Ben
20th June 2006, 01:30 PM
(Press release from Vodafone)
From Thursday 22 June, customers can purchase a Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G broadband (HSDPA) data card and take advantage of significantly improved data transfer speeds on their laptops.
Greater London (within the M25), Glasgow, Sheffield, Greater Manchester and Tyneside will be the first major UK conurbations to experience 3G broadband with roll out continuing across 3G coverage areas. Full 3G broadband roll out covering Vodafone's entire 3G network is targeted for completion by summer 2007. From Thursday, customers can also roam over Vodafones 3G broadband network in six countries (Austria, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and Hong Kong). More countries will be added as Vodafones 3G broadband footprint expands.
Customers in the UK can also purchase laptops exclusively featuring Vodafones built-in 3G broadband capability from leading PC manufacturers Dell, Acer and Lenovo. Also available through its usual channel partners is the Vodafone 3G broadband-compatible 3G/UMTS Router, which enables instant group access to networks, email and the Internet. The 3G/UMTS Router also allows additional devices, such as printers, to be connected using Ethernet or 802.11g wireless connections. Further enhanced by 3G broadband, it is designed to be quick and easy to set up providing even higher speed mobile data connectivity for teams working on the move.
Mark Bond, Sales Director, Enterprise Business Unit, Vodafone UK, comments: 3G broadband is designed to meet the needs of todays work anywhere business culture, as more and more people access their email or office network whilst on the move or away from the office. As the first operator to provide 3G broadband in the UK Vodafone customers will benefit from the fastest mobile data speeds enabling them to work more efficiently and productively.
Greater Productivity
The launch of Vodafones 3G broadband services represents the next step in the evolution of Vodafone UKs 3G network. The Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G data card already provides flexibility and increased productivity to 80% of the current business data card market*. This is further boosted by 3G broadbands improved peak download speeds of around 1.4Mbps and upload speeds of up to 384 Kbps. Vodafones 3G broadband also offers up to three times the capacity of 3G, which allows more users in the same location to benefit simultaneously.
John Delaney, Principal Analyst with Ovum, comments: "Businesses should welcome the availability of faster 3G networks in the UK. The speeds that HSDPA can deliver under real-life operating conditions will significantly improve the mobile working experience, enabling mobile workers to do things more quickly and easily. Employers in some industry sectors should expect to see some real productivity gains as a result."
Excellent trial results
Vodafone UKs 3G broadband trials earlier this year** revealed how customers expect it to make a positive difference to their mobile working:- For example, 73% of trialists said they would prefer to use 3G broadband instead of WiFi in the future after experiencing 3G broadband. 85% said they would prefer to use 3G broadband over hotel provided broadband and 87% said they would recommend 3G broadband.
Further research*** also revealed that businesses expect 3G broadband to deliver: increased productivity and flexibility; faster secure access to the company network; faster email and attachment downloads while away from the office and a better working experience. The same research also showed that 82% of companies have deployed some form of mobile data device to their staff indicating that 3G broadband could make a great difference to the way users work while away from the office.
Competitive pricing
Pricing for the service remains consistent with existing Vodafone 3G price plans. Pricing starts from £25 (excl VAT) per month (Data 250), which includes 250 Mb of data. For, £45 (excl VAT) per month (Data Unlimited) customers can benefit from unlimited usage****. Cards cost £99 on the Data 250 price plan and £49 on the Data Unlimited price plan.
Existing 3G users wishing to upgrade should contact their account manager, go to a Vodafone store or visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business. Further information on laptops with built-in broadband can be found at www.vodafone.co.uk/builtin3gbroadband.
- ends -
Notes to Editors:
* Vodafone Company Data.
** 100 business users tested Vodafone UKs 3G broadband-enabled Mobile Connect Cards across central and greater London.
*** Research conducted in May 2006 in association with VNU webinars: 3G - where next? The opportunity for UK business and IT professionals' (227 live participants) see link for more information:
https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=registration.jsp®width=739&tile=false&eventid=22962&sessionid=1&key=ED780F9DA4ED62CFEE6CB8F945961969&partnerref=vnuvodafonebuyers&referrer=&sourcepage=register
**** Fair Usage Policy. If, in the reasonable opinion of Vodafone usage is excess of the 1Gb limit, Vodafone may ask the customer to moderate their usage. If they then fail to do so Vodafone reserves the right to move the customer on to another Vodafone Mobile Connect price plan and /or charge them for the excessive element of their usage. Persistent usage in excess of the limit may also result in suspension or termination of the customers service.
Vodafone World Cup Research: June 2006
http://www.vodafone.com/article_with_thumbnail/0,3038,OPCO%253D40018%2526CATEGORY_ID%253D21416%25 26MT_ID%253Dpr%2526LANGUAGE_ID%253D0%2526CONTENT_I D%253D282964,00.html
About Vodafone UK
Vodafone UK has 16.3 million customers and is part of the worlds largest mobile community offering a wide range of voice and data communications. The company is committed to providing mobile solutions that allow both consumer and business customers to make the most of now. In addition, Vodafone connects customers across the globe with roaming agreements worldwide. It provides 3G roaming in over 20 countries, GPRS roaming in over 100 countries and offers great value to customers when abroad with Vodafone Passport. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.co.uk.
Vodafone UK was the first mobile operator to offer a 3G data card in the UK with the introduction of the Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G data card 3G/GPRS Mobile Connect Card in April 2004. Vodafone UK leads the UK market with the largest share of 3G data cards currently over 80%.
3G broadband is an evolution of Vodafones 3G network that will enable customers to download data at significantly improved rates initially offering the mobile transfer of data from the internet and intranet up to four times faster than current 3G speeds. Initially designed around the 1.8Mbps standard, customers will experience peak download speeds of around 1.4Mbps (with an average of 400 700Kbps across all coverage areas) and up to 384kbps upload speeds. It will deliver a high speed 3G broadband experience to customers who will initially be able to roam over Vodafones 3G broadband network in six countries (Austria, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and Hong Kong). More countries will be added as Vodafones 3G broadband footprint expands.
3G broadband will also deliver greater capacity (three times that of current 3G levels) meaning that more people in the same location at the same time can benefit from a superior experience. In addition, 3G broadband offers reduced network latency, giving faster access to web-based content. As a result, customers will be able to work faster and download larger documents, such as Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations and email attachments, more quickly.
From Thursday 22 June, customers can purchase a Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G broadband (HSDPA) data card and take advantage of significantly improved data transfer speeds on their laptops.
Greater London (within the M25), Glasgow, Sheffield, Greater Manchester and Tyneside will be the first major UK conurbations to experience 3G broadband with roll out continuing across 3G coverage areas. Full 3G broadband roll out covering Vodafone's entire 3G network is targeted for completion by summer 2007. From Thursday, customers can also roam over Vodafones 3G broadband network in six countries (Austria, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and Hong Kong). More countries will be added as Vodafones 3G broadband footprint expands.
Customers in the UK can also purchase laptops exclusively featuring Vodafones built-in 3G broadband capability from leading PC manufacturers Dell, Acer and Lenovo. Also available through its usual channel partners is the Vodafone 3G broadband-compatible 3G/UMTS Router, which enables instant group access to networks, email and the Internet. The 3G/UMTS Router also allows additional devices, such as printers, to be connected using Ethernet or 802.11g wireless connections. Further enhanced by 3G broadband, it is designed to be quick and easy to set up providing even higher speed mobile data connectivity for teams working on the move.
Mark Bond, Sales Director, Enterprise Business Unit, Vodafone UK, comments: 3G broadband is designed to meet the needs of todays work anywhere business culture, as more and more people access their email or office network whilst on the move or away from the office. As the first operator to provide 3G broadband in the UK Vodafone customers will benefit from the fastest mobile data speeds enabling them to work more efficiently and productively.
Greater Productivity
The launch of Vodafones 3G broadband services represents the next step in the evolution of Vodafone UKs 3G network. The Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G data card already provides flexibility and increased productivity to 80% of the current business data card market*. This is further boosted by 3G broadbands improved peak download speeds of around 1.4Mbps and upload speeds of up to 384 Kbps. Vodafones 3G broadband also offers up to three times the capacity of 3G, which allows more users in the same location to benefit simultaneously.
John Delaney, Principal Analyst with Ovum, comments: "Businesses should welcome the availability of faster 3G networks in the UK. The speeds that HSDPA can deliver under real-life operating conditions will significantly improve the mobile working experience, enabling mobile workers to do things more quickly and easily. Employers in some industry sectors should expect to see some real productivity gains as a result."
Excellent trial results
Vodafone UKs 3G broadband trials earlier this year** revealed how customers expect it to make a positive difference to their mobile working:- For example, 73% of trialists said they would prefer to use 3G broadband instead of WiFi in the future after experiencing 3G broadband. 85% said they would prefer to use 3G broadband over hotel provided broadband and 87% said they would recommend 3G broadband.
Further research*** also revealed that businesses expect 3G broadband to deliver: increased productivity and flexibility; faster secure access to the company network; faster email and attachment downloads while away from the office and a better working experience. The same research also showed that 82% of companies have deployed some form of mobile data device to their staff indicating that 3G broadband could make a great difference to the way users work while away from the office.
Competitive pricing
Pricing for the service remains consistent with existing Vodafone 3G price plans. Pricing starts from £25 (excl VAT) per month (Data 250), which includes 250 Mb of data. For, £45 (excl VAT) per month (Data Unlimited) customers can benefit from unlimited usage****. Cards cost £99 on the Data 250 price plan and £49 on the Data Unlimited price plan.
Existing 3G users wishing to upgrade should contact their account manager, go to a Vodafone store or visit www.vodafone.co.uk/business. Further information on laptops with built-in broadband can be found at www.vodafone.co.uk/builtin3gbroadband.
- ends -
Notes to Editors:
* Vodafone Company Data.
** 100 business users tested Vodafone UKs 3G broadband-enabled Mobile Connect Cards across central and greater London.
*** Research conducted in May 2006 in association with VNU webinars: 3G - where next? The opportunity for UK business and IT professionals' (227 live participants) see link for more information:
https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=registration.jsp®width=739&tile=false&eventid=22962&sessionid=1&key=ED780F9DA4ED62CFEE6CB8F945961969&partnerref=vnuvodafonebuyers&referrer=&sourcepage=register
**** Fair Usage Policy. If, in the reasonable opinion of Vodafone usage is excess of the 1Gb limit, Vodafone may ask the customer to moderate their usage. If they then fail to do so Vodafone reserves the right to move the customer on to another Vodafone Mobile Connect price plan and /or charge them for the excessive element of their usage. Persistent usage in excess of the limit may also result in suspension or termination of the customers service.
Vodafone World Cup Research: June 2006
http://www.vodafone.com/article_with_thumbnail/0,3038,OPCO%253D40018%2526CATEGORY_ID%253D21416%25 26MT_ID%253Dpr%2526LANGUAGE_ID%253D0%2526CONTENT_I D%253D282964,00.html
About Vodafone UK
Vodafone UK has 16.3 million customers and is part of the worlds largest mobile community offering a wide range of voice and data communications. The company is committed to providing mobile solutions that allow both consumer and business customers to make the most of now. In addition, Vodafone connects customers across the globe with roaming agreements worldwide. It provides 3G roaming in over 20 countries, GPRS roaming in over 100 countries and offers great value to customers when abroad with Vodafone Passport. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.co.uk.
Vodafone UK was the first mobile operator to offer a 3G data card in the UK with the introduction of the Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G data card 3G/GPRS Mobile Connect Card in April 2004. Vodafone UK leads the UK market with the largest share of 3G data cards currently over 80%.
3G broadband is an evolution of Vodafones 3G network that will enable customers to download data at significantly improved rates initially offering the mobile transfer of data from the internet and intranet up to four times faster than current 3G speeds. Initially designed around the 1.8Mbps standard, customers will experience peak download speeds of around 1.4Mbps (with an average of 400 700Kbps across all coverage areas) and up to 384kbps upload speeds. It will deliver a high speed 3G broadband experience to customers who will initially be able to roam over Vodafones 3G broadband network in six countries (Austria, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and Hong Kong). More countries will be added as Vodafones 3G broadband footprint expands.
3G broadband will also deliver greater capacity (three times that of current 3G levels) meaning that more people in the same location at the same time can benefit from a superior experience. In addition, 3G broadband offers reduced network latency, giving faster access to web-based content. As a result, customers will be able to work faster and download larger documents, such as Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations and email attachments, more quickly.