sector – I’d be inclined to think yes, this is going to give them a definite advantage of their competitor operators in the security arena – now it just depends on how much of an emphasis companies put on that – time, and sales data, will tell!
Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) Group announced that since they’ve got DRM-free deals with all four major labels in 2009, 450,000 people have signed up for the music subscription services. In other words, the Big Red is saying that it has the largest number of paying music subscribers in Europe. Only in December 2009, over 100,000 customers signed up for the services across the 8 largest Vodafone markets on the continent.
Typically customers pay 5 EUR to get 10 tracks per month. In addition, Vodafone is offering “all you can eat” unlimited download service.
Commenting on the news, Vodafone’s Lee Epting said: “We are really excited by our customers’ reaction to these great music offers. We expect to see continued growth in our music service subscriptions driven by the increase in smartphone use, with their worry-free data tariffs and great value add-ons such as music bundles. We will carry on working hard with our partners in the music industry to develop new and innovative music services for our customers. Vodafone is starting to prove the significance of its place in the music industry.”
Vodafone (NYSE: VOD)’s CEO, Vittorio Colao, has seen better days as the company’s investors are pressuring him to “handle” the group’s underperforming European operations and extract cash from Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless. According to The Financial Times’ report, Colao risks facing calls for Vodafone to be broken up if he does not close the gap between the carrier’s market capitalization and analysts’ “sum-of the-parts” valuations. One option is to separate Vodafone’s mature European business and its growing emerging markets division(s).
As for Verizon Wireless, Vodafone’s 45% stake in the company accounts for 37% of the group’s earnings but none of its cash flow. The reason is that Vodafone has not received a Verizon Wireless dividend since 2005 and is not expected to until at least 2012. On that note, Colao said that “solving the US” was his biggest issue and the company is regularly reviewing its position in Verizon Wireless. An option to sell the stake to Verizon Communications, which owns remaining 55%, is also on the table. Citi analysts value Vodafone’s stake at $44.5 billion…
Vodafone Qatar is deploying the first hybrid-powered base station in Qatar, as part of a wider green technology program led by the carrier. Made by Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU), the station relies on the integration of solar and wind energy.
The trick is in using the energy controller, which simultaneously draws power from both the PV panels and wind turbine, making the most of the two sources’ fluctuating availability. The system also monitors battery charging cycles, while diesel generator maintenance runs so as to maximize their lifespan.
Commenting on the development, Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) Qatar’s Jenny Howe said: “As the first hybrid solution in Qatar to make use of wind and solar energy, this achievement increases the availability and quality of mobile services to the end customer, while reducing the impact on the environment. What’s more, it is one of the most innovative and best-performing solutions that we have tested so far in Vodafone. Our partnership with Alcatel-Lucent has enabled a significant first step toward commercializing the technologies we need to reduce our carbon footprint and make a world of difference for all people in Qatar.”
Our buddies over at Fonehome.co.uk weren’t content with testing the iPhone 3GS for YouTube search speed on Vodafone (NYSE: VOD), O2 (NYSE: TEF), and Orange – oh no, they’ve done a bunch more tests too! We’ve got the ‘411′ (or ‘info’ for UK readers) on what went down, but we’re not going to totally spill the beans – for that you’ll have to hit up the links and take a look as to who is the winner in each case!
Personally, I think the best test they did might be the straight surfing test, since most of us smartphone-owning peeps will have given that a go at some point – so here’s the video embedded – links for the others follow below:
Truphone has announced a strategic MVNO partnership with Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) UK. The agreement will give Truphone access to Vodafone UK’s network to deliver voice and data services to its Truphone Local Anywhere customers.
The partnership is apparently the first in a series of building blocks for the launch of Truphone Local Anywhere, a global SIM-based mobile service, from Truphone that allows users to make and receive calls via a local number and at a local price, in any Truphone country. The service will also offer number portability, so customers will be able to transfer existing mobile numbers across to the Truphone Local Anywhere service.
Using Truphone’s patented infrastructure and IN core network the Truphone Local Anywhere SIM allows customers to enjoy local rates in countries where Truphone has wholesale partnerships and also have the option of having local mobile numbers for those countries all on a single SIM. For those countries where Truphone does not have operator agreements, Truphone Local Anywhere offers significant savings over normal roaming charges.
Under the agreement, Truphone will have access to Vodafone’s network – meaning that calls made by Truphone customers in the UK, as well as Truphone Local Anywhere roaming calls originating and terminating in the UK, will be delivered via the Vodafone UK network.
For more on Truphone, you can check out their website here.
Are you ready for a ‘Stat Attack’ – right then, here goes: Today, Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) UK sold its 100,000th iPhone, just over a week after its launch in store. Compared to the likes of O2 (NYSE: TEF) and Orange (oh, and Tesco), I’ve a feeling those launch stats are going to hold up pretty well!
“The demand from both consumer and business customers has been phenomenal. They want an outstanding phone on an outstanding network and we’re delivering that,” said Vodafone UK CEO Guy Laurence.
Interestingly, there’s been a fair bit of news floating around the InterWeb about Vodafone’s network performance – anecdotally, I’d say from what I’ve read that it looks to be the best performing. Hmmm, now if only we had some videos of that ….. (hint: check my following posts!)
You can grab the iPhone on a range of Vodafone tariffs from the Vodafone UK website, here. Drop us a comment if you’ve bought an iPhone on Vodafone, are thinking of it, or have a comment about the network performance with it
Vodafone UK has launched a new online business centre, which brings information on its full range of mobile, fixed and unified communications offerings together in one place – as part of the business pages on vodafone (
Vodafone UK has announced that its Vodafone (
Vodafone Qatar is deploying the first hybrid-powered base station in Qatar, as part of a wider green technology program led by the carrier. Made by Alcatel-Lucent (
Truphone has announced a strategic MVNO partnership with Vodafone (
