Vodafone Group today announced that it has reached an agreement with Vodacom, South Africa's leading mobile operator, for Vodacom to market Vodafone's global services.
Through the agreement, Vodacom will offer Vodafone's next generation mobile services in the South African market. Vodacom will market the 3G Vodafone Mobile Connect Card, Europe's first high speed lap top data card, to its business customers. The Vodafone Mobile Connect Card allows customers to quickly install a Vodafone branded data card and software on their lap top, offering access to e-mail, calendar, contacts, and other business applications.
Vodacom plans to introduce Vodafone's industry leading multi-media consumer service, Vodafone live!, early next year. Vodacom customers will be able to access a whole new world of communication from customised Vodafone handsets, supplied by world leading handset manufacturers. Customers will be able to send and receive video and picture messages, download games, music, pictures and video and access entertainment such as sport, news and weather from leading entertainment brands. Vodafone live! is currently available in 20 countries and already has more than 10 million customers.
The agreement will also enable Vodafone customers travelling in South Africa to access Vodafone's enhanced roaming services. Contract and pre-paid Vodafone customers using the Vodacom network will now be able to dial their domestic short codes to seamlessly access mobile services such as voice mail and customer services. Vodafone customers will also be able to use services such as the Vodafone Mobile Connect Card and Vodafone live! Roaming costs will be made simple and clear for Vodafone customers in South Africa with the future introduction of Vodafone World, Vodafone's flat rate roaming price plan.
Vodacom customers will benefit from being able to seamlessly access their Vodacom services in an increasing number of Vodafone's markets.
Peter Bamford, Chief Marketing Officer, Vodafone, said:
"The enhanced partnership between Vodafone and Vodacom provides the opportunity to bring new services, like the Vodafone Mobile Connect Card and Vodafone live! to Vodacom's customers in South Africa. It also means that both Vodafone and Vodacom customers will be able to access their services more easily when travelling.
"Vodacom will now play an even more important part in Vodafone's global mobile community. Our strengthened partnership will bring benefits to both companies and our customers at a local and global level."
For further information:
Vodafone Group
Investor Relations
Melissa Stimpson
Darren Jones
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310
Media Relations
Bobby Leach
Ben Padovan
Jon Earl
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310
Tavistock Communications
Lulu Bridges
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7920 3150
About Vodafone
Vodafone is the world's largest mobile community, with equity interests in 26 countries and Partner Networks in a further 13 countries, serving over 139 million proportionate customers worldwide.
The Vodafone Mobile Connect Card enables customers to access their business applications from their lap top whilst out of the office. Available in 13 markets, more than 300,000 customers are now using the service.
Vodafone's global consumer service offering, Vodafone live!, opens up a world of mobile colour communication, bringing news, information, e-mail, chat, sport, location-based services, games and shopping to customers' mobile devices. Vodafone live! is available in 20 countries globally and has already connected more than 10 million customers worldwide.
(c) Vodafone Group 2004. Vodafone, Vodafone Mobile Connect Card and Vodafone live! are trade marks of the Vodafone Group. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trade marks of their respective owners.
