Vodafone UK launches marketing campaign to drive mobile internet usage (UK)
Vodafone UK has launched a new marketing campaign worth $3.2 million in an attempt to increase mobile internet usage. According to reports, the campaign targets both postpaid as well as prepaid segments and focuses on the simple services that help improve a user’s daily life.
The campaign reportedly features four service elements which include Vodafone’s unlimited data offer for the first three months on new contract plans; a service that transfers customers’ contacts and media on to their new phones; the Buyback scheme allowing customers to trade in their old phones; and the Sure Signal, that enables customers to boost the mobile signal in their homes. According to industry reports, as much as half of the population in UK owns a smartphone, which is beneficial for mobile operators as date services generate higher margins as compared to regular phones and voice plans.
Vodafone UK partners with Velti to drive its loyalty programs (UK)
Vodafone UK, has entered into an agreement with Velti, a leading global provider of mobile marketing and advertising solutions, to drive the next generation of loyalty programs for the operator in the UK. According to reports, Velti aims to target as many as 6 million Vodafone pay-as-you-go customers through this opportunity.
As per sources, Srini Gopalan, Consumer Director, Vodafone UK has said that the Vodafone Freebee Rewardz is yet another reason why customers are choosing Vodafone on pay-as-you-go. It’s a unique scheme offering Vodafone customers something more than just discounts, while enabling customers to take part with whatever pay-as-you-go phone they have. Reports suggest that each time the pay-as-you-go customers refill their account balance; they receive a voucher code through a text message. Customers can either redeem this voucher by claiming an instant reward or bank the points to save up for something bigger. Vodafone UK and Velti have reportedly teamed up with brands such as Thorntons, Blockbuster, Fitness First among others to provide top prizes.
Reports suggest that Menelaos Scouloudis, Chief Commercial Officer, Velti has said that customer retention and ARPU stimulation is vital for operators especially in the pre-paid market where competition is increasingly fierce. He added that by understanding who the customers are and the nature of their relationship with Vodafone UK, the operator is able to provide a more personalized and therefore rewarding experience.
Vodafone UK rolls out Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, Arc
Vodafone UK has announced that its customers can now pre-order the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play and Arc Android smartphones before the launch scheduled on April 1.
The Xperia Play will be free on US$57.30 for 24-month price plans which including 900 minutes, unlimited texts and 750MB of mobile data, as well as up to 25MB of data roaming in selected European countries when ordered online.
The first 1,000 people to pre-order the device through the Vodafone website will also receive a free Sony Ericsson DK300 multimedia docking station.
The Xperia Arc will be free on US$49.11 for 24-month price plans and will include 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of mobile data. Both the Arc and Play run on Gingerbread (Android 2.3). Customers who pre-order either device in March will also receive free Vodafone-to-Vodafone calls for the life of the contract.
Vodafone UK network suffers another outage
Vodafone has told its customers that its UK mobile phone network suffered a serious problem this afternoon.
According to the company’s blog, there is a P1 (High Priority) Fault that has just come through effecting voice and data on the Vodafone network. It is being fully assessed at the moment and will be confirmed as they receive further updates.
The company hasn’t said what the fault is but its Twitter feed shows more complaints about poor service over the last few hours. Customers are being advised to review the company guidance on faults before contacting a representative.
One possibility is that the outage maybe a knock-one effect from robbery that knocked out large sections of Vodafone’s network last month. The lack of information then was citied as a major irritant by V3.co.uk readers.
Vodafone’s fault report system shows eight site outages in the last 24 hours, mainly in the south and west of the UK.
Vodafone UK mobile phone network outage after break-in
Vodafone UK was hit by a network outage after people broke into an exchange centre. This exchange centre is in Basingstoke, a town in the South of the country.
According to the company, a number of customers would have been affected by the outage without saying how serious the issue was.Due to the nature of the outage, it is likely that the data centre housed HLR platforms which manage the account permissions for customers on the network.
According toVodafone, engineers are working to fix the problem. They had a break in last night at one of their technical facilities which resulted in damage done to some of their equipment. They are working quickly to restore these and will be back to normal as soon as they can.
The company confirmed that the break-in had not compromised personal information about its customers.
Vodafone to expand Public Sector Activities in UK
Vodafone UK has unveiled its plans to expand its public sector activities, as government spending cuts provide new growth opportunities for mobile operators.
The U.K.’s union government aims to lower spending by US$37.18 billion in fiscal 2011-12, with a view to saving US$130.95 billion by fiscal 2014-15. However, Vodafone UK’s enterprise director Peter Kelly sees the cutbacks as an opportunity for the operator to win new business by identifying areas where it can help the government to rein in costs.
According to Kelly, Vodafone has a key role to play in driving cost-efficiency and productivity in the public sector. They believe investment in mobile is a key way of lowering fixed [telecoms] costs and property [costs]. The U.K. government spends US$3.23 billion per year on fixed-line services.
According to Kelly, Vodafone could enable central government to save between 10% and 20% of the US$40.41 billion it spends annually on property by deploying solutions that would allow more of its 110,000 employees to work remotely.
Kelly added that Vodafone already has around 1 million public sector mobile connections, but the operator plans to ramp up its activities and win further business by developing four new units within its enterprise arm that will focus on providing mobile services to four different public sectors: health, criminal justice, local government, and central government.
Vodafone’s head of public sector sales Ian Cunningham stated that the new divisions are due to launch in March, and will take a consultative-led approach. It doesn’t stop once you’ve sold them a solution. It’s about understanding the challenges that they have, and addressing them. Giving someone the right tools is not just about giving someone a BlackBerry and leaving them to get on with it; you have to install the services and applications that are going to drive productivity as well.
Indeed, Vodafone announced at the same event that it has won a four-year contract to provide mobile services to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) the U.K.’s largest police force.
The deal will see Vodafone build on projects it has undertaken with police in Lancashire and Northampton shire that enabled officers to carry out duties that would normally require them to return to their police station such as accessing secure databases and filing reports while on the move, therefore increasing the amount of time spent out on patrol.
Furthermore, Vodafone’s agreement with the MPS also acts as an umbrella agreement known as the National Police Framework Agreement under which any of the U.K.’s police forces may procure mobile technology and services from the operator on the same terms.
Kelly noted that not only will it offer more cost-effective and better services to the citizen, but also better productivity and satisfaction for the employee.
Vodafone brings new handset to the collection (UK)
Vodafone UK has announced the new handsets to its range. It will be launching BlackBerry Bold 9780, Motorola Defy, Samsung Galaxy Europa and Nokia C3.
According to the company, with Christmas fast approaching, Vodafone UK has added a variety of new handsets to its range, giving customers a great choice of devices free from as little as US$16.14 per month on the UK’s best network. The company recently launched HTC Desire HD, Nokia N8, HTC 7 Trophy, BlackBerry Torch and a host of other fantastic handsets in Vodafone’s range, all of which are available to buy now.
The first phone in the series is the BlackBerry Bold 9780. The handset is packed with the latest OS- BlackBerry 6 and is available for US$56.52 with 24 month contract, including 900 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of mobile data.
The company has also launched two new Android handsets. Motorola’s rugged Defy is available on a US$40.37 with 24 month contract including 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of mobile data.
Samsung’s Galaxy Europa is a budget Android offering, which is available at 32.29 with 24 month contract including 100 minutes, 500 texts and 250MB of mobile data.
And the list end at Nokia C3 which is available at US$16.14 with 24 month contract, including 100 minutes and 500 texts.
Vodafone UK drops fair use clause
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The “fair use” clause in its mobile data tariffs has been announced to be dropped by Vodafone UK and fixed limits with higher charges for excess usage will also be set by the operator. Protection of its network from data abuse has been cited as the reason behind the changes.
£5 for every 500MB after the first 500MB will have to be paid by the monthly bundle customers from the beginning of this month while 50p for every 10MB after the first 25MB will have to be paid by customers without a monthly bundle.
If the monthly data usage is approaching the limit applied to the tariff, the subscribers will receive notifications.
According to the company, it had always reserved the right to change the data tariff billing options and can impose charges for mobile data consumption that went above the fair usage limit.
Vodafone to launch Nexus One in Europe from April 1
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Google’s Nexus One will be directly sold by Vodafone through its stores and online in the UK from April 30. Google phone will go on sale in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain and in France through SFR during May.
Pre-orders are also now being accepted by Vodafone UK for the Google Nexus One handset and the handset will be made available through Vodafone retail outlets, online and telesales. The Nexus One will sell with a range of Vodafone price plans, on both 18- and 24-month contracts, with prices starting from GBP 25 a month on a 24-month contract. Customers signing a two-year contract at GBP 35 per month will get it for free.
All the customers of Vodafone UK having Nexus One can use up to 1 GB of mobile data as part of their price plan. Besides, as unlimited access to Wi-Fi in the home and free, publicly available services throughout the country can also be used. An additional 1 GB of data at premium BT Openzone hotspots can be used by the customers using Wi-Fi throughout the UK.
