Vodafone Australia renews micro SIM starter pack
Vodafone Australia has renewed its prepaid micro SIM starter pack with the launch of Apple iPad 2.
The starter packs start at $14.95 which includes the micro SIM and 1.5 GB of data which is valid for 30 days.
Vodafone Australia to launch Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v
Vodafone Australia is planning to launch Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v limited edition which runs on Android 3.0.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v will be available exclusively to Vodafone customers, for a limited time, from mid-April. Vodafone has priced the tablet at US$735.85 which comes with 6 GB of data valid for three months.
Customers can also choose a 12-month plan for US$15.14 per month and US$24.22 per month for the tablet. The open payment for this option is US$261.43 and the minimum monthly spend is US$39.34. The plan includes 1.5 GB of data.
Vodafone launches HTC Desire Z (Australia)
Vodafone Hutchison Australia has announced that it has launched HTC Desire Z on its network. The HTC Desire Z will now be available exclusively to Vodafone for $5 per month on a $49 cap.
The Desire Z runs on Android 2.2 and uses the HTC Sense graphical user interface that is common to HTC handsets.
It features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard under a 3.7 inch touchscreen, while the back houses a 5.0 megapixel camera that records 720p HD video.
The Google Nexus S is also available to existing Vodafone customers, free on a $79 cap plan. The Nexus S will be available to new customers to Vodafone starting March 16.
Vodafone Australia to exclusively offer HTC Desire Z
Vodafone Australia will offer the HTC Desire Z smartphone exclusively.
The phone features a ‘pop hinge’ that opens to reveal a QWERTY keyboard. It also includes 720p HD video recording and a 5-megapixel camera with flash. It is powered by the 800 MHz Qualcomm 7230 processor and runs on Android 2.2 Froyo.
HTC Desire Z features a new improved version of HTC Sense and online services at HTCSense.com. It has a proximity sensor, a G-sensor and an ambient light sensor too. The Desire Z has HTC’s new “Fast Boot” feature, which is a type of sleep/hibernation mode instead of the traditional full power off; a full boot can only be accomplished by removing the battery.
Availability of HTC Desire Z is scheduled for mid March. Pricing will be announced shortly too.
Vodafone Australia apologizes for network problems
Vodafone Australia has issued a public apology to its increasingly irate customers over the quality of the network over the past few months. There has been a spate of complaints about network outages, dropped calls and network congestion – culminating in an attempt by a legal firm to sign up enough customers to launch a class-action lawsuit against the company.
According to Vodafone CEO, Nigel Dews, their aim is to provide their customers with an excellent customer experience and the best possible value, but recently their network and customer service performance, particularly in December and January, fell well below the standards they have set for them. He was truly sorry and apologised both personally and on behalf of everyone at Vodafone.
The company blamed the problems on growing its customer base faster than it upgraded its network to cope. The company also didn’t hire enough staff to deal with the increased customer base, an issue it expects to resolve by hiring 300 extra customer care staff.
The company has outlined plans for a major network overhaul, including the construction or upgrade of some 2,500 base stations over the next twelve months and a reported replacement of its entire Radio Access Network with Huawei supplied kit.
The company expects to spend around $1 billion on the network upgrades which will also include a provision for HSPA+ services.
VHA contracts NSN replacing Ericsson (Australia)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) has signed a seven year deal with Nokia Siemens Networks as per which the latter will supply managed services and an integrated core network to the operator.
Existing VHA network vendor Ericsson has been pipped by NSN to clinch the 2G/3G deal and it also over taken over Chinese vendor Huawei, to win the contract. Flexi NG core platform will be supplied by NSN as per the contract and it will also provide service management for the core, transmission and radio networks.
Integration of networks and operations of Vodafone Australia and Hutchison 3G Australia is also required by the contract. The decision comes as huge blow to Ericsson which has been the major network supplier in Australia, as well as Vodafone’s 2G and regional 3G network vendor. Besides, it is also the sole vendor for Telstra’s 800MHz 3G network.
Hutch Australia reports rise in net profit
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A net profit of A$467.7 million ($421.3 million) has been posted by Hutchison Telecom Australia (HTAL), thanks to its merger with Vodafone Australia. A$587.3 million profit gain acted as a catalyst to bring the company from the red, as without HTAL would have posted a net loss of A$119.6 million.
According to VHA CEO Nigel Dews, VHA [Vodafone Hutchison Australia] is on-track to realize cost benefits outlined on announcement of the merger, which the company expects to equate to A$2 billion of net present value once fully realized.
The underlying net customer growth is 890,000 customers, while the total VHA revenue attributable to HTAL increased by 25.7% to A$2 billion.
Vodafone Australia seeks landline broadband partner
Vodafone Australia plans to open a tender for a landline broadband partner, aiming to earn AUD 200 million revenue from fixed-line services by 2009, reports The Australian. The move would be a reversal of the company’s 12-year mobile-only strategy. Vodafone Australia has already tested the local market by having talks with six second-tier players, such as iiNet and Primus, and aims to have a commercial offer available by mid-2007.
Source- http://www.telecompaper.com
