11th Feb 2008 07:01
Vodafone Group Plc11 February 2008 11 February 2008 VODAFONE EXTENDS RANGE OF OWN BRANDED HANDSETS AND ROLLS OUT BRAND DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR ALL VODAFONE HANDSETS One in six phones shipped by Vodafone is from its own brand range Vodafone will launch two new own branded mobile phones to grow its range of ownbranded and award winning* mobile phones launched over the last year. TheVodafone 227 and Vodafone 228 will launch this month, February, and will beavailable across both Europe and emerging markets. Both mobile phones will meetthe customer demand for low cost, simple to use yet stylish handsets. The launchof these mobile phones follows the successful introduction of seven own brandedhandsets by Vodafone throughout 2007, which today make up on average one in sixof the mobile devices shipped by Vodafone annually. Both the Vodafone 227 and Vodafone 228 offer more choice of style and price tocustomers. The Vodafone 227 is a clamshell phone and the Vodafone 228 is aslider mobile. In addition to core text and voice services, both come with acolour display, vibrating alert and headset. "Over the last 18 months we have launched our own branded handsets - theVodafone 125, 225, 226 and the 226 FM radio variant, 710, 715, 720 and 810.These have been very successful not just in emerging markets but also in theEuropean pre-pay market," said Jens Schulte-Bockum, Global Director of Terminalsfor Vodafone. "The concept of offering stylish and affordable handsets that arequick and easy to use is certainly appealing to a wide range of customers,especially those who are purchasing and using a mobile for the very first time.We are delighted to be building on this success by introducing two new handsetsto the range, demonstrating our commitment to making mobile devices and servicesavailable to all." To enhance the appeal of Vodafone's own branded handset range Vodafone alsoplans to introduce stronger brand style guidelines to ensure a consistent lookand feel in the design of each of the handsets that come into the range from themiddle of this year. The guidelines comprise of physical design elements thatwill identify the device as a Vodafone handset coupled with a consistent keypadtypeface and layout. There also include consistencies in the design of the userinterface from handset to handset, including the use of the same icons used fornavigating between applications. Jens continues: "The new brand guidelines are a natural step in the progressionof our own brand strategy. It will ensure that Vodafone handsets we launch infuture are distinctive and consistent in their look and feel and familiar tocustomers who start to upgrade through the Vodafone range. This move isespecially important in our emerging markets where it provides an added way todifferentiate our brand to new customers, and which we expect in turn tostimulate revenue." - ends- Notes to editors: * The Vodafone 720 mobile phone won international recognition for its design at the 'iF Design Awards' in 2007. Images of the Vodafone 227 and 228 are available at: http://www.vodafone.com/mobile_world/gallery.html About Vodafone Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group withoperations in 25 countries across five continents and over 252 millionproportionate customers at 31 December 2007, as well as 40 partner networks. Forfurther information, please visit www.vodafone.com For further information: Vodafone Group Investor RelationsTel: +44 (0) 1635 664447 Media RelationsTel: +44 (0) 1635 664444 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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