5th Oct 2006 12:00
Vodafone Group Plc05 October 2006 5 October 2006 VODAFONE ANNOUNCES FIRST SINGLE BRAND PARTNERSHIP WITH LAUNCH OF VODAFONE ICELAND * Iceland's Og-Vodafone becomes first partner network to gain agreement to operate under Vodafone's brand name as Vodafone Iceland * Single brand partnership includes an enhanced Vodafone-branded customer experience with increased access to Vodafone marketing knowledge and expertise Vodafone has today announced it will license its brand name to its partner inIceland, Og-Vodafone, which will now operate under the name "Vodafone Iceland." This is the first time Vodafone has allowed a partner to operate under its nameas a licensed brand franchise and reinforces Vodafone's strategy to expand itsbrand footprint and enhance the value of the Vodafone brand in countries whereit does not hold an equity interest. The re-brand will cover Og-Vodafone's mobile, fixed-line and internet services.This is in line with Vodafone's recent strategic announcement that it intends tobecome a total communications provider. Og-Vodafone, a dual branded Partner since April 2003, has been able, under itsprevious agreement with Vodafone, to offer its customers selected Vodafoneproducts such as Vodafone live!, the Vodafone Mobile Connect data card andBlackBerry from Vodafone. Now, as Vodafone Iceland, the company will havebroader access to Vodafone's marketing assets, including, by agreement, thefuture range of Vodafone services which will be offered to the sophisticatedIcelandic market under the trusted Vodafone name. For Vodafone Iceland customers travelling abroad and for Vodafone customersvisiting Iceland, the agreement will further enhance the ability for customersto uniformly access Vodafone's services in markets where Vodafone operates. Matthias Jungemann, Director of Partner Markets at Vodafone said: "We are verypleased that Og-Vodafone has become Vodafone Iceland, as the first single brandpartnership offered by Vodafone anywhere in the world. We have not done thiswith any other company, so this decision demonstrates how pleased we are withhow the partnership has developed." "Vodafone Iceland has clearly shown us that they provide high-quality servicesto their customers, backed by expert marketing and can bring Vodafone productsto market in a country that is sophisticated, demanding and technology savvy.Our business arrangement has developed into a trusted relationship which has ledto us offering them the opportunity to use only the Vodafone name." Arni Petur Jonsson, CEO, Vodafone Iceland added: "Our customers have alwaysdemanded the highest level of service and the best available technologies andthrough our partnership with Vodafone we have been able to meet these needs bysuccessfully launching services such as Vodafone live! and the Vodafone MobileConnect data card. The Icelandic people are great travellers and further accessto Vodafone's international network and services will support their journeysacross the world, whether for business or pleasure." - ends- For further information: Vodafone Group Investor Relations Media RelationsTel: +44 (0) 1635 664447 Tel: +44 (0) 1635 664444 About Vodafone Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile telecommunications groupwith equity interests in 27 countries across 5 continents with 186.8 millionproportionate customers worldwide as at 30 June 2006 as well as 33 partnernetworks. For further information, please visit www.vodafone.com About Vodafone Iceland Vodafone Iceland is the trading name for Og fjarskipti ehf. The company offersmobile, fixed-line and ADSL/ internet services to individuals and companies. Asat 22 September 2006 Vodafone Iceland had 165 thousand customers. (c) Vodafone Group 2006. VODAFONE, the Vodafone logos, Vodafone live! andVodafone Mobile Connect are trade marks of the Vodafone Group. Other product andcompany names mentioned herein may be the trade marks of their respectiveowners. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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