Vodafone 2007 Annual Report Download - page 18

16 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report 2007
Business Overview
continued
Following on from the mobile internet search deal signed with Google in
February 2006, Vodafone announced in February 2007 a number of
important collaborations to bring the benefits of key internet brands to the
mobile. The collaboration with eBay, MySpace and Google Maps will enable
integrated applications on to customers’ phones for an easy and secure user
experience. An agreement with YouTube will also allow customers to view a
daily selection of new videos, forward links of their favourites, search across
multiple categories and upload their own videos from their mobiles.
In addition, Vodafone is supporting customers’ access to their internet
messaging services via their mobiles with the introduction of Vodafone
Consumer Push Email. This service was first made commercially available in
Portugal in March 2007. The service offers customers easy mobile access to
their email accounts held in both global, such as Microsoft MSN and AOL, and
local email providers.
In February 2007, Vodafone announced an agreement with Yahoo! and
Microsoft to provide direct access to their instant messaging services from
the mobile and the PC.
Vodafone Mobile Connect
The Vodafone Mobile Connect data card provides simple and secure access to
existing business systems such as email, corporate applications, company
intranets and the internet for customers on the move, and is available
through a selection of distribution channels. The Vodafone Mobile Connect
data card based on 2.5G technology is available in eight markets, with 33
markets now offering the service on 3G technology. Additionally, the
Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G broadband data card offers enhanced download
speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps by utilising HSDPA technology and has been
launched in 26 markets.
Vodafone has also entered into exclusive partnerships with Acer, Dell, HP and
Lenovo across multiple markets. These companies launched a range of built-
in 3G broadband connectivity notebooks (with a Vodafone SIM built-in at
point of manufacture) supporting HSDPA technology. Additionally, Vodafone
launched the Mobile Connect USB Modem, an innovative, compact and easy
to use plug and play device. Vodafone also released an updated version of its
Vodafone Mobile Connect software that supports the Microsoft Vista
operating system. These products provide greater choice and connectivity
options to our customers for high speed mobile working. At 31 March 2007,
there were 1.5 million registered Vodafone Mobile Connect data cards in the
Group’s controlled and jointly controlled markets.
Mobile applications
In addition to the wireless enablement of notebook computers, there is an
increasing demand for handheld solutions that allow real-time access to
email, calendar, contact and other applications.
Vodafone Business Email, Windows Mobile Email and BlackBerry from
Vodafone provide business customers, ranging from small start-up
companies to multinational corporates, with wireless access to their
enterprise and internet based email solutions. Vodafone Business Email and
BlackBerry from Vodafone offerings are now available in 36 markets and at
31 March 2007 were supported by 25 global devices and a variety of local
devices in the controlled and jointly controlled markets.
There were one million Vodafone email customers in the Group’s controlled
and jointly controlled markets as at 31 March 2007.
Data roaming
Vodafone has continued to improve the simplicity, price predictability and
value for money offered to data services customers. For Vodafone Mobile
Connect 3G broadband data card users, Vodafone complemented the
monthly roaming bundle launched in 2005 with a daily roaming tariff
appealing to less-frequent international travellers. At 31 March 2007, this
tariff was available in three controlled markets. On 14 March 2007, Vodafone
announced that the daily tariff would be reduced by over 50% by July 2007.
Vodafone has successfully implemented data wholesale tariff structures with
more than 15 Partner Market networks, enabling the launch of new data
roaming propositions. Vodafone also announced on 14 March 2007 that it
would make lower data roaming wholesale rates available to all other
European operators on a reciprocal basis.
DSL and other services
In May 2006, Vodafone announced its intention to enter the fixed broadband
space in order to provide customers with data solutions to meet their total
communication needs. DSL offered as part of the Vodafone At Home package
is now available in five markets, Germany, Italy, UK, Malta and New Zealand,
with further markets intended to be launched throughout 2007. Current DSL
offers are provided by Arcor (Germany) and ihug (New Zealand), as well as in
partnership with BT (UK), Fastweb (Italy) and Melita (Malta).
Vodafone Office also includes fixed data DSL offerings. At 31 March 2007, DSL
was available to business customers in five markets – UK, Spain, Netherlands,
Portugal and Egypt.
With the launch of the Vodafone Applications Service in the UK and Spain,
Vodafone has also taken a further step towards making mobile applications
accessible to businesses of all sizes. This service quickly and efficiently
connects existing business applications to mobile handsets, allowing users to
access and exchange information when out of the office.
The Group has been extending its business model to generate revenue from
mobile advertising by partnering with advertising specialists in individual
markets. An agreement with Yahoo! has been operational since March 2007
in the UK.