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> UMTS/3G 27 2 04
Vodafone announces the commercial launch of its 3G services in
Europe.
The first service from Vodafone will be the Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS
datacard, Europe's first high speed lap top datacard.
With data rates of up to 384kbps, the Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS
datacard will enable Vodafone customers to access all their usual office
applications like e-mail, calendar and internet at up to ten times the speed
of GPRS. This will enable customers with a lap top to work anywhere just as
if they are in the office.
The greater data speed of the Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS datacard,
coupled with its reliability and ease of use, will generate greater business
productivity and enhanced responsiveness from mobile workers.
Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS datacard will be available in Germany,
Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK over the next
four weeks. The commercial launch of the 3G datacard follows successful
customer trials conducted across Europe with thousands of business
customers.
3G coverage is currently offered in most Vodafone markets in major cities
and an increasing number of transport routes. When outside of 3G network
coverage, the Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS datacard automatically
switches to Vodafone's GPRS network, which offers full coverage, meaning
Vodafone customers will have continuous access to their normal office
applications. 3G coverage will be expanded continually by Vodafone over the
next few years.
Customer trials of Vodafone's consumer 3G service, which will enhance the
Vodafone live! offering, are currently being conducted with selected
Vodafone customers across Europe. Initial customer feedback is positive and
Vodafone will introduce a consumer service in the next few months, with an
enhanced range of 3G devices and services becoming available later in the
year.
Peter Bamford, Chief Marketing Officer, said:
"The announcement of the launch of our 3G services is a major milestone
in Vodafone's 3G journey. With significantly faster data rates and greater
capacity, customers will really start to see and experience the huge
benefits of 3G, by being able to do more, faster. Feedback received from our
customers indicates how the card can transform the way they work.
"The benefits of Vodafone's investment in 3G and the step change in
customer experience it brings, will become increasingly evident this year as
we introduce new 3G devices and services for both business and consumer
customers. 3G will enable Vodafone to drive more mobile minutes, deliver
high quality content and entertainment, and enable greater productivity by
mobilising business. In introducing our 3G offerings, we will be taking
further advantage of our scale and scope and thereby delivering better
services to our customers and more value to our shareholders."
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