Vodafone 2008 Annual Report Download - page 31

Devices
To enable customers to utilise the services that Vodafone offers,
the Group also offers a wide range of devices to access those
services, such as handsets, the Vodafone Mobile Connect card with
3G broadband and the Vodafone Mobile Connect USB modem.
Handsets
The Group’s operating companies and partner markets benefit
from a wide ranging handset portfolio, covering different
customer segments, price points and an increasing variety of
designs. During the 2008 financial year, Vodafone launched
75 new models, ranging from handsets for core voice services
up to premium multimedia devices. The handset portfolio
was also expanded into the entry segment to better address
emerging markets and the prepaid market in Europe. In May
2008, Vodafone signed an agreement with Apple to sell the
iPhone in ten markets – Australia, Czech Republic, Egypt,
Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and
Turkey. Vodafone and Apple are working together to introduce
the product in each market during the 2009 financial year.
Vodafone live! portfolio
Vodafone continues to drive 3G penetration and increased the sales
share of 3G handsets as a percentage of total phones sold up to 53%
for the year ended 31 March 2008. With the launch of the exclusive
Sony Ericsson V640i and an exclusive Mobile Internet variant of the
Nokia 6120c, Vodafone also pushed HSDPA into the mid-tier price
segments to provide 3G broadband experience for the mass market.
Sales of handsets that support HSDPA represented 26% of total 3G
handset sales for the year ended 31 March 2008.
The introduction of the new “Internet on Your Mobile” services
was supported with a selection of 15 consumer handsets. These
have been customised for the internet experience on mobile
handsets, including the three high-end devices Nokia N95 8GB,
Sony Ericsson W910i and Samsung SGH-F700V QBowl.
Open Operating System (“OS”) devices are now playing a strong
role in supporting an application-centric service delivery model.
In September 2007, Vodafone and its partners announced
the first two devices launching under the Microsoft Windows
Mobile collaboration, the Palm® Treo™ 500V and the Samsung
SGH-i640V, as well as a range of S60 devices from Nokia and
Samsung. Sales of Open OS devices represented 23% of 3G
devices sales for the year ended 31 March 2008.
Vodafone branded device portfolio
In the 2008 financial year, Vodafone offered nine consumer
handsets under its own brand and shipped over 10 million
devices in over 30 markets. On 21 May 2007, Vodafone
announced the Vodafone 125 and Vodafone 225, the first
ultra low cost handsets under the Vodafone brand, providing
operating companies and partner markets with the lowest cost
mobile phone ever launched by the Group. The Vodafone 125
and Vodafone 225 played an important role in supporting the
Vodafone brand launch in India. In December 2007, the
Vodafone 720 and the Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem
were introduced. The Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem
and the Vodafone 720 have won the iF design award, which
recognises the best product design in the world and is run
by the International Design forum in Hanover, Germany.
Business portfolio
Vodafone continues to expand the business portfolio.
Two exclusive devices were introduced for the business customer:
the Palm Treo 500v and the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8310
Smartphone. Both of these devices are designed to offer a
blend of business grade email combined with Vodafone live!
consumer services, such as Google Maps, internet browsing
and instant messaging. In addition, the BlackBerry 8100 series
and the BlackBerry 8110 series continue to create strong
market demand. The broadening of the Nokia E series range
increasingly drives sales in the business segment, and has
capability to leverage the consumer relevant services deployed
in the Nokia N series.
Vodafone Mobile Connect
The Vodafone Mobile Connect card with 3G broadband offers
enhanced speeds which can be up to 7.2 Mbps downlink and up
to 2.0 Mbps uplink by utilising HSPA technology.
Built-in 3G broadband from Vodafone is now available across a
portfolio of 44 laptop models. Vodafone’s partners Acer, Dell,
HP and Lenovo fit a Vodafone SIM at point of manufacture into
laptops which include a built-in modem and collaborate with
Vodafone in sales and marketing activities.
The Group has a range of Vodafone Mobile Connect USB modems
with exclusive designs, including USB sticks, all benefiting from
“plug and go” software. Their ease of use and attractive designs
support their deployment through consumer channels.
Enables customers
to utilise the services
that Vodafone offers.
10 million branded
handsets shipped
in the year to 31 March 2008
Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report 2008 29
Handsets
A wide ranging handset portfolio covering different
customer segments, price points and a variety of designs.
Vodafone Mobile Connect
Provides simple and secure access to the internet and
to business customers’ systems such as email, corporate
applications and company intranets.
Devices