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
10 million branded handsets shipped
in the year to 31 March 2008
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.